Method of pretreating and converting hydrocarbons

A process for steam cracking hydrocarbons comprising:

• a. Feeding a hydrocarbon steam cracker feed comprising pyrolysis oil from plastic waste and at least one contaminant, the contaminant comprising nitrogen, oxygen, or compounds thereof, the hydrocarbon steam cracker feed further comprising paraffinic hydrocarbons and olefins, to the process;
• b. Pretreating the feed by contacting the feed with a solvent to produce a pretreated feed having a reduced content of the contaminants comprising nitrogen, oxygen, or compounds thereof and a reduced content of fouling components that cause fouling in preheat, convection and radiant sections of a steam cracker and a rich solvent having an increased content of fouling components and the at least one contaminant;
• c. Heating the pretreated feed;
• and
• d. Passing the pretreated feed through the steam cracker under cracking conditions to produce cracked products;
• wherein the fouling components comprise polycyclic aromatics, resins, or a mixture thereof;
• and
• wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of furfural, sulfolane, toluene, N-formyl morpholine, N-methylpyrrolidone, tetraethylene glycol, and dimethylsulfoxide.