Method for obtaining aromatic hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon mixture

Processes for obtaining aromatic hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon mixture comprising aromatic and nonaromatic hydrocarbons and high boilers comprising: (A) providing a hydrocarbon mixture a1 and an extractive solvent a2, (B) extractively distilling the mixture a1 with the extractive solvent to obtain a mixture b1 of extractive solvent, the aromatic hydrocarbons, and high boilers, (C) distilling the mixture b1 to one or more fractions c1 comprising aromatic hydrocarbons and the extractive solvent c2 comprising high boilers, (D) removing a substream d1 from the extractive solvent c2, (E) extracting the substream d1 of the extractive solvent with water to obtain an aqueous extract phase e1 essentially free of high boilers and an organic phase e2 comprising the high boilers, (F) distilling the aqueous extract phase e1 and recovering the extractive solvent a2. Step (E) is preceded by a distillation in which a fraction of very high-boiling hydrocarbons is removed from substream d1.