Comparison of non-agitated and agitated batch, thermophilic anaerobic digestion of sugarbeet tailings

► Thermophilic, non-agitated and agitated digestion showed marked differences in performance. ► Methane yield from agitated digester was 74% of that from non-agitated digester. ► Non-agitated digester produced methane at twice the rate of agitated digester. ► Performance of agitated digester inoculum quickly improved when used in non-agitated digester. ► Agitated digester exhibited a high abundance of hydrogen-producing microbial community.