A method for removing heat stable base salts, such as amine salts, is disclosed. The method of the present invention can be used to reduce the level of heat stable salts in a solvent gas stream in an acid gas removal process. A solvent in which the lean acid gas loading is high is first stripped to achieve an acceptable lean gas loading. The lean solution is then reclaimed using one or more methods. The purified base or amine solution can be used again to remove acid gases from a gas stream. A process for recovering acid gas from an acid gas stream is also disclosed. The process also comprises a reduction of the level of heat stable salts in the solvent gas stream.