Iron-Coupled Anaerobic Oxidation of Methane in Marine Sediments: A Review

Anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) is one the major processes oxidizing in marine sediments. Up to now, extensive studies about AOM coupled sulfate reduction have been conducted because SO42− most abundant electron acceptor seawater and shallow However, other terminal acceptors AOM, such as NO3−, NO2−, Mn(IV), Fe(III), are more energetically favorable than SO42−. Iron oxides, part components deep sediments, might play a significant role an process, mainly below sulfate–methane interface, mediated by physiologically related microorganisms. Iron-coupled possibly dominant non-sulfate-dependent process consume ecosystems. In this review, conditions for iron-coupled summarized, forms iron oxides microbial mechanisms discussed.