Method for producing para-xylene

A method of producing para-xylene using, as a main raw material, a mixed gas of carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide or both thereof and hydrogen, the method comprising:

• a reaction step of bringing a raw material mixed gas including the mixed gas into contact with a reaction catalyst under high temperature and high pressure to cause a reaction, to thereby obtain a product gas mixture containing para-xylene;
• a separation step of cooling the product gas mixture obtained in the reaction step to condense a high boiling point component, to thereby separate the product gas mixture into a water phase containing a water-soluble component, an oil phase containing a xylene mixture, and a gas phase containing an unreacted gas;
• and
• a circulation step of mixing at least part of the gas phase having been separated in the separation step into the raw material mixed gas,
• wherein the separation step comprises first separating a gas-liquid mixture obtained by cooling the product gas mixture into a liquid phase and the gas phase, and then separating the liquid phase having been separated into the oil phase and the water phase by a separation method utilizing a difference in specific gravity, and
• wherein the circulation step comprises purging part of a circulation gas, followed by mixing hydrogen having been separated and recovered from the resultant purge gas, using pressure swing adsorption (PSA) or a hydrogen separation membrane for hydrogen from the purge gas, into the raw material mixed gas.