In this study, the influence of a static magnetic field (SMF) on a Chlorella vulgaris-Bacillus licheniformis consortium and the subsequent effect of this algal-bacterial consortium on sewage treatment were explored. Accordingly, the algal density, Fv/Fm, algal aggregation percentage, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) content, dissolved organic matter distribution, enzymatic activity, metabolites, microbial community diversity and nutrient removal were investigated. For the treatment group exposed to an SMF of 150 mT, the total phosphorus removal rate reached 82.21%, which was 19.10% higher than the control group. On the last day, the algal density of the 150 mT group was the highest, being 56.01% greater than the control group. The high intensity SMF promoted the anti-oxidative stress response in C. vulgaris. It also affected EPS secretion, subsequently influencing the algal aggregation percentage and bacterial growth. Bacillus accounted for the largest proportion of the overall microbial community in the 150 mT group, which was conducive to rapid formation of the C. vulgaris-B. licheniformis consortium. In short, the SMF was conducive to the rapid formation of a C. vulgaris-B. licheniformis consortium. The use of an SMF can promote the efficiency of the algal-bacterial consortium, thereby shortening the processing time.
Keywords: Algal-bacterial consortium; Extracellular polymeric substances; Microbial community; Nutrient removal; Static magnetic field.
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