A　novel　concept　of　fast　microwave　assisted　pyrolysis　(fMAP)　in　the　presence　of　microwave　absorbents　was　presented　and　examined.　Wood　sawdust　and　corn　stover　were　pyrolyzed　by　means　of　microwave　heating　and　silicon　carbide　(SiC)　as　microwave　absorbent.　The　bio-oil　was　characterized,　and　the　effects　of　temperature,　feedstock　loading,　particle　sizes,　and　vacuum　degree　were　analyzed.　For　wood　sawdust,　a　temperature　of　480　degrees　C,　50　grit　SiC,　with　2　g/min　of　biomass　feeding,　were　the　optimal　conditions,　with　a　maximum　bio-oil　yield　of　65　wt.%.　For　corn　stover,　temperatures　ranging　from　490　degrees　C　to　560　degrees　C,　biomass　particle　sizes　from　0.9　mm　to　1.9　mm,　and　vacuum　degree　lower　than　100　mmHg　obtained　a　maximum　bio-oil　yield　of　64　wt.%.　This　study　shows　that　the　use　of　microwave　absorbents　for　fMAP　is　feasible　and　a　promising　technology　to　improve　the　practical　values　and　commercial　application　outlook　of　microwave　based　pyrolysis.　(C)　2014　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.