A process for removing acid gases from a gas stream, the process includes the steps of: a) contacting the gas stream with a solvent solution stream containing alkali carbonate ranging from 30 to 6owt% to absorb acid gases including carbon dioxide and either one or both of sulphur containing compounds or nitrogen containing compounds to form i) a loaded solvent stream including alkali bicarbonate and sulphur and/or nitrogen containing compounds and ii) a second gas stream that is lean in acid gases, wherein step a) includes forming a slurry by precipitating from the loaded stream a precipitant including alkali bicarbonate and a liquid phase having in solution either one or both of sulphur containing compounds or nitrogen containing compounds, and step a) is carried out over a temperature profile ranging from 40 to 95°C and at a pressure in the range of 100 to 300kPa; b) treating the loaded stream so as to regenerate alkali bicarbonate, wherein the precipitant is retained in the slurry form, or a condensed slurry form, and the slurry is fed to the regenerator in which the alkali bicarbonate is regenerated to alkali carbonate and form i) a regenerated stream containing alkali carbonate, ii) a gas stream that is rich in carbon dioxide; wherein the process further includes: c) forming an intermediate stream containing sulphur and/or nitrogen compounds in solution from a combination of i) the liquid phase of the loaded stream, and ii) the regenerated stream; d) recovering from the intermediate stream either one or both of sulphur containing compounds or nitrogen containing compounds to form a lean stream; and e) recycling the lean stream for reuse in the solvent solution of step a); wherein step d) includes recovering sulphur containing compounds and nitrogen containing compounds by separately and/or collectively sorbing from the intermediate stream by using ion exchange including the use of ion exchange resins wherein the precipitant is separated from a liquid phase lean of the slurry and the precipitant fed to a regenerator for regeneration in accordance with step b); wherein the intermediate stream is formed according to step c) by mixing the liquid phase with the regenerated alkali carbonate. a) contacting the gas stream with a solvent solution stream containing alkali carbonate ranging from 30 to 6owt% to absorb acid gases including carbon dioxide and either one or both of sulphur containing compounds or nitrogen containing compounds to form i) a loaded solvent stream including alkali bicarbonate and sulphur and/or nitrogen containing compounds and ii) a second gas stream that is lean in acid gases, wherein step a) includes forming a slurry by precipitating from the loaded stream a precipitant including alkali bicarbonate and a liquid phase having in solution either one or both of sulphur containing compounds or nitrogen containing compounds, and step a) is carried out over a temperature profile ranging from 40 to 95°C and at a pressure in the range of 100 to 300kPa; b) treating the loaded stream so as to regenerate alkali bicarbonate, wherein the precipitant is retained in the slurry form, or a condensed slurry form, and the slurry is fed to the regenerator in which the alkali bicarbonate is regenerated to alkali carbonate and form i) a regenerated stream containing alkali carbonate, ii) a gas stream that is rich in carbon dioxide; wherein the process further includes: c) forming an intermediate stream containing sulphur and/or nitrogen compounds in solution from a combination of i) the liquid phase of the loaded stream, and ii) the regenerated stream; d) recovering from the intermediate stream either one or both of sulphur containing compounds or nitrogen containing compounds to form a lean stream; and e) recycling the lean stream for reuse in the solvent solution of step a);