In this work, the pyrolysis of different Cuban biomass such as: sugar cane bagasse, coffee, residue of tobacco and sawdust of pine has been studied. The pyrolysis was carried out at different temperatures in a small furnace placed at the injection port of a gas chromatograph coupled to a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (Py-GC/FTIR). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was also carried out using a thermobalance. For tobacco residue, pyrolysis yield of charcoal and liquid products decreases with pyrolysis temperature (300-600 degrees C). When the pyrolysis is carried out at 300 degrees C charcoal yield is similar for tobacco residue, sawdust of pine and husk of coffee (approximate to 40%) while for husk of coffee and sugar cane bagasse the charcoal yield is lower but the yield of the liquid product is higher. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.