TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Method: The method is performed with an acid concentration in step (c), a residence time in step (d), and a temperature in step (d) to produce a liquid hydrolysate that comprises hemicellulose sugar molecules and residual solids that comprise cellulosic fiber that is at least 0.35 mm in length. The acid concentration in step (c) is 1-1.5 wt./wt.%, the residence time in step (d) is 5-10 minutes and the temperature in step (d) is 60-180 degrees C. The liquid and/or vapor that are separated from solid disintegrated biomass in step (b) comprise extractives. The heating of the acid impregnated disintegrated biomass in the digestor is with direct or indirect steam, where the mechanical disintegrating is performed in a thermo-mechanical disintegrator. The mechanical disintegration is performed at a first pressure and a residence time to shear apart the biomass to make it accessible for acid-catalyzed depolymerization of carbohydrate polymers. The first pressure is 5-50 psig and the residence time is 5-60 seconds. The digestor is operated under a second pressure of 50-150 psig, where the second pressure is higher than the first pressure. The material that is fed to the digestor comprises a liquid to solid ratio of 1:1 to 20:1. The digestor is operated at a second pressure of 90-110 psig, a temperature of 120-180 degrees C (preferably 167-176 degrees C) and a residence time of 3-20 (preferably 4-15) minutes. The solids are separated from liquids in step (e) in a screw press, belt filter press, centrifuge, settling tank, vacuum filter, a sieve screen, or rotary drum dryer. In the method (M1), the liquid hydrolysate comprises 10-150 g/l sugar molecules. The method (M1) further involves conditioning the liquid hydrolysate to remove at least one inhibitor of microbial growth and/or production of a bioproduct, to produce a conditioned hydrolysate. The acid concentration in step (a) is 0.1-5 wt./wt.%, the residence time in step (b) is 8-20 minutes, and the temperature in step (b) is 160-180 degrees C.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The acid is nitric acid (at a concentration of 0.1-0.5 wt./wt.% or 0.05-4 wt./wt.%).    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Components: The pressure changing device is selected from plug screw feeder, rotary valve, or lockhopper arrangement. The thermo-mechanical disintegrator is selected from modular screw device, oil press, or screw press. The digestor is a continuous feed, pressure rated, screw conveyor vessel. EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.