NOVELTY - Method (I) for producing higher hydrocarbons from biomass (102), comprises: (a) providing a biomass containing celluloses, hemicelluloses, lignin, nitrogen, and sulfur compounds; (b) removing sulfur compounds and nitrogen compounds from the biomass by contacting the biomass with a digestive solvent (124) to form a pretreated biomass; (c) contacting the pretreated biomass directly with hydrogen (121A) in the presence of a hydrogenolysis catalyst to form many oxygenated intermediates (130), and (d) processing at least a portion of the oxygenated intermediates to form a liquid fuel (150).    USE - The method is useful for producing higher hydrocarbons that are useful in forming transportation fuels (including synthetic gasoline, diesel fuel, and jet fuel), and industrial chemicals.    ADVANTAGE - The method: recycles at least a portion of oxygenated intermediates within the process and system, thus is cost effective; and minimizes catalyst poisoning, thus exhibiting increased conversion efficiency and extending catalyst life.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Method (I) for producing higher hydrocarbons from biomass (102), comprises: (a) providing a biomass containing celluloses, hemicelluloses, lignin, nitrogen, and sulfur compounds; (b) removing sulfur compounds and nitrogen compounds from the biomass by contacting the biomass with a digestive solvent (124) to form a pretreated biomass containing soluble carbohydrates and having less than 35% of the sulfur content and less than 35% of the nitrogen content based on untreated biomass on a dry mass basis; (c) contacting the pretreated biomass directly with hydrogen (121A) in the presence of a hydrogenolysis catalyst to form many oxygenated intermediates (130), and (d) processing at least a portion of the oxygenated intermediates to form a liquid fuel (150). INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for:    (1) method (II) for producing higher hydrocarbons from biomass, comprising: the steps (a) and (b) as above per se; (c1) contacting at least a portion of the pretreated biomass with a recycle solvent stream to form a digested portion of the pulp; (d1) contacting at least a portion of the digested portion of the pulp directly with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenolysis catalyst to form the oxygenated intermediates; (e1) recycling a first portion of the oxygenated intermediates to form in part the recycle solvent in step (c1); and (f1) processing at least a second portion of the oxygenated intermediates to form the liquid fuel;    (2) method (III) for producing higher hydrocarbons from biomass, comprising: the steps (a) and (b) as above per se; (c2) contacting at least a portion of the pretreated biomass with a recycle solvent stream to form a digested stream; (d2) contacting at least a portion of the digested portion of the digested stream directly with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenolysis catalyst to form a first intermediate stream; (e2) recycling a first portion of the first intermediate stream to form in part the recycle solvent in step (c2); (f2) contacting at least a portion of the first intermediate stream directly with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenolysis catalyst to form an oxygenated intermediates stream; and (g2) processing at least a first portion of the oxygenated intermediates to form the liquid fuel; and    (3) a system comprising: either (a3) a digester that receives a biomass feedstock and the digestive solvent operating under conditions to remove nitrogen compounds and sulfur compounds from the biomass feedstock and discharges a treated stream comprising a carbohydrate having less than 35% of the sulfur content and less than 35% of the nitrogen content based on untreated biomass feedstock on a dry mass basis, (b3) a hydrogenolysis reactor comprising a hydrogenolysis catalyst that receives hydrogen and the treated stream and discharges an oxygenated intermediate stream, where a first portion of the oxygenated intermediate stream is recycled to the digester as at least a portion of the digestive solvent, (c3) and a fuels processing reactor comprising a condensation catalyst that receives a second portion of the oxygenated intermediate stream and discharges a liquid fuel; or (a4) a digester that receives a biomass feedstock and a digestive solvent operating under conditions to effectively remove nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur compounds from the biomass feedstock and discharges a treated stream comprising a carbohydrate having less than 35% of the sulfur content and less than 35% of the nitrogen content based on untreated biomass feedstock on a dry mass basis, (b3) as above per se, (c4) a first fuels processing reactor comprising a dehydrogenation catalyst that receives a second portion of the oxygenated intermediate stream and discharges an olefin-containing stream, and (d4) a second fuels processing reactor comprising an alkylation catalyst that receives the olefin-containing stream and discharges a liquid fuel.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a schematic illustration of a block flow diagram of higher hydrocarbon production process.    Biomass (102)    Hydrogen (121A)    Digestive solvent (124)    Oxygenated intermediates (130)    Liquid fuel (150)