Thermal degradation of Shengli lignite was studied by thermogravimetry coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TG-GC-MS) for a temperature range from room temperature to 1200 degrees C at a heating rate of 5 degrees C/min. The volatile products released from the lignite gradually with the programmed temperature. The main reaction of pyrolysis took place between 350 degrees C and 800 degrees C. Seven sub-curves were used to fit the DTG curve to analyze the breakage of different bonds. More than 100 different substances were identified at different temperatures from the GC-MS results. Alkanes and benzene series were the major constituents of the released volatile products along with alcohol, naphthalene, benzofuran, indane, indole, biphenyl, etc. Most of the aliphatic compounds were released around 430 degrees C with chain lengths up to C21, with the majority being between C1 and C5. Aromatic hydrocarbons were also released mostly at around 430 degrees C. The number of substituents in a single aromatic compound was found between 0 and 4. The length of the substituent was C1-C6 (sometimes heteroatom instead) and C1 accounted for the most. Generally, TG-GC-MS results presented the mass loss and released gas information with the programmed temperature to bring a better understanding of the structure of the lignite and the pyrolysis process. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.