Technically applicable gas with a high hydrogen content (ca 78%) was obtained through a two-stage pyrolysis of the mixture of Lazy bituminous coal with 15% waste tyre-rubber, The experiments were carried out in a laboratory pyrolysis unit with a 100 g charge. The incorporation of a thermal-degradation module in the stream of steam-gas mixture at the output of the pyrolysis reactor induced the decomposition of volatile products and significantly increased the yield of hydrogen. The influence of temperature of the cracking module (in the range between 900 and 1200 degrees C) on the amount of hydrogen in the pyrolysis gas was monitored. The solid by-product (carbonaceous residue) may be used as smokeless fuel or a sorbent precursor. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.