The invention relates to a method and apparatus for separating two phases from each other. According to the invention, a stream made up of at least two phases is directed to a separation apparatus, which comprises a separation container (25) and cyclones (26) arranged in the flow direction in parallel and in succession, the cyclones having each an elongate separation chamber wherein the phases are separated from each other. According to the invention, the cyclones used are multi-inlet cyclones (26), the total number of which is at least 10. The stream to be treated is directed to each multi-inlet cyclone (26) in a substantially radial direction. Through the placement of a large number of multi-inlet cyclones in parallel, a purification element resembling a filter is obtained. In comparison to a filter, continuous regeneration takes place in the element, in which case the pressure loss does not increase during operation, since solids do not reduce the cross-sectional area of the flow conduit inside the element.