In the stopping and starting operations of a distillation column used for
producing (meth)acrylic acids according to the present invention, upon
stopping the operation of the distillation column, the heating of a
reboiler attached thereto is interrupted and then the reboiler is rapidly
cooled; and/or upon starting the operation of the distillation column for
production of the (meth)acrylic acids, an inner wall surface of the
distillation column is heated to a temperature higher than a condensation
temperature of the (meth)acrylic acids and the operation of the
distillation column is started under the heated condition. According to
the present invention, it is possible to early and safely stop the
operation of the distillation column while preventing the occurrence of
polymerization within the distillation column, and stably perform an
operation for distillation of acrylic monomers for a long period of time.