A method of extracting solids, which are dissolved or undissolved, from a mixture of water and a process liquid, wherein the process liquid comprises a glycol or an amine, and the method comprises the steps of: a) placing an oil or oil-like recycle fluid that is less dense than water, and is comprised of components that are substantially non-miscible with and less volatile than water and less volatile than the process liquid, into a separation vessel, wherein the separation vessel is operated at a pressure below atmospheric; b) introducing a feed stream comprising a mixture of water, the process liquid and the solids to be extracted, into a mixing zone in proximity to or within the separation vessel; c) rapidly boiling or flashing the feed stream upon mixing the feed stream with a recycle fluid in the mixing zone to produce a vapour in proximity to or within the separation vessel, wherein the vapour includes vaporised water and process liquid; d) separating the vapour from unvaporised components of a mixture of the feed stream and the recycle fluid, wherein the vapour leaves the separation vessel; e) collecting the unvaporised components in a substantially liquid pool in a lower portion of the separation vessel; f) drawing the recycle fluid from the substantially liquid pool at a rate that is more than ten times the feed stream flow rate; g) pumping the recycle fluid through a heat exchanger; h) supplying sufficient heat to the recycle fluid in the heat exchanger such that the amount of heat added to the recycle fluid is sufficient to vaporise volatile components of the feed stream when the recycle fluid and the feed stream are mixed in the mixing zone; i) allowing at least a portion of the solids in the substantially liquid pool and at least a portion of any liquid bound thereto to move into a stripping zone and come into contact with water contained therein, wherein the stripping zone is connected to the bottom of or below the separation vessel and at least a portion of the solids from the liquid pool fall by gravity out of the liquid pool and into the stripping zone; j) allowing at least a portion of the solids that has moved into the stripping zone to move through at least a portion of the water in the stripping zone; k) wherein the passage of the portion of solids through the portion of the water displaces at least a portion of any other liquid bound to the portion of the solids; l) removing from the stripping zone a waste aqueous stream comprising at least a portion of the solids that have entered the stripping zone; and m) adding water to the stripping zone to maintain liquid levels. a) placing an oil or oil-like recycle fluid that is less dense than water, and is comprised of components that are substantially non-miscible with and less volatile than water and less volatile than the process liquid, into a separation vessel, wherein the separation vessel is operated at a pressure below atmospheric; b) introducing a feed stream comprising a mixture of water, the process liquid and the solids to be extracted, into a mixing zone in proximity to or within the separation vessel; c) rapidly boiling or flashing the feed stream upon mixing the feed stream with a recycle fluid in the mixing zone to produce a vapour in proximity to or within the separation vessel, wherein the vapour includes vaporised water and process liquid; d) separating the vapour from unvaporised components of a mixture of the feed stream and the recycle fluid, wherein the vapour leaves the separation vessel; e) collecting the unvaporised components in a substantially liquid pool in a lower portion of the separation vessel; f) drawing the recycle fluid from the substantially liquid pool at a rate that is more than ten times the feed stream flow rate; g) pumping the recycle fluid through a heat exchanger; h) supplying sufficient heat to the recycle fluid in the heat exchanger such that the amount of heat added to the recycle fluid is sufficient to vaporise volatile components of the feed stream when the recycle fluid and the feed stream are mixed in the mixing zone; i) allowing at least a portion of the solids in the substantially liquid pool and at least a portion of any liquid bound thereto to move into a stripping zone and come into contact with water contained therein, wherein the stripping zone is connected to the bottom of or below the separation vessel and at least a portion of the solids from the liquid pool fall by gravity out of the liquid pool and into the stripping zone; j) allowing at least a portion of the solids that has moved into the stripping zone to move through at least a portion of the water in the stripping zone; k) wherein the passage of the portion of solids through the portion of the water displaces at least a portion of any other liquid bound to the portion of the solids; l) removing from the stripping zone a waste aqueous stream comprising at least a portion of the solids that have entered the stripping zone; and m) adding water to the stripping zone to maintain liquid levels.