A process for recovering acetic acid from a mother liquor containing acetic acid, formic acid, acetic anhydride and formic acetic anhydride comprising the steps of:(a) heating said mother liquor to a temperature greater than or equal to about 70.degree. C. for a time period ranging from about 1 hour to about 24 hours to convert all of said formic acetic anhydride to acetic acid and gaseous carbon monoxide and to fully deplete either said acetic anhydride or said formic acid, whichever is initially present in a stoichiometric lesser amount and thereby produce a mixture comprising acetic acid and either acetic anhydride or formic acid, whichever has been depleted; and(b) separating said acetic acid from the remainder of said mixture produced in step (a) is provided.