Arsenite oxidizing bacterium isolated from high arsenic contaminated groundwater aquifers from Datong Basin, Northern China

Many studies indicate that some bacteria can oxidize As(III) to As(V) under natural environment. Furthermore, As(V) is more inmobilizable than As(III) due to its negative charge. As(III) is more toxic than As(V), thus the transformation of As(III) to As(V) is an important way to reduce the arsenic exposure risk. Therefore, arsenite oxidizing bacterium has great potential to treat arsenic contaminant aquifers.