Process for Removing Residual Hydrogen in Aromatic Fractions

A process of purifying an aromatic hydrocarbon comprising:

• a) performing selective hydrogenation of an aromatic hydrocarbon-containing feedstock having a bromine index of at least 30 in the presence of a selective hydrogenation catalyst while supplying hydrogen to form a first aromatic hydrocarbon-containing product having a reduced bromine index and unsaturated hydrocarbon content and comprising residual hydrogen at up to 200 wtppm, and
• b) performing hydrogenation of the first aromatic hydrocarbon-containing product using the residual hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to form a second aromatic hydrocarbon-containing product comprising residual hydrogen in a reduced amount, compared to the first aromatic hydrocarbon-containing product,
• wherein the first aromatic hydrocarbon-containing product has a bromine index reduced by at least 20% compared to the aromatic hydrocarbon-containing feedstock, and comprises (i) an unsaturated hydrocarbon and (ii) a bicyclic aromatic hydrocarbon.