Isolates of lactic acid bacteria were obtained by enrichment using anaerobically digested molasses spent wash (ADMSW), a dark brown colored effluent with high COD, obtained from biomethanation plant. The isolates could grow in 25%, v/v ADMSW medium supplemented with 3% sucrose,4% moong bean sprouts (w/v) and 0.125% diammonium phosphate. In the fermentation process, the organic load in terms of COD was reduced by 55.2% with 67. 2% decolorization of the effluent. During the process, lactic acid was produced by the bacterial isolates with an average yield of 17.7 gL−1 in 96 h fermentation.
Bioremediation, decolorization, molasses spent wash, lactic acid
