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Development of a novel fungal consortium for the treatment of molasses distillery wastewater

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Abstract

In India, cane molasses–based distilleries are major production centers of ethanol. These industries release a dark brown colored effluent known as spent wash, which even after anaerobic treatment retains the color. The commonly used practices of treatment fail to remove the color and COD. A novel fungal consortium was developed for the treatment of this recalcitrant wastewater. The consortium was run on a bioreactor with undiluted distillery effluent for 40 days. In the first 14 days, 61.5% color and 65.4% COD removal was achieved. Further, the fungi were able to use wheat straw as carbon source as evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) while treating the distillery wastewater. It is expected that such a treatment step will lead to development of a treatment technology for distillery wastewater without the need for diluting it.

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Acknowledgments

Authors wish to thank Dr. R. K. Pachauri, Director General, TERI, and Chancellor, TERI University, New Delhi, India for offering the infrastructure for carrying out the present investigation. Financial assistance from University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi in form of Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) to the first author is duly acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Bioresources and Biotechnology, TERI University, DS Block, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, 110003, India

    Deepak Pant & Alok Adholeya

  2. VITO-Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium

    Deepak Pant

  3. Biotechnology and Management of Bioresources Division, The Energy and Resources Institute, DS Block, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, 110003, India

    Alok Adholeya

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  1. Deepak Pant
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  2. Alok Adholeya
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Correspondence to Deepak Pant.

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Pant, D., Adholeya, A. Development of a novel fungal consortium for the treatment of molasses distillery wastewater. Environmentalist 30, 178–182 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-010-9255-z

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