What process do certain prokaryotes use nitrates or sulfates rather than oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor?

Answer 1

"Anaerobic respiration" doesn't require oxygen. True anaerobic respiration involves an electron acceptor other than oxygen. Bacteria are capable of using a wide variety of compounds as terminal electron acceptors in respiration: nitrogenous compounds (such as nitrates and nitrites), sulfur compounds (such as sulfates, sulfites, sulfur dioxide, and elemental sulfur), carbon dioxide, iron compounds, manganese compounds, cobalt compounds, and uranium compounds. "Anaerobic respiration" doesn't require oxygen. True anaerobic respiration involves an electron acceptor other than oxygen. Bacteria are capable of using a wide variety of compounds as terminal electron acceptors in respiration: nitrogenous compounds (such as nitrates and nitrites), sulfur compounds (such as sulfates, sulfites, sulfur dioxide, and elemental sulfur), carbon dioxide, iron compounds, manganese compounds, cobalt compounds, and uranium compounds.

Answer 2

Certain prokaryotes use nitrates or sulfates as terminal electron acceptors in a process called anaerobic respiration. They perform this alternative respiration pathway when oxygen is limited or absent, converting these alternative electron acceptors into nitrogen gas or hydrogen sulfide, respectively. This allows them to generate energy and continue their metabolic functions in environments with low oxygen availability.