Process for the removal of corrosive compounds from a fluid stream, comprising the steps of: in an extraction column with an outer steel tube and an inner tube of corrosion resistant material having an open inlet end and an open outlet end and being arranged coaxially with and spaced apart within at least top portion of the outer tube, introducing at elevated temperature at the inlet end of the inner tube the fluid stream and an extraction agent and effecting in the mixed stream of the fluid and extraction agent extraction of the corrosive components; introducing into an annular space being formed between wall of the outer and the inner tube a shell stream of a non-corrosive fluid and thereby absorbing in the shell stream amounts of the corrosive compounds diffusing through the wall of the inner tube; and passing the shell stream to bottom portion of the outer tube; cooling the mixed stream at the outlet end of the inner tube by introducing into the stream a cooling stream; passing the cooled stream to the bottom portion of the outer tube and combining the stream with the shell stream; withdrawing from the bottom portion of the outer tube an effluent stream of the combined cooled stream and the shell stream and cooling the effluent stream; recovering from the remaining portion of the cooled effluent stream an extracted fluid stream.