PURPOSE: To provide a method for separating and recovering an aromatic isomeric compound containing a specific group VIB atom of a long-form periodic table from a mixture of the aromatic isomeric mixture containing the group VIB atom of the long-form periodic table.

CONSTITUTION: An aromatic isomeric mixture containing a group VIB atom having ≤-0.096 value β of aromatic ring π electron average value is brought into contact with an adsorbent of zeolite containing water and metallic cations. The resultant mixture is then concentrated and desorbed to afford an aromatic compound containing the group VIB atom of the long-form periodic table (e.g. ethylphenol). The zeolite used is preferably a faujasite type, especially preferably X type and the zeolite is required to contain 0.1-20wt.% water based on the zeolite and alkaline earth metallic cations. The aromatic compound containing the group VIB atom of the long-form periodic table is useful as fine chemical products having a high added value such as intermediates for medicines and agrochemicals.