Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the drying and removal of hydrocarbons from gases.It is the object of the invention to increase the absorption ability of the solvent for aromatic hydrocarbons including naphthalene and water, to save material and energy, to lower the investment- and operating costs, as well as to avoid operational disturbances and to increase the safety during gas treatment, gas transmittance and gas distribution. This object is accomplished by the invention in that a mixture of glycol, N-methyl-.epsilon.-caprolactam and water is used as solvent. The mixture comprises 79.9 to 97 percent by weight of glycol, 2 to 20 percent by weight of N-methyl-.epsilon.-caprolactam and 0.1 to 1 percent by weight of water. The regeneration temperature of the charged solvent mixture is 150.degree. to 190.degree. C., preferably 170.degree. C. 3 to 15 percent by weight, preferably 10 percent by weight, of crude benzene is added to the charged solvent mixture.