A method of removing water from a mixture of iodine (I.sub.2) and water includes providing a mixture comprising iodine and water and: contacting the mixture with an adsorbent to selectively adsorb water from the mixture, contacting the mixture with a concentrated acid to absorb water from the mixture, separating the water from mixture by distillation, contacting the mixture with a gas that is inert to iodine (I.sub.2), contacting the mixture with hydrogen iodide (HI), or combinations thereof.