A novel process is described for purifying polluted gases by means of a circulated absorbtion liquid which absorbs the pollutants. The pollutants are absorbed by the absorbtion liquid by intimate contact of the gases with this and the absorbtion liquid is then regenerated by separating off the pollutants and is reused for the absorbtion of the foreign substances contained in the gases. The pollutants separated off from the liquid are thermally broken down and hydrogenated and then absorbed and neutralised in a scrubbing liquid. As a result the pollutants are converted into harmless substances within a closed process so that intermediate storage and external disposal of the pollutants is dispensed with.
