The pyrolysis of tea waste was studied for determining the main characteristics and quantities of liquid and solid products. Particular investigated process variables were temperature (673-973 K), heating rate (5-700 K min (1)) and nitrogen gas flow rate (200-800 cm(3) min (1)). The maximum oil and char yields are 30.4 (773 K) and 43.3% (673 K), respectively. The liquid and its aliphatic sub-fraction were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, (1)H NMR, and GC/MS. The char was characterized with elemental analysis, SEM, BET, and FT-IR techniques. The aliphatic sub-fraction of the obtained bio-oil contains predominantly n-alkanes and alkenes, and branched hydrocarbons. According to the experimental results the liquid products can be used as liquid fuels, whereas the solid product seems to be not suitable for adsorption purposes, due to having low surface areas. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.