Optimization of biomass production from Stichococcous sp. biofilms coupled to wastewater treatmentOptimization of biomass production from Stichococcous sp. biofilms coupled to wastewater treatment Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication Δημοσίευση σε Περιοδικό με Κριτές 2023-01-182021enThe present study was funded by the Operational Program “Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship” (OPCE ІІ) (grant number 11SYN_4_1590) of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) 2007-2013 of the General Secretariat of Research and Technology (GSRT) of Greece, under the project titled «MICROALGAE-BIO-PRODUCTS e Sustainable Use of Marine Microalgae for the Production of Biofuels and High-added Value Biochemicals».Microalgae have been extensively used as animal feedstock and for the production of high-added value bioproducts, such as pigments and biodiesel. A promising strategy to simplify biomass recovery is by growing microalgae on flat biofilms, from where biomass may be easily harvested. Initially, the microalgae Stichococcus sp. was grown in photo-bioreactors, on seawater enriched with inorganic salts, on three different materials: ceramic tile, HD-polyethylene and sandblasted-glass, the latter of which exhibited the highest yield (up to 0.86 ± 0.02 mg cm−2 after 18 days cultivation period). Thereafter, the microalgae were grown on seawater enriched with winery-wastewater, applying nitrogen starvation during the last 2 days of cultivation, indicating biomass production of 1.00 ± 0.01 mg cm−2 (seawater plus organic carbon) to 1.30 ± 0.03 mg cm−2 (seawater plus organic carbon plus 2 days nitrogen starvation) to 1.43 ± 0.03 mg cm−2 (seawater plus inorganic carbon plus organic carbon plus 2 days nitrogen starvation). Trials on large scale photo-bioreactors confirmed the remediation potential of Stichococcus sp. for the treatment of winery-wastewater, while the organic carbon in wastewater boosted the yield of biomass production. Finally, the potential biomass yield of an industrial scale plant, treating winery-wastewater, was calculated to yield between 25−32 kg biomass (dry-basis) per 1000 m2 of shallow pond type reactor, per 18 days cultivation.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Biochemical Engineering Journal169 Makaroglou Georgios Μακαρογλου Γεωργιος Marakas Charidimos Μαρακας Χαριδημος Fodelianakis Stilianos Axaopoulou Vasiliki-Ariadni Αξαοπουλου Βασιλικη-Αριαδνη Koumi Ino Κουμη Ινω Kalogerakis Nikos Καλογερακης Νικος Gikas Petros Γκικας Πετρος Elsevier Microalgae Immobilized biomass Stichococcous sp. Photo-bioreactor Biofilm Winery wastewater