This work evaluates the potential of vinasse (a waste obtained at the bottom of sugarcane ethanol distillation columns) as nutrient source for biohydrogen and volatile fatty acids production by means of anaerobic consortia. Two different media were proposed, using sugarcane juice or molasses as carbon source. The consortium LPBAH1 was selected for fermentation of vinasse supplemented with sugarcane juice, resulting in a higher H-2 yield of 7.14 molH(2) molsucrose (1) and hydrogen content in biogas of approx. 31%, while consortium LPBAH2 resulted in 3.66 molH(2)/molsucrose and 32.7% hydrogen content in biogas. The proposed process showed a rational and economical use for vinasse, a mandatory byproduct of the renewable Brazilian energy matrix. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.