Provided are methods for preparing carbon powders and activated carbon powders from cellulose-containing liquids. In some embodiments, the methods include exposing a cellulose-containing liquid to a hydrothermal carbonization process to convert the carbonaceous material present therein into a carbon powder. Also provided are methods for activating carbon powders, methods for producing carbon powder-containing polymer matrices, and carbon powders, activated carbon powders, and polymer matrices that that include the disclosed carbon powders and/or activated carbon powders that are produced by the presently disclosed methods.
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