Biogas production and saccharification of Salix pretreated at different steam explosion conditions

► Steam explosion is an efficient pretreatment method for both biogas and bioethanol. ► Steam treated Salix achieved a methane yield of 0.24 l/g VS. ► Optimum pretreatment conditions were 210 °C and 10 min. ► Enzymatic sugar release is correlated to final biogas yield. ► A 24 h enzymatic hydrolysis can be used to predict biogas yield from Salix.