Abstract: In a process for producing purified terephthalic acid which comprises catalytically oxidizing p-xylene in liquid phase to produce crude terephthalic acid containing 4-carboxybenzaldehyde as a main impurity therein, and treating the crude terephthalic acid with hydrogen in the presence of hydrogenation catalyst in a reaction vessel, thereby to produce purified terephthalic acid containing 4-carboxybenzaldehyde in an amount of fixed range in a stationary manner, there is provided an improvement which makes it possible for the treatment to reach the stationary state promptly after partial exchange of deactivated catalyst for a new one. The improvement comprises feeding into the reactor crude terephthalic acid which contains 4-carboxybenzaldehyde in an amount larger than that in the stationary state of the treatment, and treating the terephthalic acid until the treatment reaches the stationay state.