NOVELTY - Process for decolorization of sugarcane molasses based anaerobically treated distillery effluent using bacterial culture. Distillery effluent retains very dark brown color even after anaerobic treatment due to presence of various water-soluble recalcitrant coloring compounds mainly melanoidin. In laboratory condition we developed an anaerobic bacterial consortium and optimized the process of effluent degradation at variable TDS, rpm, incubation time, pH and carbon source and bacterial consortium. The optimum decolorization i.e. 70% of anaerobically treated distillery effluent was achieved at pH 7, after reduction of 0.64% TDS, at incubation temperature of 37-40?oC at 140 rpm within 4-6 days incubation. During the 70% color removal the pollutant parameters i.e. biological oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand are also removed upto 72% and 73%, respectively. The toxicity evaluation of distillery effluent with duckweed (Lemna minor) revealed that biochemical parameters i.e. chlorophyll, protein and biomass is most sensitive than the morphological parameters e.g. front size and number. It is found that chlorophyll is most sensitive than protein content in duckweed as shown by necrosis in 24 hrs. The sharp decline in chlorophyll, protein and biomass is also noted within 24-hrs. Incubation even in 0-2.5% concentration of an aerobically treated effluent, while the decolorized effluent showed growth even in 100% concentration. The detail analysis revealed that there was reduction in toxicity up to 72% with. Minor after 96-hrs incubation under laboratory condition. The aerobically treated distillery effluent for chlorophyll, protein and biomass is 0-2.5% concentration. However, the chlorophyll, protein and biomass in 100% concentration of decolorized effluent. This indicated that it is environmentally safe. This is novel biological technique for decolorization of an aerobically treated distillery effluent using the bacterial culture for safe disposal, soil and aquatic pollution prevention. Image 0/0