What is "acidithiobacillus"

Acidithiobacillus is a genus of Proteobacteria. Like all Proteobacteria, Acidithiobacillus is Gram-negative. The members of this genus used to belong to Thiobacillus, before they were reclassified in 2000.

• Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans ( syn. Thiobacillus ferrooxidans) lives in pyrite deposits, metabolizing iron and sulfur and producing sulfuric acid.
• Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans (syn. Thiobacillus thiooxidans, Thiobacillus concretivorus) consumes sulfur and produces sulfuric acid; first isolated from the soil, it has also been observed causing biogenic sulfide corrosion of concrete sewer pipes by altering hydrogen sulfide sewage gas into sulfuric acid.

Both of these bacteria are used in a mining technique called bioleaching whereby metals are extracted from their ores through oxidation. The bacteria are used as catalysts. They are also used in the biomining process.