A process and an apparatus for the separation of a homogeneous catalyst solution from crude monoethylene glycol (MEG) and for purifying MEG is provided. The apparatus includes a catalyst separation section, an MEG rectification section, a stripping section and a pasteurization section, wherein the MEG rectification and pasteurization sections are located within a MEG purification column, and the catalyst separation section is either located in the MEG purification column or in a separate upstream vessel, and wherein the catalyst separation section includes a crude MEG vapor feed inlet to the MEG rectification section.