Individual and co-liquefaction of lignite and sawdust (CLLS) under syngas was performed in an autoclave and the effects of temperature, initial syngas pressure, reaction time and ratio of solvent to coal and biomass on the product distribution of CLLS were studied. Sawdust is easier to be liquefied than lignite and the addition of sawdust promotes the liquefaction of lignite. There is some positive synergetic effect during CLLS. In the range of the experimental conditions investigated, the oil yield of CLLS increases with the increase of temperature, reaction time (10-30 min) and the ratio of the solvent to the feedstock (0-3), but varies little with the increase of initial syngas pressure. Accordingly, the total conversion, the yield of preasphaltene and asphaltene (PA + A) and gas, changes by the difference in operation conditions of liquefaction. The gas products are mainly CO and CO2 with a few C-1-C-4 components. The syngas can replace the pure hydrogen during CLLS. The optimized operation conditions in the present work for CLLS are as follows: syngas, temperature 360 degrees C, initial cold pressure 3.5 MPa, reaction time 30 min, the ratio of solvent to coal and sawdust 3:1. Water gas shift reaction occurs between CO in the syngas and H2O from coal and sawdust moisture during the co-liquefaction, producing the active hydrogen which increases the conversion of liquefaction and decreases the hydrogen consumption. (C) 2010 Elsevier By. All rights reserved.