Hydrodealkylation process using impure make-up hydrogen

Claim 1

IN A PROCESS FOR THE HYDRODEALKYLATION OF AN ALKYL AROMATIC COMPOUND WHEREIN SAID COMPOUND IS HYDRODEALKYLATED AT HYDRODEALKYLATING CONDITIONS IN A REACTION ZONE IN THE PRESENCE OF HYDROGEN WHEREBY HYDROGEN IS CONSUMED REQUIRING REPLENISHMENT THEREOF, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES WITHDRAWING FROM A SOURE OF IMPURE HYDROGEN A GAS COMPRISING HYDROGEN AND A PARAFFINIC HYDROCARBON CONTAINING AT LEAST 3 CARBON ATOMS PER MOLECULE, SCRUBBING SAID GAS IN AN ABSORPTION ZONE WITH A LEAN OIL CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY FO A C9+ AROMATIC HYDROCARBON, THEREBY ABSORBING A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF SAID PARAFFINIC HYDROCARBON IN SAID LEAN OIL, PASSING THE RESULTING SCRUBBED GAS OF REDUCED PARAFFIN CONTENT AND SUBSTANTIALLY FREE OF PARAFFINS CONTAINNG MORE THAN 4 CARBON ATOMS PER MOLECULE TO SAID REACTION ZONE TO REPLENISH THE HYDROGEN CONSUMED THEREIN, PASSING THE RESULTING RICH OIL FROM SAID ABSORPTION ZONE TO A STRIPPING ZONE AND STRIPPING PARAFFINS THEREFROM, AND RETURNING THE RESULTING STRIPPED OIL TO SAID ABSORPTION ZONE AS SAID LEAN OIL.