Textile dyeing sludge (DS) was pyrolysed using an auger pyrolyser under microwave irradiation. It showed the non condensable gas yield was increased as reactor temperature increased and the char yield decreased with temperature. The condensate and oil yields reached maximum at 650 degrees C (i.e. 12.86 wt% and 0.84 wt%, respectively). The content of C, H and N in DS and sludge char (SC) decreased with temperature while S increased. The SC and sorbents (e.g. CaO) showed positive effects on sulfur retention. The maximum BET surface area of 91.9 m(2)/g was observed for SC at 550 C. Addition of catalysts such as CaO and Fe decreased pyrolysis oil yield and increased the H-2 yield. Oxygenates were mainly formed at 450-650 degrees C. The relative content of aromatic compounds in the pyrolysis oil increased as temperature increased, up to 88.38% (GC-MS area) at 750 degrees C. Heterocyclic aromatic compounds containing nitrogen accounted for 20%-58% of the pyrolysis oil. The H2 content increased from 2539 vol% without catalyst to 64.17 vol% with addition of 30 wt% CaO. As concentration in DS and SC was beyond the control standards for forest land use in China and should be further treated and disposed. The electricity consumption for pyrolysing DS of 60 wt% water content were 0.76-2.59 kWh/kg wet DS in the temperature range of 450-750 degrees C and auger speed range of 1-9 rpm. Higher pyrolysis temperature and lower auger speeds increased electricity consumptions. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V.