Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of low molecular weight aromatic compounds such as benzene, toluene, and xylenes (BTX) from plastics. Provided is a thermo-catalytic pyrolysis process for the preparation of aromatic compounds from a feed stream comprising plastic, comprising the steps of: a) subjecting a feed stream comprising a plastic to a pyrolysis treatment at a pyrolysis temperature in the range of 600-1000° C. to produce pyrolysis vapors; b) optionally cooling the pyrolysis vapors to a temperature that is below the pyrolysis temperature; e) contacting the vaporous phase with an aromatization catalyst at an aromatization temperature in the range of 450 700° C., which aromatization temperature is at least 50° C. lower than the pyrolysis temperature, in a catalytic conversion step to yield a conversion product comprising aromatic compounds; and d) optionally recovering the aromatic compounds from the conversion product.

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).