A process for the prepn. of arom. compds. from a feed stream contg. biomass or mixts. of biomass, the process comprising: a) subjecting a feed stream contg. biomass or mixts. of biomass to a process to afford a conversion product comprising arom. compds.; b) recovering the arom. compds. from said conversion product; c) sepg. a higher mol. wt. fraction comprising polyarom. hydrocarbons (PAH) from a lower mol. wt. fraction comprising benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX) by distn.; d) reducing at least part of said higher mol. wt. fraction to obtain a reduced fraction comprising polycyclic aliphatics (PCA); and e) subjecting the higher mol. wt. fraction obtained in step c), the reduced fraction obtained in step d), or a mixt. thereof, to a process to obtain lower mol. wt. aroms. (BTX). [on SciFinder(R)