Protons can have different fates in bacterial ETS. Which of the following processes does NOT affect the proton motive force ( $\Delta$ p)?

A) Protons are pumped across the membrane (H⁺) by oxidoreductase complexes.
B) Protons are consumed from the cytoplasm by the quinone/quinol pool.
C) Protons are released outside the membrane from the quinone/quinol pool.
D) Protons are consumed by combining with terminal electron acceptors such as O₂.
E) Protons combining with O₂, used as a terminal acceptor, compensate protons released by catabolic pathways.