Co‐enhanced activated sludge system by static magnetic field and two halotolerant yeasts for azo dye treatment

The effect of static magnetic field (SMF) on azo dye Acid Red B (ARB) decolorization by the co‐culture of activated sludge (AS) and two halotolerant yeasts Candida tropicalis A1 and Pichia occidentalis A2 was investigated. Microbial community structure of the co‐cultures before and after treatment with SMFs of different intensity was analyzed through high‐throughput sequencing and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that ARB decolorization efficiency by the defined co‐culture was 1.25‐fold to 1.51‐fold elevated by 24.6–305.0 mT SMF. The best ARB decolorization and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal performances by the co‐culture were both achieved with 95.0 mT SMF. By contrast, biomass multiplication and sedimentation property of AS systems were not significantly influenced by SMF. Higher activities of intracellular key enzymes were determined (with 95.0 mT SMF) as responsible for better decolorization and COD removal performances. Bacteria belonging to Prolixibacter, Corynebacterium, Pelagibacterium, Demequina, and Sphingobacterium which might be responsible for azo dye decolorization and aromatic compounds biodegradation were significantly enriched only in presence of SMF. Fungal genera Candida and Pichia were also significantly enriched by 41.4–305.0 mT SMF, which might be responsible for higher treatment efficiency. Practitioner points Dye degradation was enhanced by combination of static magnetic field and yeasts. Improvement of enzyme activity was responsible for better treatment performance. Putative azo‐degrading‐related bacteria and fungi were selectively enriched. High relative abundance of Candida and Pichia ensured high decolorization effects. Potentially effective improvement of bioprocesses for treating hypersaline wastewater. The present study investigated the enhancing effect of static magnetic field on azo dye biodegradation by the co‐culture of activated sludge and two halotolerant yeasts. Activity of key enzymes and microbial community dynamics were analyzed to explain possible mechanisms.