the combustion of paper, fruit waste and plant residue mixtures representing the lignocellulosic materials of municipal solid waste (msw) in different atmospheres (80n(2)/20o(2), 70n(2)/30o(2), 60n(2)/40o(2), 50n(5)/50o(2), 80co(2)/20o(2), 70co(2)/30o(2), 60co(2)/40o(2), 50co(2)/50o(2)) was analyzed thermogravimetrically. replacement of 80% n-2 by 80% co2 resulted in a slightly later ignition, a lower maximum weight loss rate and a change in reactions occurring above 600 c; however, as the oxygen concentration increased from 20% to 50% in co2/o-2 atmosphere, the ignition temperature decreased from 318.5 to 310.8 degrees c and the maximum weight loss rate increased from 20.82% to 23.57%/min. an oxygen content of 30% in the co2/o-2 atmosphere achieved a similar combustion performance as a 80n(2)/20o(2). the fruit waste mixture had the least residual weight (about 5%) and the earliest ignition (about 220 degrees c). this work contributes to the comprehensive understanding of lignocellulosic materials combustion and development of msw oxy-fuel combustion. (c) 2011 elsevier ltd. all rights reserved.