Methods and systems of upgrading heavy aromatics stream to petrochemical feedstock

A process for recovery of alkyl mono-aromatic compounds and benzene, the process comprising the steps of:

• supplying an aromatic bottoms stream comprising C11+ aromatic compounds from an aromatic recovery complex to a hydrodearylation reactor with a hydrodearylation catalyst;
• producing from the hydrodearylation reactor by processing the C11+ aromatic compounds under hydrodearylation conditions a hydrodearylated liquid product stream comprising benzene, toluene, and C8+ compounds;
• supplying a portion of the hydrodearylated liquid product stream to a transalkylation reactor to react the hydrodearylated liquid product stream in the presence of a transalkylation catalyst to produce a transalkylation product stream including benzene, C8+ aromatics including ethylbenzene and xylenes, and toluene;
• separating in a first separation column the transalkylation product stream into three fractions including a first overhead stream comprising benzene, a first bottoms stream comprising C8+ aromatics including ethylbenzene and xylenes, and a side-cut stream comprising toluene;
• recycling toluene from the side-cut stream comprising toluene to the transalkylation reactor;
• and
• producing para-xylene from the first bottoms stream comprising C8+ aromatics including ethylbenzene and xylenes.