Reduction of Selenate and Selenite to Elemental Selenium by a Pseudomonas stutzeri Isolate

A Pseudomonas stutzeri isolate rapidly reduced both selenite and selenate ions to elemental selenium at initial concentrations of both anions of up to 48.1 mM. Optimal selenium reduction occurred under aerobic conditions between pH 7.0 and 9.0 and at temperatures of 25 to 35 degrees C. Reduction of both selenite and selenate was unaffected by a number of anions except for sulfite, chromate, and tungstate ions, which inhibited both growth and reduction.