Optimization of the acidogenic phase showed that anaerobic granules used were capable of converting the organic matter present in the pickling wastewater to fermented product even at sodium concentrations as high as 58 gNa⁺/L. At pH 6.5, an acidification degree up to 80.7±19.2% was reached at an organic loading rate of 1.24 gCOD/L.d. Regarding to the methanogenic reactor, the start-up with feeding the fermented wastewater with high sodium (30 gNa⁺/L), was unsuccessful since no biogas was produced and the fermentation products were not consumed, even after 60 days of operation. This result showed that, the microbial community was not able to start their activity under high salinity content. However, the second strategy imposed, i.e., adapting the microbial culture to increasing amounts of sodium proved to be successful. Using this strategy, the microbial community was capable to withstand with sodium concentration up to 14 gNa⁺/L, producing 0.50 L_CH4/d with a productivity of 0.23 L_CH4/(L.d)) and no apparent destruction of the anaerobic granules. Overall, the obtained results have demonstrated the feasibility of using anaerobic granules for the treatment of high salinity wastewater.