Hydrothermal carbonization of sugarcane bagasse via wet torrefaction in association with microwave heating

► Hydrothermal carbonization of sugarcane bagasse is studied using wet torrefaction. ► The biomass is torrefied in water or dilute sulfuric acid solution. ► Microwaves are employed to heat the solutions and the temperature is fixed at 180 °C. ► The higher heating value of bagasse can be increased up to 20.3%. ► The calorific value of torrefied biomass can be predicted well by correlations.