The aim of this work was investigate the kinetics of the thermal decomposition reaction of sugarcane straw. The thermal decomposition experiments were conducted at four heating rates (1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 degrees C/min) in a thermogravimetric analyzer using nitrogen as inert atmosphere. The kinetic analysis was carried out applying the isoconversional method of Friedman, and the activation energies obtained varied from 154.1 kJ/mol to 177.8 kJ/mol. The reaction model was determined through master plots, corresponding to a two-dimensional diffusion. The pre-exponential factor of 1.82 * 10(9) s(-1) was determined by linearization of the conversion rate equation as a function of the inverse of absolute temperature, concerning to activation energy of 149.7 kJ/mol, which are in the order of magnitude for biomass thermal decomposition reported in literature. Finally, the theoretical and experimental conversion data showed a very good agreement, indicating that these results could be used for future process modeling involving sugarcane straw. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.