A method for extracting at least hydrogen from a compound comprising carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen, the method comprising: determining an amount of water to combine with the compound to produce a wet form of the compound and to react through a hydrous pyrolysis reaction with the compound, wherein the determined amount of water equals at least: M T 1 − W 0.7778 C + 18 16 + n / 150 + 31 n L + 0.79 G + 1.37 X] − W, wherein: M T equals a mass of the compound; W equals a weight percent water of the compound; C equals a cellulose (C 6 H 10 O 5) percentage of the compound; L equals a lignin (C 9+n H 10+3n O 2+n) percentage of the compound and 0.9 < n < 1.4; X equals a xylan (C 17 H 36 O 8) percentage of the compound; and G equals a glucomannan (C 35 H 49 O 35) percentage of the compound; or M T 1 − W mass H 2 O × 2 % C / mass C − % O / mass O − W, wherein: M T equals a mass of the compound; W equals a weight percent water of the compound; %C equals a carbon weight percentage of the compound; and %O equals an oxygen weight percentage of the compound; combining the determined amount of water with the compound to produce the wet form of the compound, wherein the compound comprises at least cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose, or a waste stream, wherein the waste stream includes at least one C-O-H compound selected from paper waste, sawdust of wood, cardboard, hay, straw, switchgrass, municipal solid waste, sanitized waste and/or demolition and construction wood waste; transferring the wet form of the compound into a reaction processing chamber; heating the wet form of the compound within the reaction processing chamber to a temperature between 700 °C and 1100 °C such that elements comprised by the wet form of the compound dissociate and react through the hydrous pyrolysis reaction, wherein one reaction product comprises at least hydrogen gas; and extracting at least hydrogen gas. determining an amount of water to combine with the compound to produce a wet form of the compound and to react through a hydrous pyrolysis reaction with the compound, wherein the determined amount of water equals at least: M T 1 − W 0.7778 C + 18 16 + n / 150 + 31 n L + 0.79 G + 1.37 X] − W, wherein: M T equals a mass of the compound; W equals a weight percent water of the compound; C equals a cellulose (C 6 H 10 O 5) percentage of the compound; L equals a lignin (C 9+n H 10+3n O 2+n) percentage of the compound and 0.9 < n < 1.4; X equals a xylan (C 17 H 36 O 8) percentage of the compound; and G equals a glucomannan (C 35 H 49 O 35) percentage of the compound; or M T 1 − W mass H 2 O × 2 % C / mass C − % O / mass O − W, wherein: M T equals a mass of the compound; W equals a weight percent water of the compound; %C equals a carbon weight percentage of the compound; and %O equals an oxygen weight percentage of the compound; M T equals a mass of the compound; W equals a weight percent water of the compound; C equals a cellulose (C 6 H 10 O 5) percentage of the compound; L equals a lignin (C 9+n H 10+3n O 2+n) percentage of the compound and 0.9 < n < 1.4; X equals a xylan (C 17 H 36 O 8) percentage of the compound; and G equals a glucomannan (C 35 H 49 O 35) percentage of the compound; or M T 1 − W mass H 2 O × 2 % C / mass C − % O / mass O − W, wherein: M T equals a mass of the compound; W equals a weight percent water of the compound; %C equals a carbon weight percentage of the compound; and %O equals an oxygen weight percentage of the compound; M T equals a mass of the compound; W equals a weight percent water of the compound; %C equals a carbon weight percentage of the compound; and %O equals an oxygen weight percentage of the compound; combining the determined amount of water with the compound to produce the wet form of the compound, wherein the compound comprises at least cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose, or a waste stream, wherein the waste stream includes at least one C-O-H compound selected from paper waste, sawdust of wood, cardboard, hay, straw, switchgrass, municipal solid waste, sanitized waste and/or demolition and construction wood waste; transferring the wet form of the compound into a reaction processing chamber; heating the wet form of the compound within the reaction processing chamber to a temperature between 700 °C and 1100 °C such that elements comprised by the wet form of the compound dissociate and react through the hydrous pyrolysis reaction, wherein one reaction product comprises at least hydrogen gas; and extracting at least hydrogen gas.