TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The gas is selected from hydrogen, helium or nitrogen. The aqueous fluid is acidic, or comprises an acid, or an added acid. The acid comprises H2SO4 at a concentration of 0.01-2%, preferably at least 0.05% H2SO4. The catalyst or catalyst system comprises a combination of at least one noble metal catalyst, with at least one solid support, in the presence of at least one solid acid, to provide for hydrogenation and/or HDO. The noble metal catalyst is selected from platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), ruthenium (Ru), and rhodium (Rh). The solid support is selected from Al2O3, C, ZrO2 or TiO2. The solid acid is selected from acidic Zeolyst CBV 8014 CY 1.6, NH4+ Z-Y 57277-14-1 and FCC (La-Y).    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred System: The aqueous-based system comprises a hydrogenation and/or hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) reactor chamber comprising a catalyst or catalyst system. The hydrogenation and/or hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) reactor chamber is integrated with the aqueous flowthrough thermal reactor chamber, or is distinct from the aqueous flowthrough thermal reactor chamber.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Process: The lignin biomass is contacted under elevated temperature of greater than 200 (preferably 200-300, more preferably 220-260, especially 220-240) degrees C. The output aqueous fluid is collected under the flowthrough conditions that results in dilution of the released, depolymerized lignin. The method involves contacting the composition (C1) by passing the aqueous fluid through the reactor chamber in three different time zones, comprising a heating zone, a reaction zone at elevated temperature, and a cooling zone, where the heating and the cooling zone can optionally occur inside or outside the thermal reactor. The thermal reactor chamber comprising the composition (C1) is purged using an inert gas prior to contacting the composition with the aqueous fluid. The method further involves contacting the released depolymerized lignin with a catalyst or catalyst system in a hydrogenation and/or hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) reactor chamber to provide for hydrogenation and/or hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) for deconstruction of the released depolymerized lignin into lower molecular weight reactive lignin moieties and oligomers amenable for subsequent removal of oxygen to produce hydrocarbon fuels and/or chemicals and/or compounds. The hydrogenation and/or hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) occurs after the released depolymerized lignin exits the flowthrough thermal reactor, preferably in a subsequent hydrogenation and/or hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) reactor chamber in communication with the flowthrough thermal reactor. The hydrogenation and/or hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) occurs within the reactor to provide for a simultaneous solubilization, depolymerization, and HDO process comprising integration of depolymerized lignin production with HDO in a single reactor. The hydrogenation and/or hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) reactor chamber is purged using an inert gas, prior to hydrogenation and/or hydrodeoxygenation. Preferred Components: The depolymerized lignin comprises at least one lignin selected from soluble depolymerized lignin, oligomeric lignin, and insoluble depolymerized lignin comprising native lignin structure. EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.