Methods for deriving a low-C hydrocarbon fuel from a platform chemical mixture are provided by introducing the platform chemical mixture to a catalytic material to produce a product stream comprising the low-C hydrocarbon fuel, and separating the low-C hydrocarbon fuel in the product stream from any remaining platform chemicals. Methods for producing aromatic hydrocarbons benzene, toluene, and xylenes from a platform chemical mixture are also provided by introducing a catalytic material to the platform chemical mixture to produce a immiscible liquid product stream comprising BTX, and separating the BTX in the liquid product stream from unreacted platform chemicals via a decanting process.