Specific inhibition of sulphate-reducing bacteria in methanogenic co-culture

Various inhibitors of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans were examined for their selectivity in co‐cultures with Methanobacterium formicicum. The inhibitors were chlorohexidine diacetate, m‐dinitrobenzene, 2,4‐dinitrophenol, potassium nitrate and sodium molybdate. Only sodium molybdate was able to inhibit D. desulfuricans selectively in the methanogenic co‐culture. Sodium molybdate at all the concentrations used inhibited D. desulfuricans without adversely affecting M. formicicum.