In a process for producing an aromatic carboxylic acid, it is a
dehydrating process which can achieve compactification of a step for
removing water from a mixture of acetic acid and water produced in the
production process, and which can reduce the consumed energy. In a
production process of an aromatic carboxylic acid having an oxidation
reaction step for producing a slurry of an aromatic carboxylic acid by
carrying out liquid-phase oxidation reaction of an alkyl aromatic
compound with an oxygen-containing gas in a solvent containing acetic
acid in the presence of an oxidation catalyst, at least a portion of a
mixture containing acetic acid and water produced in the production steps
is separated into a permeable gas mainly comprising water and
nonpermeable substances mainly comprising acetic acid, using a separation
membrane having water selectivity.