A purified acid composition including 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid is prepared by a process including a) providing an acid composition solution of a crude acid composition in a polar solvent, the crude acid composition including 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and 2-formyl-furan-5-carboxylic acid (FFCA); b) contacting the acid composition solution with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to hydrogenate FFCA to hydrogenation products, such that the hydrogenation products contain a minor amount of 2-methyl-furan-5-carboxylic acid (MFA) or no MFA, yielding a hydrogenated solution; c) separating at least a portion of the FDCA from the hydrogenated solution by crystallization.