An electron donor is a chemical entity that donates
electrons to another compound. It is a
reducing agent that, by virtue of its donating electrons, is itself
oxidized in the process.Electron donors give up or donate an electron during
cellular respiration, resulting in the release of
energy.
Microorganisms, such as
bacteria, obtain energy to grow by transferring electrons from an electron donor to an
electron acceptor. The microorganism through its cellular machinery collects the energy for its use. The final result is the electron is donated to an
electron acceptor. During this process (
electron transport chain) the electron donor is oxidized and the electron acceptor is reduced. Petroleum
hydrocarbons, less
chlorinated solvents like
vinyl chloride, soil organic matter, and reduced inorganic compounds are all compounds that can act as electron donors. These reactions are of interest not only because they allow organisms to obtain energy, but also because they are involved in the natural
biodegradation of organic contaminants. When clean-up professionals use monitored natural attenuation to clean up contaminated sites, biodegradation is one of the major contributing processes.
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