Abstract: A process is provided for the removal and disposal of airborne contaminants from paint booths and the like. The process includes the steps of passing the effluent air stream from a paint booth through an adsorbent in at least one adsorber. The adsorbent is preferably activated carbon. The adsorbent is regenerated periodically by a regeneration step. The regeneration step is preferably performed by passing a regenerating fluid through the adsorber. The regenerating fluid removes the contaminants from the adsorbent and transports the contaminants out of the adsorber. The regenerating fluid is preferably partially or totally scrubbed of contaminants and recycled through the process to provide an essentially closed-loop operating system. The regenerating fluid is preferably a vapor or gas which is partially or totally cooled and condensed after regeneration. The condensate is separated in one or more steps into contaminant rich fractions and contaminant poor fractions.