the invention relates to an improved method for releasing an organic acid , preferably a carbon , sulfone or phosphone acid , particularly an alpha or beta hydroxycarbon acid , from the ammonia salt thereof by releasing and removing ammoniac and simultaneous extraction of the released acid , having an amine as a suitable extraction means from the aqueous phase . this method corresponds to a reactive extraction . the reactive extraction of an organic acid from the aqueous ammonia salt solution thereof can be significantly improved by the use of a strip medium or carrier gas , such as nitrogen , air , water vapor or inert gases such as argon . the released ammoniac is removed from the aqueous solution by the continuous gas flow and can be resupplied into a production process . the free acid can be obtained by a method such as distillation , rectification , crystallization , reextraction , chromatography , adsorption or by a membrane method from the extraction means .