Abstract: A process for producing combustible product from an organic or biomass feedstock, the process comprising: mixing the feedstock with an alkaline material to give an alkaline aqueous mixture; heating the mixture by ohmic heating to a temperature in the range of about 280° C. to about 320° C. and reacting the mixture under subcritical conditions at the said temperature range and a pressure of about 6.6 to about 11.6 MPa (65 bar gauge to about 115 bar gauge); and removing at least some of the water to leave a combustible product, which may be used to form an aqueous slurry, suspension or emulsion and combusted in a suitable engine.

Abstract: A method for improving the combustion properties of a coalcomprises treating said coal with a metal porphyrin. The invention also provides a coal having a metal porphyrin deposited thereon, and a method of producing heat, comprising combusting the coal.