TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The gaseous compound is sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, or hydrogen compound of formula (HX). The solid acid catalyst is a zeolite, and/or an anionic exchange resin.X = Cl, Br, F, or I.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The step of acidifying comprises adding to the fractionated lignocellulosic biomass at least one aqueous acid consisting of an organic acid, and/or an inorganic acid, contacting the fractionated lignocellulosic biomass with a gaseous compound that forms acid in situ, or contacting the fractionated lignocellulosic biomass with a solid acid catalyst. The method is continuous method. The fractionated lignocellulosic biomass is formed by contacting the lignocellulosic biomass with a first reaction fluid comprising hot compressed water and, optionally, carbon dioxide, where the first reaction fluid further comprises acid, when the lignocellulosic biomass comprises softwood, the first reaction fluid is at a temperature of at least 100 degrees C under a pressure sufficient to maintain the first reaction fluid in liquid form. The method further comprises reducing the first pressure of the first liquid fraction prior to separating the solid fraction from the second liquid fraction, producing at least one of the acetic acid and furfural from the soluble 5C saccharides. The step of hydrolyzing the second liquid fraction to form 5C saccharides comprises contacting the 5C oligosaccharides with dilute acid for a time sufficient to hydrolyze the 5C oligosaccharides to 5C oligosaccharides having fewer mer units, and/or 5C monosaccharides. The step of hydrolyzing the second liquid fraction to form 5C saccharides comprises enzymatic hydrolysis. Preferred Components: The inorganic acid is sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, and/or nitric acid. The fermentative product or the catalytic product is ethanol, and/or butanol. The inorganic acid is present at 0.05-2 wt.%. The second level of the soluble 5C saccharides is greater than the first level of the soluble 5C saccharides. The soluble 5C saccharides in second liquid fraction have an average molecular weight of lower than the average molecular weight of the soluble 5C saccharides in the first liquid fraction. The 5C oligosaccharides in the first liquid fraction have 2-25 mer units, where the 5C oligosaccharides in the second liquid fraction have 2-15 mer units. The first temperature and the second temperature are substantially the same. The first temperature and the second temperature are both no greater than 240 degrees C. The second temperature is less than the first temperature. The yield of the xylose is at least 68% of theoretical yield.