Processes and systems for producing one or more of benzene, toluene, or mixed xylenes

A process for the production of one or more of benzene, toluene, or mixed xylenes, the process comprising:

• providing an aromatic feed chemical stream comprising one or more aromatic feed chemicals;
• passing a first portion of the aromatic feed chemical stream to a first mixing unit;
• passing a second portion of the aromatic feed chemical stream to a separation unit;
• mixing the first portion of the aromatic feed chemical stream and one or more aromatic-based polymers in the first mixing unit comprising a mixing vessel and a mixer, wherein:
• the one or more aromatic feed chemicals are chosen from one or more of C9+ alkyl aromatics or alkyl-bridged non-condensed alkyl multi-aromatic compounds,
• the alkyl-bridged non-condensed alkyl multi-aromatic compounds include at least two benzene rings connected by an alkyl bridge group having at least two carbons,
• the benzene rings are connected to different carbons of the alkyl bridge group,
• the one or more aromatic feed chemicals are liquid,
• the one or more aromatic-based polymers are solids, and
• the mixing causes at least a portion of the aromatic-based polymers to dissolve into the one or more aromatic feed chemicals to produce a first mixing unit effluent stream;
• passing the first mixing unit effluent stream to a hydrodearylation unit downstream of the mixing unit;
• combining the first mixing unit effluent stream with a hydrodearylation catalyst and hydrogen in the hydrodearylation unit, where the combining produces a chemical product;
• and
• passing the chemical product out of the hydrodearylation unit, wherein the chemical product comprises one or more of benzene, toluene, and mixed xylenes.