A process for producing acetic acid, the process comprising: carbonylating, in a reactor, at least one of methanol, dimethyl ether, and methyl acetate in a reaction medium comprising a metal catalyst, methyl iodide, an iodide salt, and optionally acetic acid and a finite amount water, to form a crude acetic acid product comprising acetic acid, venting from the reactor a reactor vent stream comprising hydrogen iodide; flashing the crude acetic acid product, with or without heat, to form a first vapor stream comprising acetic acid and methyl iodide and a first liquid residue stream comprising metal catalyst and halide salt, optionally condensing a portion of the first vapor stream to form a condensed flasher return stream and a flasher vent stream comprising hydrogen iodide; separating, in a light ends column, the flashed first vapor stream to form a second vapor stream comprising methyl iodide and hydrogen iodide, a side draw comprising purified acetic acid product, and a second liquid residue stream; feeding to an absorber tower an absorber tower feed comprising at least a portion of at least one of the reactor vent stream, the flasher vent stream, and the second vapor stream; contacting the absorber tower feed with a first absorbent comprising acetic acid to absorb methyl iodide and to form a first extract comprising the first absorbent and the absorbed methyl iodide; conveying the first extract, directly or indirectly, to the light ends column and/or drying column; terminating the supply of first absorbent to the absorber tower; contacting the absorber tower feed with a second absorbent comprising methanol and/or methyl acetate to absorb methyl iodide and hydrogen iodide and to form a second extract comprising the second absorbent and the absorbed methyl iodide; conveying the second extract, directly or indirectly, to the reactor, wherein the carbonylating comprises condensing at least a portion of the reactor vent stream to form a condensed reactor return stream and a reactor vent vapor stream comprising hydrogen iodide and directing the reactor vent vapor stream to the absorber tower. carbonylating, in a reactor, at least one of methanol, dimethyl ether, and methyl acetate in a reaction medium comprising a metal catalyst, methyl iodide, an iodide salt, and optionally acetic acid and a finite amount water, to form a crude acetic acid product comprising acetic acid, venting from the reactor a reactor vent stream comprising hydrogen iodide; flashing the crude acetic acid product, with or without heat, to form a first vapor stream comprising acetic acid and methyl iodide and a first liquid residue stream comprising metal catalyst and halide salt, optionally condensing a portion of the first vapor stream to form a condensed flasher return stream and a flasher vent stream comprising hydrogen iodide; separating, in a light ends column, the flashed first vapor stream to form a second vapor stream comprising methyl iodide and hydrogen iodide, a side draw comprising purified acetic acid product, and a second liquid residue stream; feeding to an absorber tower an absorber tower feed comprising at least a portion of at least one of the reactor vent stream, the flasher vent stream, and the second vapor stream; contacting the absorber tower feed with a first absorbent comprising acetic acid to absorb methyl iodide and to form a first extract comprising the first absorbent and the absorbed methyl iodide; conveying the first extract, directly or indirectly, to the light ends column and/or drying column; terminating the supply of first absorbent to the absorber tower; contacting the absorber tower feed with a second absorbent comprising methanol and/or methyl acetate to absorb methyl iodide and hydrogen iodide and to form a second extract comprising the second absorbent and the absorbed methyl iodide; conveying the second extract, directly or indirectly, to the reactor, <EOS>