A process for the production of a higher hydrocarbon from solid biomass is provided. The process provides for ready separation of organic phase from aqueous phase which organic phase maybe recycled as a digestive solvent in a digestion and/or deoxygenation of solid biomass. By contacting the oxygenated hydrocarbon intermediate containing diols produced from the digestion and deoxygenation of solid biomass with an amorphous silica alumina catalyst reduces the diols content and product stream readily separates into organic phase and aqueous phase.