An apparatus for extraction and recovery of components from biomass feedstocks with pressurized low polarity water. The apparatus is configured with two or more reaction columns, each separately communicating with sources of pressurized water, pressurized heated water, and pressurized cooling water. Components are extracted from the biomass by separately flooding the column with pressurized water, heating the column and its contents to the point where the water becomes pressurized low polarity (PLP) water, recovering the PLP water comprising the extracted components, cooling the column with PLP water, and removing the spent biomass material from the column.
