The application provides a method for separating cis and trans 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol, comprising the following steps: cooling a
mixed solution containing a
solvent, cis and trans 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol to a first temperature at a first
cooling rate, then cooling to a second temperature at a second
cooling rate, and performing
solid-liquid separation to obtain mixed crystals; performing screening treatment on the mixed crystals to obtain cis and trans 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol crystals; wherein the first
cooling rate is less than or equal to 10 DEG C / h, and the second cooling rate is greater than or equal to 30 DEG C / h; the first temperature is higher than the second temperature, the temperature of the
mixed solution is greater than the first temperature, the first temperature is less than or equal to 70 DEG C, and the second temperature is less than or equal to 30 DEG C. The method can efficiently and simply separate cis and trans 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol crystals.