Continuous process for simultaneous preparation of acetic acid and acetic anhydride

A continuous process for the simultaneous preparation of acetic acid and acetic anhydride from a starting mixture of methanol and methyl acetate and, if appropriate, dimethyl ether, by reaction with carbon monoxide under anhydrous conditions at temperatures from 150 to 250 DEG C and under increased pressure in a reaction zone using a dissolved catalyst system containing a nickel compound, methyl iodide as promoter, at least one co-promoter such as alkali metal iodide, quaternary phosphonium iodide or quaternary ammonium iodide, and a cocatalyst, is characterised in that the cocatalyst used is a rhodium or iridium compound in a molar ratio of nickel : cocatalyst of 1 : (0.005 to 0.1), a nickel concentration of 0.01 to 0.1, preferably 0.015 to 0.06 mol/l is established in the reaction zone, and is carried out under an increased pressure of 30 to 100 bar.