The present invention relates to a process for treating secondary components obtained in acrolein and/or (meth)acrylic acid production, comprising the steps of: a) contacting at least one wastewater stream (201) comprising at least a portion of the water of reaction removed in a first stage of a saturation column (101) with at least one process offgas stream (203), b) introducing energy by means of a first heat transferer (103) provided in a first saturation circuit (301) into the first stage of the saturation column (101), c) partly vaporizing the wastewater stream (201) into the process offgas stream (203) and passing the combined gas stream (205) into a second stage of the saturation column (101), d) drawing off a concentrated wastewater stream (207) from the bottom (1011) of the first stage of the saturation column (101) and feeding it to the top (1023) of the second stage of the saturation column (101), e) introducing energy by means of a second heat transferer (105) provided in a second circuit (303) into the second stage of the saturation column (101), f) partly vaporizing the concentrated wastewater stream (207) into the combined gas stream (205) to obtain an offgas stream (209), g) superheating the offgas stream (209), after it has been saturated, in a third heat transferer (113) to obtain a superheated offgas stream (211) and h) transferring the offgas stream (209) or the superheated offgas stream (211) from the saturation column (101) to a thermal aftertreatment. The present invention further relates to a plant (1) for treating the secondary components obtained in acrolein and/or (meth)acrylic acid production.