Abstract: A process for the purification of crude acetic anhydride by continuous fractional distillation, which comprises first introducing the anhydride into an evaporator, thereafter removing from the evaporator the non-distillable components contained in the crude anhydride, then introducing the distillable components of the anhydride in vapor form into about the central section of a fractionating column, withdrawing from the top of the column the low boiling components together with acetic acid, withdrawing near the bottom of the column a high-percentage of pure acetic anhydride, and separating from the sump of the column up to about 8% by weight based on the initial amount of crude acetic anhydride and returning the same to the evaporator.