Carbide-derived carbons (CDCs) are traditionally prepared via high-temperature (>200°C) chlorination (Cl₂) of metal carbides for research and commercial applications including supercapacitors. This study investigates an alternative CDC synthesis method using an inexpensive halogen-containing etchant, ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl), to produce porous CDCs with tunable microstructures. Metal carbide (Me_xC) powder was mixed with NH₄Cl salt and brought to set temperatures ranging from 300-800°C for 2-15 hrs. Reactor designs consisted of an open, tube or box furnace, system with flowing argon or air environments, or the mixture was sealed in an evacuated quartz ampule with P_air,initial= ~1e-2 mbar and P_max= 20 bar. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images show a developing porous layer on the surface of the Me_xC particles following the core-shell growth model. Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) of the carbon KLL region was used to determine the resulting allotrope of the Me_xC-CDC powders. When titanium carbide (TiC) was used as the CDC precursor, AES spectra were indicative of a surface transition from metal carbide to graphitic carbon. Furthermore, preliminary N₂ adsorption measurements signified that the Me_xC mass loss and pore growth was associated with an increase in surface area.