Transalkylation of aromatic fluids

A process for decreasing naphthalene concentration in a naphthalene-containing aromatic fluid, the process comprising

• mixing the naphthalene-containing aromatic fluid with an ethylbenzene- containing fluid to form a mixed aromatic fluid;
• contacting the mixed aromatic fluid with an acid catalyst under conditions sufficient to form a naphthalene-depleted aromatic fluid comprising ethylnaphthalene and benzene;
• and
• separating at least a portion of the benzene from the naphthalene-depleted fluid.

A process for reduction of naphthalene concentration in a mixed aromatic fluid, the process comprising:

• mixing a C-8 aromatic fluid comprising ethylbenzene with a naphthalene-containing aromatic fluid to from a mixed aromatic fluid;
• contacting the mixed aromatic fluid with an acid catalyst under conditions sufficient to effect transalkylation to from benzene and a naphthalene-depleted mixed aromatic fluid;
• and
• separating at least a portion of the benzene from the naphthalene-depleted aromatic fluid.

A process for reducing naphthalene concentration in a mixed aromatic fluid, the process comprising:

• contacting an acid catalyst and the mixed aromatic fluid under conditions sufficient to form ethylnaphthalene,
• wherein the mixed aromatic fluid comprises 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene;
• 1,2,3-trimethlybenzene;
• m-cymene;
• a mixture of alkylbenzene compounds having from 1 to 4 alkyl substituents, each alkyl substituent having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and the total carbon atoms in the alkylbenzene compounds is 10, 11 or 12;
• naphthalene;
• and methylnaphthalene.