Patent ID: 7686946

Claim:
A method of altering a feed to a transalkylation zone by changing a destination of at least one of a first stream rich in an aromatic C9 and a second stream rich in an aromatic C9 for increasing production of at least one of benzene, toluene, para-xylene, and an aromatic gasoline blend, comprising: a) providing the first stream rich in an aromatic C9 from a first fractionation zone that receives an effluent from a second fractionation zone wherein the second fractionation zone produces a stream rich in at least one of benzene and toluene, wherein the first stream rich in the aromatic C9 is at least partially comprised in at least one of the feed to the transalkylation zone and the aromatic gasoline blend; b) providing an aromatic C8 + hydrocarbon stream to a third fractionation zone to produce a stream rich in aromatic C8 − hydrocarbons and a stream rich in aromatic C9 + hydrocarbons; and c) passing the stream rich in aromatic C9 + hydrocarbons from the third fractionation zone to a last fractionation zone to produce a second stream rich in an aromatic C9, wherein the second stream rich in the aromatic C9 is at least partially comprised in at least one of the feed to the transalkylation zone and the aromatic gasoline blend.