Pyrolusite reduction processes by three major biomass components cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin, represented by CP, HP and LP, respectively, were investigated by thermogravimetric analyzer coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (TG-FTIR). The Sestak-Berggren (SB) equation was used to evaluate the kinetics of reduction processes. TG analysis reveals that the main reduction processes occur at 250-410 degrees C, 220-390 degrees C, and 190-410 degrees C for CP, HP, and LP, respectively. FT-IR and XRD results indicate that various reducing volatiles (e.g. aldehydes, furans, ketones and alcohols) are produced from the pyrolysis with the three major components, which directly reduce MnO2 in ore to MnO. The processes are described by the SB equation with three parameters (m, n, p). Their non-zero values suggest that pyrolusite reduction is controlled by the diffusion of reducing gaseous products through an ash/inert layer associated with minerals. The apparent activation energies for pyrolusite reduction by CP, HP and LP are 40.48, 25.70 and 40.10 kJ.mol(-1), respectively. (C) 2015 The Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, and Chemical Industry Press. All rights reserved.