A stripping column installation especially for separating starting materials with a high boiling point difference comprises a stripping column having a withdrawal plate and a column sump, and a circulating boiler connected with the stripping column and having a pipe bundle through which a sump product from the stripping column flows. The circulating boiler has an upper plate and a separating wall which separates a space above the upper plate into two chambers. One of the chambers has a connection for receiving the sump product from the stripping column, while the other of the chambers has a connection for discharging the sump product after heating in the boiler. The circulating boiler is located relative to the stripping column so that a height difference is produced between a liquid level on the withdrawal plate of the stripping column and the upper plate of the circulating boiler, the height difference having a value selected so that a total pressure of a liquid column at each point of a first portion of a pipe path in the circulating boiler lies above the vapor pressure of the sump product to be heated.