Solving the Bottlenecks of Sugarcane Vinasse Biodigestion: Impacts of Temperature and Substrate Exchange on Sulfate Removal During Dark Fermentation

•Establishment of sulfidogenesis during vinasse fermentation studied at 30 and 55 °C.•No sulfidogenesis but acetate build-up by homoacetogens (Lachnospirales) at 30 °C.•Efficient SO42− removal (84–97 %) occurred under varied HRT (18, 12 and 6 h) at 55 °C.•Desulfohalotomaculum and Desulfotomaculum found at low abundance (<1%) at 55 °C.•Shifting vinasse by molasses triggered lactate build-up and dropped the pH (<6.0).