NOVELTY - Converting particulate lignocellulosic material to volatile organic compounds and char, comprises: forming a mixture of the particulate lignocellulosic material with a catalyst composition comprising polar organic liquid and an acid; heating the mixture to a high temperature high and for a long period so as to convert a major portion of any remaining solid phase of the mixture to char while agitating the mixture; and separating the volatile organic compounds and the catalyst composition as a gaseous phase from the solid phase.    USE - The method is useful for converting particulate lignocellulosic material to volatile organic compounds and char (claimed), where the lignocellulosic material includes cellulose fiber, cellulose powder, waste paper, woodchips, sawdust, twigs, bark, leaves and other forest litter, cereal and grass straws and hays, oilseed straws, sugar cane bagasse, banana pseudostem waste, oil palm waste, garden waste and algal cake derived from aquaculture or any vegetable material having a significant content of cellulose and/or hemicellulose.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for an apparatus for converting the lignocellulosic materials into volatile organic liquids and char, comprising: a mixing and comminution station for mixing the lignocellulosic material with the catalyst composition and comminuting the lignocellulosic material; a reactor arranged to receive the mixture from the mixing and comminution station through an inlet and to discharge char from an outlet located downstream of the inlet; an evacuation pump arranged to reduce pressure in the reactor; a feed assembly arranged to move the mixture from the inlet to the outlet so as to discharge char from the outlet; a heating assembly for heating the mixture in the reactor to a temperature at which pyrolysis occurs as it travels through the reactor; and a volatiles condensation assembly for recovering the catalyst and separating volatile chemical products from the reactor.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows schematic view of a pyrolysis portion of the apparatus.    Pyrolysis apparatus (1)    Process control computer (2)    Feed chute (3)    Solids/catalyst mixture (5)    Feed screw (7)