Abstract: An apparatus and process for recovery of a carboxylic acid e.g. acetic acid, from an aqueous feed stream containing the corresponding ester, an alcohol and a small amount of water, and in some cases the carboxylic acid includes a catalytic distillation column containing an acidic catalyst and a distillation column. The alcohol is catalytically dehydrated to the corresponding ether and water, and the water reacts with the ester to generate a liquid carboxylic acid rich product stream. The acid is recovered by distillation in the distillation column. In a second embodiment, additional methanol and/or water are co-fed with the feed or fed directly to the catalytic distillation column, resulting in a liquid bottoms product stream of substantially pure acetic acid and a tops distillate stream of substantially pure ether.