Production of benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) from FCC naphtha

A process of upgrading a sulfur-containing, catalytically cracked naphtha feed fraction boiling in the range from C.sub.5 to 500.degree. F. and having a sulfur content of at least 500 ppmw to form BTX with co-production of a motor gasoline fuel having an octane number ((R+M)/2) of at least 80, which comprises:

• fractionating the naptha to form a C.sub.6 + fraction,
• hydrodesulfurizing the C.sub.6 + fraction of the sulfur-containing cracked naphtha feed, over a hydrodesulfurization catalyst in a hydrodesulfurization zone, operating under a combination of elevated temperature, elevated pressure and an atmosphere comprising hydrogen, to produce an intermediate product comprising a normally liquid fraction which has a reduced sulfur content compared to the feed;
• contacting the gasoline boiling range portion of the intermediate product in a second reaction zone with a catalyst of acidic functionality comprising a molybdenum hydrogenation component and a zeolitic component, to convert it to an effluent comprising a fraction boiling in the gasoline boiling range having a higher octane number than the gasoline boiling range fraction of the intermediate product.
• extracting benzene, toluene and C.sub.8 aromatics from the effluent while forming as a by-product, a gasoline boiling range product having an octane rating of at least 80 (R+M)/2 and a sulfur content of not more than 100 ppmw.