Abstract: A process for the preparation of aromatic compounds from a feed stream containing biomass or mixtures of biomass, the process comprising: a) subjecting a feed stream containing biomass or mixtures of biomass to a process to afford a conversion product comprising aromatic compounds; b) recovering the aromatic compounds from said conversion product; c) separating a higher molecular weight fraction comprising polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from a lower molecular weight fraction comprising benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX) by distillation; d) reducing at least part of said higher molecular weight fraction to obtain a reduced fraction comprising polycyclic aliphatics (PCA); and e) subjecting the higher molecular weight fraction obtained in step c), the reduced fraction obtained in step d), or a mixture thereof, to a process to obtain lower molecular weight aromatics (BTX).