TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: In the process, at least some of the second liquid in the steam exploded stream is separated from the steam exploded stream to create a second liquid stream. The soaking is done at 140-210 degrees C for 1 minute to 16 hours; is preceded by a low temperature soaking step, where the ligno-cellulosic biomass is soaked in liquid comprised of water at 25-100 degrees C for 1 minute to 24 hours and the low temperature soaking step is followed by a separation step to separate a least a portion of the liquid from the low temperature soak. The ligno-cellulosic biomass is soaked in soaking step for 1 minute to 6 hours (preferably 1 minute to 4 hours, especially 1 minute to 3 hours, particularly 1 minute to 2 hours). The process further involves combining at least a portion of the liquid of the first liquid stream with at least a portion of the steam exploded stream. The steam exploded stream is washed with at least a third liquid to create a third liquid stream. The first liquid stream is purified to create a first purified liquid stream prior to combining the first liquid stream with at least a portion of the steam exploded stream. The third liquid stream is purified and then combined with at least a portion of the steam exploded stream. The separation of the liquid from the soaked biomass is done by pressing the soaked biomass. The purification of the first liquid stream is done by flashing. The flashing is done without reducing the pressure of the first liquid stream to atmospheric pressure before flashing, and at the pressure of the first liquid stream at the end of separating the first liquid from the soaked biomass. The second liquid stream is purified by steam stripping. The purified first liquid stream is combined with the second liquid stream prior to purifying the second liquid stream. The third liquid stream is purified by steam stripping. The first liquid stream, the second liquid stream and the third liquid stream are purified together. The purification is steam stripping. The steam stripping is followed by treatment with activated charcoal. The purified stream is concentrated to remove water. The first purified stream is combined with the second liquid stream prior to purification of the second liquid stream. In the process, any of the mixing with at least a portion of the steam exploded stream is done after at least a portion of the steam exploded stream is hydrolyzed. Preferred Composition: In the composition, the ratio of amount of the furfural to the amount of C5's and C6's added to together is less than 0.0050 (preferably less than 0.0040, especially less than 0.0009, particularly less than 0.44); the amount of the solids in the composition is 11-99 (preferably 14-99, especially 21-99, particularly 3-85) wt.% of the composition; the ratio of amount of the furfural to the amount of C5's and C6's added to together is less than 0.09 (preferably less than 0.08, especially less than 0.005, particularly less than 0.001); and the ratio of the amount of C5's to the amount of C6's is greater than 1 (preferably greater than 2, especially greater than 3, particularly greater than 4). EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.