Use of mordenite zeolite and zeolite Y as adsorbents enables a
dimethylnaphthalene isomer mixture to be efficiently separated. A
feedstock oil containing a dimethylnaphthalene isomer mixture including
an .alpha.,.alpha.-isomer, an .alpha.,.beta.-isomer, and a
.beta.,.beta.-isomer is passed through an adsorbent layer (A) including
mordenite zeolite together with a developing solvent. Subsequently, a
liquid discharged from the adsorbent layer (A) is passed through an
adsorbent layer (B) including zeolite Y. An eluent is passed through the
adsorbent layer (B). The solvent is removed from the resultant eluate to
obtain the .alpha.,.beta.-isomer of dimethylnaphthalene. Similarly, the
.beta.,.beta.-isomer of dimethylnaphthalene is obtained from the
adsorbent layer (A).