Anaerobic oxidation of acetylene by estuarine sediments and enrichment cultures.

Acetylene disappeared from the gas phase of anaerobically incubated estuarine sediment slurries, and loss was accompanied by increased levels of carbon dioxide. Acetylene loss was inhibited by chloramphenicol, air, and autoclaving. Addition of C(2)H(2) to slurries resulted in the formation of CO(2) and the transient appearance of C-soluble intermediates, of which acetate was a major component. Acetylene oxidation stimulated sulfate reduction; however, sulfate reduction was not required for the loss of C(2)H(2) to occur. Enrichment cultures were obtained which grew anaerobically at the expense of C(2)H(2).