A process for the co-production of acetic acid and dimethyl ether by contacting methyl acetate and methanol in the presence of catalysts comprising crystalline zeolites having a FER framework type which crystallites have a dimension in the c-axis of about 500 nm or less and a ratio of the c-axis:b-axis dimension of 5:1 or greater and a method for preparation of the zeolites utilizing piperazines.