In the paper, H-2 rich gas produced from fowl manure (hen compost-HC) by low temperature catalytic gasification (LTCG) technology is addressed. The pyrolysis behaviors of the samples before and after weak acid pretreatment were investigated using thermal gravimetric analysis. Furthermore, the catalytic influence of HC char and HC ash on the decomposition of the nascent volatiles was determined. A catalytic role of the minerals contained in HC on its pyrolysis behavior was confirmed due to the high content of Ca. LTCG process promotes the complete decomposition of the manure volatiles and significantly increases H-2 yield and the total gas yield. An obvious catalytic effect of HC char and HC ash on the decomposition of the nascent volatiles is attributed to CaO contained in them. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.