Process for Reducing Benzene Concentration in Reformate

A process for separating and saturating benzene from a reforming zone effluent comprising:

• a. introducing the reforming zone effluent to a combined stabilizer and naphtha splitter;
• b. removing an overhead stream from the combined stabilizer and naphtha splitter, said overhead comprising light ends;
• c. removing a sidecut stream from the combined stabilizer and naphtha splitter, said sidecut stream comprising C4-C5 compounds;
• d. removing a bottoms stream from the combined stabilizer and naphtha splitter, said bottoms stream comprising C7+ compounds;
• e. removing a heart cut stream from the combined stabilizer and naphtha splitter, said heart cut stream comprising C4 C5 C6 compounds including benzene;
• f. introducing the heart cut stream to a side stripper to produce a side stripper overhead stream reduced in benzene and a side stripper bottoms stream enriched in benzene;
• and
• g. introducing at least a portion of the side stripper bottoms stream enriched in benzene into a hydrogenation zone to saturate benzene and generate a hydrogenation zone effluent depleted in benzene.