The biodigester effluent (BDE) of a molasses-based alcohol distillery unit was taken for catalytic thermal treatment (catalytic thermolysis) in the presence of CuO catalyst in batch mode in the temperature range of 100 degrees to 140 degrees C and pressure range of 1-9 bar. The catalyst mass loading, C-w, varied between 2 and 5 kg m(-3). Thermal treatment at 140 degrees C with a C-w of 3 kg m(-3) gave COD reduction of about 70% from its initial value of 34 kg m(-3). The BOD reduction was found to be 83% from its initial value of 6.3 kg m(-3). The reductions of COD and consequently BOD are due to formation of residues of organics, i.e., carbohydrates, lignin, and proteins, present in the biodigester effluent. The characterization of CuO catalyst through X-ray diffraction shows the presence of the phase of CuO only, at different 2 theta values. The kinetic data show two clearly distinct steps, a fast rate process followed by a slower process, adequately described by first-order kinetics with respect to COD. The order with respect to C-w was found to be 0.744 and 0.187 for the first and second steps, respectively.