The liquid phase oxidation of p-xylene has been carried out with oxygen-enriched gas, and the manganese component was precipitated probably via over-oxidation to $Mn^{4+}$. The precipitation increased with rising oxygen concentration in the reaction gas and occurred mainly in the later part of the oxidation. The activity of the reaction decreased, and the blackening of the product and side reactions to carbon dioxide increased with the degree of precipitation. Precipitation can be decreased with the addition of metal ions, such as cerium, chromium and iron.