The sulfur disproportionation culture is utilized for the treatment of mercury-contaminated wastewater without generating methylmercury.

We collected inoculants from two wastewater treatment plants and estuarine sediments, respectively. Elemental sulfur and sodium bicarbonate were added to cultivate and acclimate sulfur-disproportionating bacteria (SDB), while sulfate and organic carbon sources were added to cultivate and acclimate sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). After 30 days of acclimation, metagenomic sequencing was performed.