Aerobic decolorization and degradation of azo dyes by suspended growing cells and immobilized cells of a newly isolated yeast Magnusiomyces ingens LH-F1

•Azo dye degradation with Magnusiomyces ingens was firstly studied systematically.•Various azo dyes could be efficiently decolorized by Magnusiomyces ingens LH-F1.•Azo dyes were decolorized and degraded under aerobic conditions.•Immobilization improved the efficiency and adaptability of strain LH-F1.•Acid Red B could be mineralized and detoxified by Magnusiomyces ingens LH-F1.

Aerobic decolorization and degradation of azo dyes by both of suspended growing cells and immobilized cells of a newly isolated yeast strain LH-F1 were investigated in this study. A yeast strain LH-F1 capable of aerobically decolorizing various azo dyes (20 mg/L) was identified as Magnusiomyces ingens basing on 26S rDNA analysis. Meanwhile, effects of different parameters on decolorization of Acid Red B by both of suspended growing cells and immobilized cells of strain LH-F1 were investigated. Furthermore, possible degradation pathway of the dye was proposed through analyzing metabolic intermediates using UV–Vis and HPLC–MS methods. As far as it is known, it is the first systematic research on a M. ingens strain which is capable of efficiently decolorizing azo dyes under aerobic condition. Additionally, this work would also provide a potentially useful microbial strain LH-F1 for treatment of industrial wastewaters containing azo dyes.