Hydrothermal carbonisation method

A method for dehydrating biomass comprising:

• injecting the biomass, a heat transfer fluid, and a reagent into a reactor:
• circulating in the reactor a mixture consisting of the biomass, the heat transfer fluid, and the reagent;
• subjecting the mixture to specific pressure and temperature conditions in the reactor such that organic matter in the biomass undergoes a hydrothermal carbonisation reaction in the reactor and the biomass is transformed into a carbonized biomass,
• determining an emitted gas production rate Te in the reactor during the hydrothermal carbonisation reaction;
• comparing the emitted gas production rate Te in the reactor to a predefined setpoint gas production rate Tc;
• adjusting at least one reaction drive parameter such that the emitted gas production rate Te in the reactor tends to be equal to or to approach the predefined setpoint gas production rate Tc, wherein the at least one reaction drive parameter is selected from the group consisting of a temperature in the reactor, an amount of the reagent injected into the reactor, and a residence time of the biomass in the reactor;
• and
• after the hydrothermal carbonisation reaction, mechanically dehydrating the carbonized biomass to form a dehydrated biomass.