Abstract: Waste water resulting from the production of acrylonitrile by gas phase oxidation of propylene and ammonia with oxygen as washing water in the recovery section is purified by treating the waste water with 0.4 to 1 ton of steam per ton of waste water in a detoxification column attached to or following the separation column (for the separation of acetonitrile and acrylonitrile from the waste water in the acrylonitrile process) at a temperature from 100.degree. to 125.degree. C, at a pressure of 0 to 2 (gauge) atmospheres; separating the non-volatile resinous organic compounds from the thus treated waste water in an evaporator and using the vapors from the top of said evaporator to heat the said separation column and detoxification column; and optionally adding an organic amine to said distillation column or to said evaporator.