| abstract |
A process for producing trimellitic acid which comprises step A for oxidizing pseudocumene, thereby obtaining a reaction mixture comprising dimethyl benzoic acid, dimethyl benzyl alcohol, and dimethyl benzaldehyde, step B for separating dimethyl benzoic acid, dimethyl benzyl alcohol and dimethyl benzaldehyde from the reaction mixture obtained in step A, step C for oxidizing dimethyl benzyl alcohol separated in step B, thereby obtaining dimethyl benzoic acid and dimethyl benzyl aldehyde and then feeding dimethyl benzoic acid and dimethyl benzyl aldehyde thus obtained to step B, and step D for oxidizing dimethyl benzoic acid and/or dimethyl benzaldehyde separated in step B, thereby obtaining trimellitic acid. |