Removal of CO.sub.2 and/or H.sub.2 S from gases

A process for removing CO.sub.2 and/or H.sub.2 S from a gas containing CO.sub.2 and/or H.sub.2 S, which comprises:

• (a) treating said gas in an absorption stage at from 40.degree.to 100.degree.C. and at a pressure of from 10 to 110 bar with an aqueous absorption liquid containing from 20 to 70% by weight of methyldiethanolamine by feeding in the gas at the bottom and the aqueous absorption liquid at the top of the absorption stage, CO.sub.2 and/or H.sub.2 S being washed out by a counter-current procedure;
• (b) taking off the treated gas at the top of the absorption stage;
• (c) taking off the aqueous absorption liquid laden with CO.sub.2 and/or H.sub.2 S at the bottom of the absorption stage;
• (d) regenerating the laden aqueous absorption liquid by flashing it in one or more flash stages, operating the last stage, or the single flash stage where only one such stage is employed, under a pressure of from about 1 to 3 bar or under reduced pressure, the flash gases being taken off at the top of the flash stage or flash stages;
• (e) compensating the losses of water as a result of water present in the gas streams taken off at the top of the absorption stage and of the flash stage or flash stages by feeding in, at the bottom of the last flash stage or, where only one flash stage is used, at the bottom of this flash stage, an amount of steam substantially corresponding to the water loss and
• (f) recycling the regenerated absorption liquid to the absorption stage.