INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL of RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCH M. Alhina et al., Vol.8, No.3, September, 2018 Characterisation and Thermochemical Conversion of Rice Husk for Biochar Production Mujahid Alhinai*‡, Abul K. Azad*, Muhammad S. Abu Bakar*, Neeranuch Phusunti** *Faculty of Integrated Technologies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong BE1410, Brunei Darussalam ** Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90112, Thailand (alhinai777@gmail.com, abul.azad@ubd.edu.bn, saifullah.bakar@ubd.edu.bn, neeranuch.p@psu.th) ‡Corresponding Author; Mujahid Alhinai, Faculty of Integrated Technologies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong BE1410, Brunei Darussalam, +6738275707, alhinai777@gmail.com Received: 29.05.2018 Accepted:10.07.2018 Abstract- We present a thermochemical conversion of four varieties of rice husk samples i.e. Laila (ARH), Pusu (BRH), Bandul Beminyak (CRH) and Sendakan (DRH), collected from Brunei Darussalam. An extensive proximate and elemental analysis of the obtained samples is conducted. In addition, we thoroughly investigate temperature parameter as a function of weight loss for all samples via thermogravimetric analysis during respective pyrolysis and combustion. The study illustrated that three thermal decomposition stages occur during both pyrolysis and combustion. Hydrocarbon converts to volatiles in the second and third thermal decomposition stages. For the second and third stages of both pyrolysis and combustion, inhibitive and accelerative interactions, with temperatures ranging between 250 °C to 400 °C, and 430 °C to 900 °C in the former, respectively. And in the latter, the temperature varies between 250 °C to 350 °C, and 350 °C to 900 °C, respectively. The aim of this experimental work is to produce and characterise biochar from sample mixtures by pyrolysis in a fixed bed reactor. The experiments are conducted at different temperatures, ranging within 400, 500 and 600 °C. The most yield of biochar is found to be 49.5 wt. % at 400 °C. The bio-chars morphological structure and elemental contents are investigated by SEM and EDX to examine the physical and chemical changes. Graphical abstract: Keywords Rice husk, Thermochemical conversion, TGA, DTG, SEM.