Method for recovery of fluorine-containing inhalation anesthetics, wherein, in a desorption step, an adsorbent comprising adsorbed fluorine-containing inhalation anesthetics is flowed through by water steam, whereby a secondary volume flow containing fluorine-containing inhalation anesthetics forms, and wherein the secondary volume flow is transferred by cooling into a condensate containing fluorine-containing inhalation anesthetics and water, from which the fluorine-containing inhalation anesthetics are separated, characterized in that in a sterilization step preceding the desorption step, the adsorbent comprising adsorbed fluor-containing inhalation anesthetics - for at least 10 min, particularly for 10 to 60 min, - at a temperature of more than 120°C, and - at a pressure of 0.15 MPa to 0.4 MPa, is brought into contact with water steam, wherein the sterilization step and the desorption step are carried out in direct succession in the same plant; and wherein - the sterilization step and the desorption step are carried out in a desorption vessel, - wherein the desorption vessel ○ comprises a steam inlet and a steam outlet, and ○ the adsorbent is arranged in the desorption vessel between the steam inlet and the steam outlet such that steam entering the desorption vessel through the steam inlet must flow through the adsorbent before it leaves the desorption vessel through the steam outlet, as well as ○ the desorption vessel comprises a valve which is subsequent to the steam outlet, wherein the valve is closed during the sterilization step and is open during the desorption step. wherein, in a desorption step, an adsorbent comprising adsorbed fluorine-containing inhalation anesthetics is flowed through by water steam, whereby a secondary volume flow containing fluorine-containing inhalation anesthetics forms, and wherein the secondary volume flow is transferred by cooling into a condensate containing fluorine-containing inhalation anesthetics and water, from which the fluorine-containing inhalation anesthetics are separated, characterized in that in a sterilization step preceding the desorption step, the adsorbent comprising adsorbed fluor-containing inhalation anesthetics - for at least 10 min, particularly for 10 to 60 min, - at a temperature of more than 120°C, and - at a pressure of 0.15 MPa to 0.4 MPa, - for at least 10 min, particularly for 10 to 60 min, - at a temperature of more than 120°C, and - at a pressure of 0.15 MPa to 0.4 MPa, is brought into contact with water steam, wherein the sterilization step and the desorption step are carried out in direct succession in the same plant; and wherein - the sterilization step and the desorption step are carried out in a desorption vessel, - wherein the desorption vessel ○ comprises a steam inlet and a steam outlet, and ○ the adsorbent is arranged in the desorption vessel between the steam inlet and the steam outlet such that steam entering the desorption vessel through the steam inlet must flow through the adsorbent before it leaves the desorption vessel through the steam outlet, as well as ○ the desorption vessel comprises a valve which is subsequent to the steam outlet, wherein the valve is closed during the sterilization step and is open during the desorption step. - the sterilization step and the desorption step are carried out in a desorption vessel, - wherein the desorption vessel ○ comprises a steam inlet and a steam outlet, and ○ the adsorbent is arranged in the desorption vessel between the steam inlet and the steam outlet such that steam entering the desorption vessel through the steam inlet must flow through the adsorbent before it leaves the desorption vessel through the steam outlet, as well as ○ the desorption vessel comprises a valve which is subsequent to the steam outlet, wherein the valve is closed during the sterilization step and is open during the desorption step. ○ comprises a steam inlet and a steam outlet, and ○ the adsorbent is arranged in the desorption vessel between the steam inlet and the steam outlet such that steam entering the desorption vessel through the steam inlet must flow through the adsorbent before it leaves the desorption vessel through the steam outlet, as well as ○ the desorption vessel comprises a valve which is subsequent to the steam outlet, wherein the valve is closed during the sterilization step and is open during the desorption step.