Hydrothermal carbonization

Carbon nanoballs made from glycose via hydrothermal carbonization, that have been processed with CO2 for 6 hours to change surface properties. SEM image from University of Tartu.

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a new variation (biomass conversion) of an old field (biofuel) that has recently been further developed by workers in Germany.[1] 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.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Maria-Magdalena Titirici, Arne Thomas and Markus Antonietti, New J. Chem., 2007, 31, 787-789. "Back in the black: hydrothermal carbonization of plant material as an efficient chemical process to treat the CO2 problem?"
  2. ↑ Back in the black: hydrothermal carbonization of plant material as an efficient chemical process to treat the CO2 problem?
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