A method of removing at least benzene from a hydrocarbon stream comprises
concentrating aromatics in the hydrocarbon stream by passing the
hydrocarbon stream through a membrane unit having at least one membrane
to produce a permeate stream and a retentate stream, wherein the permeate
stream is aromatics rich relative to the hydrocarbon stream; and
extracting aromatics after concentrating using a selective aromatics
extraction solvent in an extraction unit to produce an extract stream,
wherein the extract stream is aromatics rich relative to the permeate
stream.