Highest methane productions were obtained from thermally pretreated whole slurries.
Furfural and 5-HMF released in acid pretreatment inhibited methane production.
High phenolic compounds release required a microorganism’s acclimation period.
Lignin degradation provided the highest hydrolysis rates when inhibition was defeated.
A novel kinetic model is proposed combining hydrolysis and microorganisms inhibition.