The invention provides methods for recovering iodine-containing compounds from a gaseous stream that contain at least one iodine-containing compound. The method includes: (a) contacting the gaseous stream with liquid methyl acetate in a first scrubbing zone to produce a methyl acetate- scrubbed gaseous stream and a first used scrubbant, the first used scrubbant containing methyl acetate, acetic acid, and the iodide compound; and (b) contacting at least some of the methyl acetate-scrubbed gaseous stream with liquid acetic acid in a second scrubbing zone to produce an acetic acid- scrubbed gaseous stream and a second used scrubbant, the second used scrubbant containing methyl acetate and acetic acid. The method may further include a third scrubber step that includes contacting at least some of the acetic acid-scrubbed gaseous stream with water in a third scrubbing zone to produce a water-scrubbed gaseous stream and a third used scrubbant, the third used scrubbant containing water and acetic acid. The gaseous stream may also contain other components, for example hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methyl acetate, acetic acid, acetic anhydride, nitrogen, ethylidene diacetate, methane, argon or a combination of two or more of the foregoing. Optionally, at least some of the third used scrubbant with reactants may be combined in a chemical process that uses mixtures of acetic acid and water.