| abstract |
The present invention relates to a hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) process for the preparation of a material, in particular a coal or humic substance, which comprises two steps, namely, a step of heating a reaction mixture comprising biomass, water and a base, and a step of adding further biomass to the reaction mixture and further heating the reaction mixture to give a reaction mixture comprising the material, to the material as such, and to various uses of the material. Furthermore, the present invention is concerned with a hydrothermal process for the disintegration of biomass to result in an aqueous dispersion, which comprises the step of heating a reaction mixture comprising biomass, water and a base, wherein the heating temperature is 300°C or less and the ratio B of base equivalents and biomass glucose equivalents is 0.3 < B < 2.0. Also, the invention provides the aqueous dispersion obtainable by the process and the use thereof as a cement additive. |