Gallionella ferruginea

What Does Gallionella ferruginea Mean?

Gallionella ferruginea refers to a type of bacterium that is iron-oxidizing chemolithotrophic in nature. It is typically located in marine environments and promotes higher corrosion rates in seawater applications.

Gallionella ferruginea is also commonly known as iron bacteria.

Corrosionpedia Explains Gallionella ferruginea

Gallionella ferruginea oxidizes iron and flourishes in relatively specific environments that contains sustainable amounts of oxygen, carbon, phosphorus and nitrogen.

The molecular and electrochemical properties of gallionella ferruginea allow this bacteria to:

• Remove dissolved iron from bodies of water
• Produce an insoluble precipitate of ferric hydroxide
• Generate an bacteriologic iron oxide precipitate, which has a reddish-brown color

Gallionella ferruginea can be found in many different types of habitats, such as:

• Freshwater mineral springs
• Brackish waters
• Marine shallow waters
• Deep sea venting sites