Abstract: A process for removing acid gases such as CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 S from gas streams using an aqueous alkaline scrubbing solution which is circulated between an absorption and regeneration stage wherein the stripping steam for regeneration is derived at least partly from the hot feed gas to be purified. The thermal efficiency of the process is substantially improved by first heat-exchanging the hot feed gas with the scrubbing solution to raise stripping steam and then heat-exchanging the hot feed gas with water (which is preferably condensate water produced in the scrubbing process) in a second heat exchanger operating under reduced pressure, thus recovering additional low-level heat from the feed gas and producing low-pressure steam which is compressed and then utilized as additional stripping steam.