Method and apparatus for obtaining aromatics from diverse feedstock

A process comprising:

• (a) treating a first hydrocarbon stream from a reformer in a steam cracker under suitable conditions to produce a second stream comprising C6-C10+ aromatic hydrocarbons, then
• (b) dealkylation and/or transalkylation and/or cracking (D/T/C) of at least a portion of said second stream by contact with a suitable catalyst under suitable reaction conditions to produce a third stream having an increased benzene and/or toluene content compared with said second stream and a light paraffin by-product;
• then
• (c) methylating at least a portion of said third stream with a methylating agent to selectively produce para-xylene and optionally a light olefin and/or light paraffin by-product;
• and then
• (d) a step of recovering para-xylene;
• wherein said first hydrocarbon stream, prior to step (a), and/or said second stream, prior to step (b), undergo at least one process prior to steps (b) or (c), respectively, said at least one other process selected from:
• (a) an isomerization process to convert ethylbenzene to xylenes;
• (b) a hydrotreating process to remove a portion or all of the di-olefins and/or a portion or all of the mono-olefins;
• (c) an extraction process to remove non-aromatic hydrocarbons;
• (d) a de-hexane process where C6 paraffins are separated from the C6 naphthenes and benzene;
• (e) a de-benzene process to remove at least a portion of the benzene in the feedstock, optionally then recovered and/or recycled;
• (f) fractionation to remove toluene prior to the dealkylation/transalkylation/cracking reactor.