A process for producing pyromellitic acid which comprises step A for
oxidizing durene, thereby obtaining a reaction mixture comprising
trimethyl benzoic acid, trimethyl benzyl alcohol and trimethyl
benzaldehyde, step B for separating trimethyl benzoic acid, trimethyl
benzaldehyde and trimethyl benzyl alcohol from the reaction mixture
obtained in step A, and step C for oxidizing trimethyl benzoic acid
and/or trimethyl benzaldehyde separated in step B, thereby obtaining
pyromellitic acid.