The aim of the present study was to develop a suitable pretreatment method to enhance the microbial degradation of lignocellulosic biomass and to maximize the overall energy recovery by using biohythane process. An efficient and eco-friendly biological pretreatment was used. Maximum lignin removal using biological pretreatment of sugarcane top was 60.4% w/w after 21 d incubation at 28 degrees C in static condition. Confocal microscopy observation and FTIR analysis confirmed the removal of lignin from sugarcane top. The maximum hydrogen production rate (R-m), hydrogen production potential (P) and lag time (lambda) using pretreated sugarcane top were 16.76 mL/g-VS/h, 87.40 mL/g-VS and 3.38 h respectively. The maximum methane production potential using spent medium of dark fermentation was 180.86 mL/g-VS with the lag time of 2.9 d. The overall gaseous energy recovery was 37.7% which is 54% higher than that of the untreated one. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.