A fluorocarboxylic acid preparation process which includes hydrolyzing
fluorocarboxylic acid fluoride in the presence of an aqueous sulfuric
acid solution to form a reaction product containing a fluorocarboxylic
acid and hydrogen fluoride (present as hydrofluoric acid); and removing
at least some of the hydrogen fluoride from the reaction product by
washing the reaction production with aqueous sulfuric acid solution. The
hydrolyzing and washing are carried out at a temperature at which the
fluorocarboxylic acid is a liquid.