Thermal characterization and pyrolysis kinetics of six types of tropical timber from Central Africa

•Physical-chemical characterization of six tropical timbers was realized for the first time.•HHV values for the biofuels can be foreseen using ultimate and proximate analysis.•Combustion process parameters have been calculated.•Pyrolysis can be modeled by separate decomposition of the main biomass components.•Kinetic parameters were employed to model and simulate the pyrolysis process.