To obtain the pyrolysis characteristics of sewage sludge under different heat sources and achieve the resources of sludge,a study was carried out on the traditional pyrolysis characteristics and gas production of swage sludge at different heating rates by TG-FTIR analysis. The feature and major process of microwave pyrolysis were investigated through data comparison. The results show that the TG curves of microwave pyrolysis and traditional pyrolysis at the heating rate of 100 ℃ /min were similar,in which three periods of losing weight occur at the same time. FTIR analysis results indicate that decarboxylation of hydrocarbons produces CO2,alkane pyrolysis produces CH4,and the response of water,CO2 and coke is a major source of CO. Activated carbon used as microwave absorbing material plays a significant role in the production of CO and H2 in the process of microwave pyrolysis.