In this study, the characteristics of thermal decomposition of Wyoming pine wood catalyzed with CaO/ZSM-5 was investigated by using a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). The CaO/ZSM-5 catalyst was prepared using a wet mixing method aided by an ultrasonic treatment to improve the dispersing uniformity of CaO on ZSM-5. Material characterizations such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), nitrogen adsorption and desorption isotherms test, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) were carried out to examine thoroughly the CaO/ZSM-5 catalyst. The kinetic parameters and activation energy were determined using the Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) and Kissinger-Akahire-Sunose (KAS) methods. Results indicate that the yields and conversion of pine wood pyrolysis with CaO/ZSM-5 catalyst addition are much higher than that of pine wood individually. Further, the effect of CaO/ZSM-5 catalyst addition on the activation energy distribution of pine wood pyrolysis is presented and discussed in detail. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.