Selection of vinasse degrading microorganisms

Vinasse is a highly colored effluent with a high pollutant potential when disposed in the environment. Assays for decolorization of vinasse were performed, selecting the fungus Pleurotus sajor-caju CCB 020. The discoloration was cocominant with the increase of the activities of laccase, manganese-peroxidase and peroxidases. P. sajor-caju demonstrated a rise in biomass production (1.06 g 100 ml−1), and the enzyme activities such as laccase (varying from 400 to 450 IU l−1) reached between the 9th and 10th day of growth and for MnP at the 12th day of cultivation (varying from 60 to 100 IU l−1). It was concluded that the system P. sajor-caju/vinasse can be utilized as a bioprocess for color removal and degradation of complex vinasse compounds. It was observed an improvement in the characteristics and detoxification allowing its utilization as reused water, laccase and manganese-peroxidase enzymes production and for fungal biomass production with a high nutritional value.