FIELD: chemical industry. SUBSTANCE: carbonylation process is carried out in the presence of methyl iodide and stabilizer as hydroiodic acid salts or alkali or alkaline-earth metal salts at limited concentration of water to about 10%. Concentration of methyl acetate in methyl acetate is maintained at least 2%. Acetic acid is recovered from reaction products by passing mixture through evaporation zone to give acetic acid vapor fraction containing about 8% water and impurity which is then purified in one distillation zone. EFFECT: more efficient preparation method. 13 cl, 3 tbl
