TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: In the method, the oxygenated intermediates comprise a carbonyl-containing compound. The method further comprises contacting the second portion of the oxygenated intermediates with a dehydrogenation catalyst to increase the amount of carbonyl-containing compounds in the second portion of the oxygenated intermediates. The condensation catalyst further comprises an acidic functionality. The method as well comprises contacting the second portion of the oxygenated intermediates with a catalyst comprising an acidic functionality to effect a ring opening reaction; contacting the second portion of the oxygenated intermediates with a catalyst comprising a base functionality to effect a ketonization reaction; and contacting the second portion of the oxygenated intermediates with a hydrogenation catalyst to form the fuel blend after contacting the second portion of the oxygenated intermediates with the catalyst comprising the base functionality. The aqueous phase reforming catalyst and the catalyst comprising the base functionality are in the same vessel. The fuel blend comprises a diesel fuel, or a jet fuel. The intermediate stream has a carbohydrate content of less than 5% at the outlet of the hydrolysis reaction. The intermediate stream has a total organic content on a weight basis, and where the total organic content of the intermediate stream is greater than 2%. The method also comprises contacting the bio-based feedstock with a hydrolysis catalyst in the hydrolysis reaction, where the hydrolysis catalyst comprises at least one catalyst selected from: an acid catalyst, a base catalyst, a metal catalyst, acetic acid, formic acid, levulinic acid, and any combination. Alternatively, the method comprises: providing a bio-based feedstock; contacting the bio-based feedstock with a hydrolysis catalyst and a solvent to form an intermediate stream comprising carbohydrates; contacting at least a portion of the intermediate stream with a hydrogenolysis catalyst in the presence of a first hydrogen source to form at least some hydrogenolysis reaction products; contacting at least a portion of the intermediate stream with a hydrogenation catalyst in the presence of a second hydrogen source to form at least some hydrogenation reaction products; contacting at least a portion of the intermediate stream with an aqueous phase reforming catalyst to form an aqueous phase reforming reaction product; where at least a portion of the hydrogenolysis reaction products, at least a portion of the hydrogenation reaction products, and at a least a portion of the aqueous phase reforming reaction products are combined to form a set of oxygenated intermediates, where a first portion of the oxygenated intermediates are recycled to form the solvent; and contacting at least a second portion of the oxygenated intermediates with a condensation catalyst comprising a base functionality to form a fuel blend. The aqueous phase reforming reaction products comprise hydrogen, and where the hydrogen is the first hydrogen source, the second hydrogen source, or both. The hydrogenolysis catalyst, the hydrogenation catalyst, and the aqueous phase reforming catalyst are the same catalyst and are present in the same reactor vessel. The method further comprises contacting the second portion of the oxygenated intermediates with a dehydrogenation catalyst to increase the amount of carbonyl-containing compounds in the second portion of the oxygenated intermediates; and contacting the second portion of the oxygenated intermediates with a hydrogenation catalyst to form the fuel blend after contacting the second portion of the oxygenated intermediates with the catalyst comprising the base functionality. EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.