Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc.

Kimiko Akagi

Makoto Komatsu

Toru Tanaka

Tazuo Ohta

In the production of phthalic acid by oxidizing, in a liquid phase, tolualdehyde with molecular oxygen or a gas containing the molecular oxygen in the presence of heavy metal salt containing a Mn salt, especially both Mn and Co salts, and a bromine compound, using a lower aliphatic monocarboxylic acid as a reaction solvent, a blackening of phthalic acid is effectively prevented by conducting the oxidation of tolualdehyde in the presence of an alkylbenzene in an amount satisfying the following formula (1);

Process for preventing blackening of phthalic acid

Terephthalic acid is produced by oxidizing, in a liquid phase, p-tolualdehyde with a gas containing molecular oxygen, for example, air, in the presence of a catalyst consisting each of (1) a manganese compound, (2) a cobalt compound, (3) a bromine compound, and (4) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of chromium compounds, iron compounds, nickel compounds and compounds of metallic elements belonging to the lanthanide series, using a lower aliphatic monocarboxylic acid as a solvent.

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Kurashiki, Japan

Kimiko Akagi