Alkaliphiles are microbes classified as extremophiles that thrive in alkaline environments with a pH of 9 to 11 such as soda lakes and carbonate-rich soils. To survive, alkaliphiles maintain a relatively low alkaline level of about 8 pH inside their cells by constantly pumping hydrogen ions (H⁺) in the form of hydronium ions (H₃O⁺) across their cell membranes into their cytoplasm.

Examples include:

• Geoalkalibacter ferrihydriticus
• Bacillus okhensis
• Alkalibacterium iburiense

References

External links

• http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0212089/alk.htm