The combustion and emission characteristics of tannery sludge at different heating rates were investigated by using thermogravimetric analysis-Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (TG-FTIR).It was found that the original tannery sludge contained high contents of volatile mater and ash while low content of fixed carbon

and had a low calorific value.The combustion of combustible matter in tannery sludge almost finished before 800℃.The Ozawa method was used to analyze the activation energy of tannery sludge combustion

and it was found that the activation energy in the tannery sludge combustion process increased with the extent of combustion reaction.The combustion of volatile matter in tannery sludge followed the three-dimensional diffusion model and Z-L-T equation was the most probable kinetic function

and the combustion of fixed carbon followed the self-catalyzed reaction and P-T equation was the most probable kinetic function.It was found that kinetic compensation relationship existed between combustion activation energy and pre-exponential factor at different heating rates.Some organic gaseous product emitted at the low temperature stage during tannery combustion.