Experimental results of slow, fast and catalytic pyrolysis of five lignocellulosic residues (corncobs and corn stalks, sunflower residues, olive kernels and olive tree prunings) are reported in this paper. Pyrolysis took place in two different reactor configurations: a captive sample wire mesh reactor for fast pyrolysis and a fixed bed reactor for non-catalytic and catalytic pyrolysis. Comparison of the experimental results showed that pyrolysis in the captive sample reactor produced more H-2-rich gas than in the fixed bed reactor, while the fixed bed reactor configuration seemed to favor the production of liquid products. Analysis of gaseous, liquid and solid products was performed by GC and GC/MS. Pyrolysis results were assessed, and recommendations for the further use of their products were made. (c) 2008 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.