A process for producing a carboxylic acid comprises allowing an alcohol
having a carbon number of "n" to continuously react with carbon monoxide
in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst system, and a limited amount
of water, continuously withdrawing the reaction mixture from the reaction
system 1, introducing the withdrawn reaction mixture into a distillation
step (distillation columns 3a and 3b), and separating a higher-boiling
component and a lower-boiling component containing a carboxylic acid
having a carbon number of "n+1", respectively. In the process, the amount
of carbon monoxide and/or hydrogen contained in a liquid phase of the
reaction system is adjusted to at least one of the following conditions
(i) and (ii): (i) the amount of carbon monoxide relative to 1 kilogram of
the liquid phase by weight is at least 2 mmol per 1 MPa of carbon
monoxide partial pressure of the reaction system, and (ii) the amount of
hydrogen relative to 1 kilogram of the liquid phase by weight is at least
50 mmol per 1 MPa of hydrogen partial pressure of the reaction system.
Such a process inhibits deactivation of a metal catalyst and
deterioration in a reaction rate, and decreases formation of by-products
in producing a carboxylic acid under a low water content.