TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Catalyst: The ketonization utilizes catalyst comprising oxides of cerium, oxides of manganese, oxides of calcium and/or oxides of magnesium. The hydrodeoxygenation utilizes catalyst comprising cobalt, molybdenum, nickel, palladium and ruthenium.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: In method (M1), 4-9C MCFAs or carboxylic acids are produced via controlled fermentation. The controlled fermentation comprises introducing compound into the fermentation to effect chain elongation by microorganisms; and separating 2-3C fatty acids or carboxylic acids from the fermentation product and recycling them to the fermentation for chain elongation, where conversion of biomass to acids and chain elongation take place in separate reactors or separate series of reactors operated under different conditions. The ketonization takes place at temperature of 200-600 degrees C (preferably 300-500 degrees C) and pressure of 0.1-10 atmosphere. The ketonization produces a ketone yield of greater than 90%. The hydrodeoxygenation takes place at temperature of 0-600 degrees C (preferably 200-500 degrees C) and pressure of 0.1-250 atmosphere. The method involves adding sulfur to stabilize the hydrodeoxygenation catalyst. The ketonization product comprises 7-17C ketones. The hydrodeoxygenation product comprises 7-17C n-paraffins. The hydrodeoxygenation product is further processed to produce transportation fuels or drop-in fuels (preferably diesel and/or jet fuel). The method further involves processing the hydrodeoxygenation product via hydroisomerization, hydrocracking, catalytic reforming, fractionation and/or distillation. In method (M3), the hydrogenation of the MCFAs or carboxylic acids occurs by reacting the acids with alcohol or olefin to form esters, and then hydrogenolyzing the ester to form alcohols. The dimerization/trimerization product comprises 8-18C paraffins. Preferred Compounds: The compound is selected from ethanol, lactic acid and/or hydrogen. EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.