A process for the recovery of acrylic acid from an aqueous solution resulting from the oxidation of propylene or acrolein, in which the acrylic acid, acetic acid and water are extracted with a solvent preferably one boiling below the boiling point of acrylic acid, the extract being distilled in a solvent recovery column to obtain an overhead stream of solvent and water, and a bottoms stream of acrylic acid characterised in that a vapour stream is removed from below the feed tray of the solvent recovery column and the vapour stream is rectified to remove acetic acid.