Hydrotreatment of hydrocarbon stocks and separation of aromatic components

Claim 1

THE PROCESS FOR RECOVERING AN AROMATIC HYDROCARBON FROM A MIXTURE OF HYDROCARBONS CONTAINING NUCLEARLY ALKYL-SUBSTITUTED HOMOLOGS OF THE BENZENE AND POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC SERIES TOGETHER WITH SULFUR- AND NITROGEN-CONTAINING IMPURITIES, WHICHI COMPRISES INTIALLY SUBJECTING SAID MIXTURE TO A HYDROREFINING TREATMENT IN THE PRESENCE OF HYDROGEN AND AT HYDROREFINING REACTION CONDITIONS WHEREBY THE SULFUR- AND NITROGEN-CONTAINING COMPOUNDS PRESENT IN THE FEED MIXTURE ARE CONVERTED TO VOLATILE NITROGEN- AND SULFUR CONTAINING COMPOUNDS AND THE NITROGEN AND SULFUR CONTENT OF THE NORMALLY LIQUID PORTION OF THE FEED STOCK IS SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED, THEREAFTER CONTRACTING THE RESULTING HYDROREFINED PRODUCT WITH A SOLID ADSORBENT UNDER CONDITIONS WHEREBY THE ALKYL AROMATIC HYDROCARBON COMPONENTS PRESENT IN THE HYDROREFINED PRODUCT ARE SELECTIVELY RECOVERED FROM THE NONAROMATIC COMPONENTS OF THE MIXTURE AND SUBJECTING THE RECOVERED ALKYL AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS TO HYDRODEALKYLATION IN THE PRESENCE OF HYDROGEN AND A HYDRODEALKYLATION CATALYST AT A TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE SUFFICIENT TO REMOVE THE NUCLEAR ALKYL SUBSTITUENTS FROM THE ALKYL AROMATIC COMPONENTS OF THE FEED STOCK TO THE HYDRODEALKYLATION REACTION.