Tobacco rob (TR) gasification experiments were carried out using thermogravimetric analyzer and gas chromatographic analyzer (TG-GC). Under the catalytic and non-catalytic condition, the pyrolysis characteristics, gasification characteristics and kinetics of TR were investigated in nitrogen-steam atmosphere. In the gasification process, the volumetric model was used in modeling pyrolysis of TR and the shrinking model was applied for investigating the gasification of pyrolysis chars. The experimental results showed that the TR gasification started above 750 degrees C without catalysts. Both NiO and dolomite could decrease the gasification temperature and enhance water gas shift reactions. The composition of gasification production was detected by gas chromatograph. The H-2 yield (34 mol/kg) of TR gasification with NiO was the most. The dolomite had more remarkable effect on improving CO yield (23 mol/kg). (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.