Hydrothermal Carbonization of Biomass: A Review

The review surveys the structure and properties of plant biomass and the processes of its thermal conversion into biocoal (pyrolysis, torrefaction, and hydrothermal carbonization). Attention is focused on the hydrothermal carbonization: the mechanism of reaction, the conversion of the individual components of biomass and the material as a whole, the properties of the resulting biocoal, and current trends in the application of this process are described (the use as fuel and in the production of adsorbents, catalysts, etc.).