TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOLOGY - Preferred Components: The enzyme includes endoglucanases, exoglucanases, cellobiohydrolases, beta -glucosidase, glycoside hydrolases, glycosyltransferases, lyases or esterases, which are active against components of hemicellulose, pectin and/or starch.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Components: The fermentor is configured to house the medium and comprises Clostridium phytofermentans and at least one other microbe different than Clostridium phytofermentans, where the other microbe comprises at least one yeast or at least one bacteria comprising at least one strain of Zymomonas mobilis. The second microbe comprises yeast or a bacterium different than Clostridium phytofermentans.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: In the method, the biomass material is hydrolyzed by treatment with: an acid; an enzyme or a mixture of enzymes; or an acid followed by treatment with an enzyme. The biomass material is reduced in size prior to hydrolyzing. The hydrolysis step includes pretreatment with acid in an acidification unit, followed by de-watering. In the method, the conditions include maintaining the medium at a temperature of less than 45 degrees C and a pH of below 9.5. In the method, the material is pulverized so that it has a particle size of 5-50 mu . The fermenting is carried out under conditions and for a time sufficient to produce a fuel. Preferred Components: The fuel comprises an alcohol of ethanol (preferred), n-propanol, isopropanol and/or n-butanol, where conditions include maintaining the concentration of ethanol lower than 1 M. The lignocellulosic material includes wood, wood pulp, papermaking sludge, paper pulp waste streams, particle board, grasses, rice hulls, bagasse, cotton, jute, hemp, flax, bamboo, sisal, abaca, straw, corn cobs, corn stover, distillers grains, leaves, wheat straw, coconut hair, algae, switchgrass, Miscanthus, legume plants, sorghum and/or biomass crops (e.g. Crambe). The medium has dissolved constituents of growth factors, minerals, surfactants and/or chelating agents. The concentration of carbohydrates in the medium is greater than 50 to less than 2000 mM. The material comprises: a low molecular weight carbohydrate having molecular weight of less than 1000, where the low molecular weight carbohydrate is arabinose, cellobiose, fructose, galactose, glucose, lactose, mannose, ribose and/or xylose; or a high molecular weight carbohydrate having a molecular weight of greater than 1000, where the high molecular weight carbohydrate is cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, polygalacturonic acid, pectin, starch and/or xylan. The material comprises a blend of two or more carbohydrates including a cellulosic or lignocellulosic material, where the cellulosic or lignocellulosic material is polycoated paper, kraft paper, papermaking sludge, wood, wood pulp, distiller grains, particle board, leaves, grasses, grass clippings, rice hulls, bagasse, cotton, jute, hemp, flax, bamboo, sisal, abaca, straw, corn cobs, corn stover, wheat straw, coconut hair, algae, switchgrass, and/or biomass crops. The material comprises a low molecular weight carbohydrate formed by breaking down a high molecular weight carbohydrate using an enzyme, where the material is free of lignin. EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.