Charcoal produced from cellulosic raw materials by microwave-assisted hydrothermal carbonization

In this work, cellulose-based renewable raw materials were hydrothermally carbonized in a microwave oven at 200 °C during 60, 120, and 240 min. The charcoals obtained were characterized by proximate analysis, gross calorific value, and thermogravimetric analysis on inert and oxidizing atmosphere. The values of fixed carbon were between 38 and 52 %. The mass loss between 300 and 470 °C was assigned to the thermal decomposition of cellulose, followed by the second stage between 470 and 740 °C, attributed to the thermal decomposition of lignin. The gross calorific values were between 22.60 and 27.12 MJ kg^?1, which are comparable to those of charcoals and coals.