Preliminary evaluation of the treatment of raw tequila vinasse with Trametes versicolor immobilized on biomedia.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment of raw tequila vinasse (TV) using immobilized Trametes versicolor in lab-scale reactors. To isolate the fungal impact on the wastewater matrix, three treatments were monitored during 10 weeks: immobilized fungus on inert biomedia (Treatment A), a biomedia-only control (Treatment B), and a raw TV control (Treatment C). The initial vinasse acidity was moderated by adjusting the pH from 3.74 to 4.52 to support fungal growth. Successful immobilization of T. versicolor was evidenced by both internal and external colonization of the biomedia. While fungal enzymatic activity remained relatively low, significant removal efficiencies were achieved: 13.40% for COD, 9.34% for BOD5, 33.95% for TSS, and 32.4% for turbidity. These reductions are attributed to enzymatic degradation and adsorption onto the fungal mycelium. These results demonstrate the potential for using immobilized fungi to treat raw TV with minimal pH adjustment, though further research is required to optimize treatment efficacy and increase removal rates.