Comparative assessment of single-stage and two-stage anaerobic digestion for the treatment of thin stillage

► Single and two-stage anaerobic digestion of thin stillage was evaluated in batches. ► Thin stillage was characterized by TCOD of 122 g/L and TVFAs of 12 g/L. ► Maximum methane yield of 0.33 L CH4/gCODadded was achieved in the two-stage process. ► In the first stage TVFAs to TCOD ratio increased from 10% to 54%. ► Energy yield increased by 18.5% using two-stage anaerobic digestion.