TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Fuel Compact: The biomass fuel compact further comprises at least one of a silicate additive, a viscosity additive, a preservative, and a BTU additive, where each of the viscosity additive and the BTU additive are combustible materials. The body has an upper portion, a lower portion, and tapered walls extending from the upper portion to the lower portion, where the upper portion is wider than the lower portion. The body further comprises rounded edges. The body comprises parallel opposed sidewalls and parallel opposed end walls, and at least one of the sidewall defines a flat surface. The body defines an aperture formed through it. The body is selected from a pellet, a briquette, and a puck. When the biomass fuel compact comprises contains the body, then the fuel compact comprises (wt.%): biomass composition (69-98), starch (1-30), and hydroxide (less than 1); or biomass (50-95), starch (5-50), hydroxide (0.005-0.05), silicate additive (0.1-5); and viscosity additive or preservative (0.1-2). When the biomass fuel compact contains the combustible biomass composition, and adhesive additive, then the fuel compact comprises (wt.%): biomass (90-95), and adhesive additive (5-10). Preferred Components: The viscosity additive is a naturally occurring biomass selected from duckweed, rice hulls, and coal dust. The biomass composition is selected from saw dust, cardboard and chipboard, grass, switchgrass, energy crops, hay, tree bark, sweetgum seed pods, pinecones, newsprint, wheat straw, duckweed, pine needles, mixed leaves, yard waste, agricultural waste, cotton waste, grape and wine offal, corn stover, crop stovers, peat, tobacco waste, tea waste, coffee waste, food processing waste, food packaging waste, nut meats and shells, chestnut hulls, pecan shells, animal waste, livestock waste, mammal waste, municipal solid waste, paper waste, pallets, and egg cartons.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The hydroxide is selected from alkali metal hydroxides, alkaline earth hydroxides, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, and caustic soda.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The BTU additive is one of an oil and its derivative. EXAMPLE - No suitable example is given.