A study is presented of the stripping of pentane from both a mixture of heavier n-paraffins (C-10-C-13) and of sunflower seed oil. In the experiments a stream of pure nitrogen was bubbled through a small pool of liquid, at room temperature, for three values of the absolute pressure (10(3), 10 and 3 mbar) measured above the liquid. A theoretical model of the physical situation is presented and its predictions are compared with the experimental data. Two important findings related to operation at (sufficiently) low pressures are that (i) the efficiency of mass transfer may be lower for the lower pressures and (ii) equilibrium between gas and liquid may be unattainable irrespective of the depth of bubbling pool.