An apparatus for removing dimethyl ether from a mixture, the apparatus comprising: an airtight shell; an absorption column arranged inside the shell, the absorption column comprising a multiple stage component, a single stage component arranged below the multiple stage component in the direction of gravity, and a gap arranged between the multiple stage component and the single stage component; a gas input in fluid communication with the absorption column, the gas input configured to receive a gas mixture at a bottom portion of the single stage component; a water input in fluid communication with the absorption column, the water input configured to deliver water to a top portion of the multiple stage component; a liquid input in fluid communication with the absorption column, the liquid input configured to receive a DME-containing liquid mixture in the gap below the multiple stage component and above the single stage component; and, a liquid-liquid separator arranged below the absorption column configured to receive a single stage exit liquid from the bottom portion of the single stage component and to separate the single stage exit liquid into a hydrocarbon stream and an aqueous stream; wherein the liquid mixture and the gas mixture contact in the single stage component such that a single stage exit gas exits at a top portion of the single stage component and enters a bottom portion of the multiple stage component and a single stage exit liquid exits at the bottom portion of the single stage component and enters the liquid-liquid separator, and wherein the water contacts the gas mixture in the multiple stage component such that a multiple stage exit gas exits at the top potion of the multiple stage component and a multiple stage exit liquid exits at the bottom potion of the multiple stage component and enters the top portion of the single stage component. an airtight shell; an absorption column arranged inside the shell, the absorption column comprising a multiple stage component, a single stage component arranged below the multiple stage component in the direction of gravity, and a gap arranged between the multiple stage component and the single stage component; a gas input in fluid communication with the absorption column, the gas input configured to receive a gas mixture at a bottom portion of the single stage component; a water input in fluid communication with the absorption column, the water input configured to deliver water to a top portion of the multiple stage component; a liquid input in fluid communication with the absorption column, the liquid input configured to receive a DME-containing liquid mixture in the gap below the multiple stage component and above the single stage component; and, a liquid-liquid separator arranged below the absorption column configured to receive a single stage exit liquid from the bottom portion of the single stage component and to separate the single stage exit liquid into a hydrocarbon stream and an aqueous stream; wherein the liquid mixture and the gas mixture contact in the single stage component such that a single stage exit gas exits at a top portion of the single stage component and enters a bottom portion of the multiple stage component and a single stage exit liquid exits at the bottom portion of the single stage component and enters the liquid-liquid separator, and wherein the water contacts the gas mixture in the multiple stage component such that a multiple stage exit gas exits at the top potion of the multiple stage component and a multiple stage exit liquid exits at the bottom potion of the multiple stage component and enters the top portion of the single stage component. wherein the liquid mixture and the gas mixture contact in the single stage component such that a single stage exit gas exits at a top portion of the single stage component and enters a bottom portion of the multiple stage component and a single stage exit liquid exits at the bottom portion of the single stage component and enters the liquid-liquid separator, and wherein the water contacts the gas mixture in the multiple stage component such that a multiple stage exit gas exits at the top potion of the multiple stage component and a multiple stage exit liquid exits at the bottom potion of the multiple stage component and enters the top portion of the single stage component.