Catalytic conversion of carbonaceous feedstock material into a biochar product

A method of converting a carbonaceous feedstock material into a solid carbon product, the method comprising:

• receiving an amount of a carbonaceous feedstock material;
• applying an amount of a catalyst to the carbonaceous feedstock material, the catalyst comprising a metal salt soluble in water and phosphoric acid in a weight ratio between 1:100 to 1:3 of phosphoric acid to the carbonaceous feedstock material;
• heating the carbonaceous feedstock material and the applied catalyst in an anaerobic environment to a temperature of at least 300 C, wherein the phosphoric acid reacts with carbon in the carbonaceous feedstock material and reduces an amount of Oxygen relative to an amount of Carbon in the carbonaceous feedstock material, wherein the heating removes water molecules from the carbonaceous feedstock material and forms anhydrous carbon intermediates, and wherein application of the metal salt activates functional groups in the carbonaceous feedstock material;
• and
• generating, via the heating of the carbonaceous feed stock material, the biochar material comprising mineral ash aromatic carbon groups, and an amount of the metal salt.