Abstract: The yield of dimethyl terephthalate obtained by the oxidation of a mixture of p-xylene and methyl p-toluate, preferably with air, and esterification of the thus-produced acids is increased by utilizing a mixture of cobalt and manganese compounds as the oxidation catalyst.

Abstract: A process for effecting the recovery and use of a heavy metal oxidation catalyst from a high-boiling distillation residue obtained during the Witten process for the production of dimethyl terephthalate involves the extraction of the high-boiling distillation reside with water or dilute aqueous solution of low molecular weight aliphatic monocarboxylic acids or alcohols and recycling of the extract into the oxidation stage of the Witten process. In the extract the quantitative ratio of the sum of the amount of trimellitic acid and monomethyl ester of trimellitic acid to the amount of heavy metal catalyst is controlled to be at a value of no more than 1.8:1 and in the oxidation stage of the Witten process the catalyst concentration (c), expressed in p.p.m., is represented by the formula:c=44.multidot.(a/b)+dwherein a represents the sum of trimellitic acid and monomethyl ester of trimellitic acid, b is the amount of heavy metal oxidation catalyst within the extract, and d is in a range of from 60 to 300 p.p.m.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of dimethyl terephthalate by the oxidation of p-xylene/methyl p-toluate mixtures, preferably with air, esterification of the resulting acid products, and recycling of the methyl p-toluate to the oxidation stage, employs an oxidation catalyst consisting of a combination of cobalt and manganese compounds. The concentration of manganese (Mn.sup.++) ranges between about 0.0001% and about 0.005% by weight.