Hydrothermal carbonization

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a new variation (biomass conversion) of an old field (biofuel) that has recently been further developed by workers in Germany. It involves moderate temperatures and pressures over an aqueous solution of biomass in a dilute acid for several hours. The resulting matter reportedly captures 100% of the carbon in a "biocoal" powder that could provide feedsource for soil amendment (similar to biochar) and further studies in economic nanomaterial production.