Methods for processing aromatic compounds

A method for processing one or more aromatic compounds, the process comprising:

• passing a hydrocarbon feed, hydrogen, and a recycle stream to a reactor, such that the hydrocarbon feed, the hydrogen, and the recycle stream are contacted with one another in the reactor and form a reactor effluent, wherein:
• the hydrocarbon feed comprises at least 99 wt. % of one or more C9+ aromatic compounds, wherein one or more of C9+ aromatic compounds are alkyl-bridged non-condensed alkyl multi-aromatic compounds;
• the recycle stream comprises at least 90 wt. % of one or more C11+ aromatic compounds, wherein one or more of C11+ aromatic compounds are alkyl-bridged non-condensed alkyl multi-aromatic compounds;
• and
• a portion of the alkyl-bridged non-condensed alkyl multi-aromatic compounds are converted to mono-aromatic compounds in the reactor, such that the reactor effluent comprises alkyl-bridged non-condensed alkyl multi-aromatic compounds and mono-aromatic compounds;
• passing the reactor effluent to a separation unit to form:
• a first separated stream comprising at least 90 wt. % of one or more C6-C9 aromatic compounds;
• a second separated stream comprising at least 90 wt. % of one or more C11+ aromatic compounds;
• and
• a third separated stream comprising at least 90 wt. % of C10 aromatic compounds;
• and
• splitting the second separated stream into a first portion and a second portion, wherein the recycle stream consists of the second portion of the second separated stream, and wherein the second portion of the second separated stream comprises from 5 wt. % to 95 wt. % of the second separated stream.