A process for producing terephthalic acid, comprising: passing a feed stream through a catalytic reactor wherein the feed stream comprises p-xylene; contacting the feed stream with a catalyst within the catalytic reactor to produce an oxidation reaction wherein the catalyst comprises, less than or equal to 10% of a metal component wherein the metal component comprises cobalt ions, manganese ions, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing, less than or equal to 15% bromide ions, and less than or equal to 2% silver ions; and producing a product stream comprising terephthalic acid, wherein the product stream exits the catalytic reactor.