Processes are disclosed for recovery and purification of dibasic aromatic acids from waste polyester film, fiber, bottles, manufacturing residues, and other manufactured articles. The processes comprises: depolymerization of polyester resin in a molten polyester resin containing solvent with superheated stem, and vaporization of the aromatic carboxylic acid and other volatile products of hydrolysis to obtain a vaporized mixture containing aromatic acid, dihydric alcohol, other volatile products of hydrolysis, and water. This vapor mixture is, advantageously, substantially free of less volatile and non-volatile impurities including metals, and many colored and color causing compounds, which are, typically, found in post-consumer polyester resins.Crude acid is, optionally, purified by hydrogenated in an aqueous solution at elevated temperatures and pressures in the presence of hydrogen and an insoluble metal-containing catalyst, which is thereupon separated from the aqueous solution, and purified dibasic aromatic acid recovered by crystallization and mechanical separation from the aqueous solution. Purified terephthalic acid has, typically, a L*-value in a rage of from about 95 to about 100, an a*-value in a rage of from about -1 to about +1, and a b*-value in a range of from about 0.5 to about 2.