Marine algae have great potential as a third generation biofuel feedstock. The pyrolytic and kinetic characteristics of three kinds of red algae (Pophyra yezoensis, Plocamium telfairiae Harv and Corallina pilulifera) were studied at heating rates of 10, 30 and 50 degrees C min(-1) under an inert atmosphere. The most probable mechanism function and activation energy pre-exponential factors were calculated by the Popescu, FWO and KAS methods. Three stages appeared during pyrolysis: moisture evaporation, primary devolatilization and residual decomposition. Significant differences in the average activation energy, thermal stability, final residuals and reaction rates of the algae samples were observed. Stage II of the samples could be described by the Avramic-Erofeev equation. The average activation energy of all samples was similar when calculated by different methods. Kinetic compensation effects of the pre-exponential factors and activation energy were also observed (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.