AbstractEvaluation of the thermal characteristics of rice hulls is described. Decomposition was negligible below 200°C, but on heating above 200°C, the amount of volatile matter evolved increased steadily with increasing temperature up to 450°C, where > 90 % of the total volatile matter was separated. Decomposition is rapid and is temperature dependent. The effect of temperature on the composition of the residues is also described. The carbon content of the residues increased while the oxygen and hydrogen content decreased sharply when the temperature of pyrolysis was increased.