Pham M.D.T.Bui X.T.Phan N.N.Nguyen H.V.Nguyen T.T.Nguyen D.T.M.Lin C.Tra V.T.Visvanathan C.Mahidol University2025-10-062025-10-062025-11-01Environmental Technology and Innovation Vol.40 (2025)https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/112452This study revealed the effect of moderate salinity on microalgal-bacterial granules (MBG)-based wastewater treatment. Four photobioreactors were simultaneously operated under low-cost conditions (no aeration, pH adjustment, and artificial light) at salinities of 0 ‰, 5 ‰, 10 ‰, and 15 ‰. Results showed that MBG systems sustained effective performance at salinities up to 15 ‰, with NH₄⁺ and total phosphorus (TP) removal efficiencies of 64–71 % and 40–98 %, respectively, compared to 58 % and 29 % under non-saline conditions. Biodiversity in MBG systems declined and stabilized at 5–10 ‰, but rose markedly at 15 ‰. Nitrobacter, Sphingopyxis and Rhodocyclales genera increased with salinity, while Bacteria_unclassified, Cyanophyceae_unclassified, and Sphingomonas declined. Protein content increased at salinities below 10 ‰, carbohydrate accumulation was promoted above 10 ‰, while lipid content remained relatively stable across 5–15 ‰ salinity. Overall, this study highlighted MBG's potential in saline wastewater treatment and provided insight into MBG's biomass component and microbial community at the salinity range up to 15 ‰.Environmental ScienceAgricultural and Biological SciencesArticleSCOPUS10.1016/j.eti.2025.1045532-s2.0-10501743080823521864