Abstract: In a method for distilling (meth)acrylic acid and/or (meth)acrylic ester, the method has the step of uniformly distributing a supply liquid in a distillation tower over an entirety of a horizontal cross sectional area in the distillation tower. A distillation apparatus for distilling (meth)acrylic acid and/or (meth)acrylic ester in a distillation tower has a supply element for supplying the supply liquid into the distillation tower. The supply element is formed with at least two supply ports through which the liquid is supplied into the distillation tower.

Abstract: A distillation column is arranged so that a liquid hole which allows liquid containing a polymerizable organic compound to flow from on a tray supporting member downward is formed in a part of the tray supporting member, for example, a support ring, so that substantial retention of the liquid on the tray supporting member is avoided. Therefore, the liquid, such as crude acrylic acid, is allowed to smoothly flow down from on surfaces of a tray and the tray supporting member, thereby causing no substantial retention of the liquid. As a result, polymerization which tends to occur when the liquid is retained on the surfaces of the tray and the tray supporting member thereby being heated is effectively prevented, and the polymerizable organic compound is efficiently purified.