Sustainable cultivation of Porphyridium cruentum via agroindustrial by-products: A study on biomass and lipid enhancement Luca Russo, Giovanni Luca Langellotti, Antonio Verardo, Vito Martín García, Beatriz Oliviero, Maria Masi, Paolo Food waste Microalgae Waste valorization This study explored the cultivation of Porphyridium cruentum using beet molasses and corn steep liquor (CSL) as alternative agri-waste substrates. The objective was to enhance the biomass and lipid production of P. cruentum, known for its potential as an industrial EPA producer. Using a Box-Behnken Design (BBD) as part of the response surface methodology (RSM), we investigated the effects of beet molasses, CSL, and F/2 nutrients on the microalga's cultivation. The results demonstrated a significant influence of these factors on the final cell count and lipid content over an 8-day cultivation period. Specifically, optimal growth conditions were identified at approximately 1.78 g/L of molasses and 1.89 g/L of CSL, yielding a cell count of 12.1 × 106 cells/mL and a lipid content of 24.48%. Validation experiments reaffirmed these findings, with observed results closely aligning with predicted values. Optimized media achieved also a significant higher content of carotenoids and phycobiliproteins compared to the standard media. This research highlights the potential of using agro-industrial by-products for large-scale cultivation of P. cruentum, offering a sustainable approach for enhancing lipid and pigment production. 2024-09-11T11:10:41Z 2024-09-11T11:10:41Z 2024-08-05 journal article G.L. Russo et al. 60 (2024) 103341. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2024.103341] https://hdl.handle.net/10481/94350 10.1016/j.bcab.2024.103341 eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ open access Atribución 4.0 Internacional Elsevier