Design of selective hydrocracking catalysts for BTX production from diesel-boiling-range polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

•Design of hydrocracking catalysts for Polyaromatics conversion into BTX is studied.•Metallic functions in the hydrocracking catalysts should have a moderate hydrogenation activity.•Zeolitic functions with a high dealkylation activity is preferred for high per-pass yield of BTX.•Hence, sulfide-metals/hybrid zeolites (H-Beta+H-ZSM-5) catalyst show promise for high BTX yield.