A process for the regeneration of a membrane wall in a distillation apparatus, wherein a distillation apparatus having one or more evaporation and condensation stages is provided, each evaporation and condensation stage having at least one flow channel conducting a liquid, said flow channel being at least partially confined by a vapor-permeable and liquid-impermeable membrane wall, wherein vapor emerging from the liquid passes through the membrane wall. The liquid is removed from the at least one flow channel, wherein, after the removal of the liquid, the membrane wall is surrounded on both sides by a gas atmosphere, but is still wetted with liquid, and this liquid is removed by adjusting the gas atmosphere surrounding the membrane wall such that the partial pressure of the liquid in the gas atmosphere is lower than the vapor pressure of the liquid wetting the membrane wall.