TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The method (M1) further comprises fractionating the lignocellulosic biomass prior to the providing step, where the step of fractionating comprises contacting the lignocellulosic biomass with a first reaction fluid containing hot compressed water and, optionally, carbon dioxide, the first reaction fluid further comprises acid, when the lignocellulosic biomass comprises softwood, and 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. In the method (M1): the slurry is preheated to a temperature of 245-255 degrees C at a pressure of 200-260 bar for a residence time of 5 seconds to one minute; the second reaction mixture has a temperature of 358-380 degrees C at a pressure of 200-260 bar; the slurry is contacted with the second reaction fluid for less than 5 seconds; the second reaction mixture is cooled to a temperature of 260-280 degrees C at a pressure of 200-260 bar; reducing the temperature of the reaction mixture comprises contacting the reaction mixture with a composition containing water, where the composition further comprises at least one 1-5C alcohol; reducing the temperature of the reaction mixture comprises contacting the reaction mixture with a composition containing water and acid, where the acid is present at a level less than 1 wt.%, based on the total weight of the composition, and the composition further comprises at least one 1-5C alcohol; hydrolyzing the second liquid fraction is carried out enzymatically with with immobilized enzyme; and hydrolyzing the second liquid fraction comprises addition of at least one aqueous acid, contacting with gaseous compound that forms acid in situ, and contacting with least one solid acid catalyst, where the method is continuous. EXAMPLE - Fractionated lignocellulosic solids were mixed with water to form a slurry (4 wt./wt.%) having a pH of 4.2. At a pressure of 230 bar plus minus 30 bar, the resultant feed was ramped up to a temperature of 250 degrees C plus minus 5 degrees C and this temperature was maintained for a short residence time (20 seconds). At a pressure of 230 bar plus minus 30 bar, preheated slurry from the pre-heat stage was then impinged with supercritical water to reach a reaction temperature of 368 degrees C plus minus 10 degrees C (1:1 ratio with respect to slurry) so that the slurry temperature was immediately raised to the reaction temperature and maintained for a very short residence time (2 seconds according to ambient conditions). The preheated and hydrolyzed slurry from the cellulose hydrolysis stage was then quenched with cool water to reduce the temperature by 30 degrees C before sending it to the heat exchanger. The quench retards further reaction, including further hydrolysis and further degradation of monomer to unwanted degradation products, e.g. glycolic acid and glycolaldehyde.