Single stage treatment of saline wastewater with marine bacterial–microalgae consortia in a fixed-bed photobioreactorSingle stage treatment of saline wastewater with marine bacterial–microalgae consortia in a fixed-bed photobioreactor Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication Δημοσίευση σε Περιοδικό με Κριτές 2015-11-142015enCurrently, the treatment of aquaculture-origin effluents is mainly performed through land-based recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). In this study, we evaluate and introduce a novel immobilized/packed bed bioreactor which uses a synthetic textile as the support medium. A marine microbial consortium was developed on the textile by its inoculation with the microalgae Picochlorum sp. The bioreactor was tested with variable loadings of C and N and showed outstanding performance approaching removal rates up to 95% within a few hours (4–5 h) of operation. Pyrosequencing analysis revealed a novel microbial consortium consisting mainly of chitrinomycetes, Pseudomonas sp. and the absence of β-proteobacteria, which is the Class encompassing autotrophic nitrifiers. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction further confirmed these findings suggesting heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification as the principal mechanisms of N-removal from the bioreactor. Overall our findings reveal the potential of the AdvanTex System for the treatment of marine aquaculture effluents–COD reduction and N-removal, in a single stage.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Journal of Hazardous Materials292155-163 Babatsouli Panagiota Μπαμπατσουλη Παναγιωτα Fodelianakis Stylianos Φοδελιανακης Στυλιανος Paranychianakis Nikolaos Παρανυχιανακης Νικολαος Venieri Danai Βενιερη Δαναη Dialynas, Michael Kalogerakis Nikos Καλογερακης Νικος Elsevier Recirculating aquaculture systems Saline wastewater Packed bed bioreactor Microalgae Heterotrophic nitrification Aerobic denitrification