para ethyltoluene is removed from the para xylene product using techniques known in the art in one embodiment the bottoms para xylene stream 276 comprises about 95 0 weight percent para xylene in one embodiment the bottoms para xylene stream 276 comprises about 99 2 weight percent para xylene in one embodiment the bottoms para xylene stream 276 comprises about 99 7 weight percent para xylene in one embodiment the bottoms para xylene stream 276 comprises about 99 9 weight percent para xylene in one embodiment the bottoms para xylene stream 276 comprises greater than about 99 9 weight percent para xylene fig3 illustrates applicant 39 s split fractionation column 210 split fractionation column 210 comprises housing 302 an upper portion 320 and a lower portion 322 upper portion 320 includes trays 303 that are similar to a prior art fractionation column lower portion 322 is divided lengthwise by partition 308 which extends upwardly from the bottom 332 of column 302 to top portion 334 to create lower distillation zones 324 and 326 each of the lower distillation zones 324 and 326 have trays 304 and 306 respectively input 278 is introduced into lower distillation zone 324 input 278 comprises a mixture of c8 aromatics c9 aromatics and toluene input 238 is introduced into the lower distillation 326 input 238 comprises a mixture of c8 aromatics and toluene in one embodiment input 238.