Systems and processes for recovery of light alkyl mono-aromatic compounds from heavy alkyl aromatic and alkyl-bridged non-condensed alkyl aromatic compounds

A system for conversion of alkyl-bridged non-condensed alkyl multi-aromatic compounds to alkyl mono-aromatic compounds, the system comprising:

• a hydrodearylation reactor adapted to receive a hydrogen stream and a feed stream and to produce a reactor effluent stream in presence of a catalyst, wherein the feed stream contains one or more of heavy alkyl aromatic compounds and one or more alkyl-bridged non-condensed alkyl multi-aromatic compounds having at least two benzene rings connected by an alkyl bridge group with at least two carbons and the benzene rings being connected to different carbons of the alkyl bridge group, and wherein the reactor effluent stream contains one or more alkyl mono-aromatic compounds;
• a first separator fluidly coupled to the hydrodearylation reactor, the first separator adapted to receive the reactor effluent stream and to produce a hydrodearylated gas stream and a hydrodearylated liquid stream;
• and
• a second separator fluidly coupled to the first separator, the second separator adapted to receive a portion of the hydrodearylated gas stream and to produce a hydrocarbon liquid stream and a vapor stream rich in hydrogen.