A contactor includes a random packing arrangement in several compartments. The compartments can be delimited by perforated plates or by structured packing walls. A heat and/or material exchange column is equipped with such a contactor. A floating structure includes such a column. A column equipped with such a contactor can be used for a gas treatment, CO.sub.2 capture, distillation or air conversion process.

The present invention relates to a nitro compound hydrogenation reaction process and hydrogenation reaction apparatus, which can achieve the objects of the continuous reaction of the nitro compound and the long-period run of regeneration and activation. The nitro compound hydrogenation reaction process comprises a hydrogenation step, a regeneration step, an optional activation step and a recycling step. There exists at least one step of degassing the spent catalyst between the hydrogenation step and the regeneration step. According to circumstances, there exists at least one step of degassing the regenerated catalyst between the regeneration step and the activation step.

A gas replacement process and a gas replacement apparatus are employed, in the nitro compound hydrogenation reaction process. The gas replacement process at least includes a first step of subjecting a stream to be replaced to the gas replacement in presence of a first replacement gas, and then a second step of subjecting to the gas replacement in presence of the second replacement gas. Assuming the superficial velocity of the first replacement gas is V1, and the superficial velocity of the second replacement gas is V2, then V2/V1≥1.5.

Structured elements with capabilities for stream flow division and distribution and mitigation of undesired species that exceed those of conventionally available materials are provided. The structured elements provide increased opportunities for surface attraction, retention and coalescence of undesired species in a process stream. The functional contact surfaces of the structured elements can include one or more of the faces of cells, the surfaces of struts connecting cells, the surfaces of nodes connecting struts, and the surfaces of asperities or irregularities caused by channels, flutes, spikes, fibrils or filaments in or on the material surfaces.

Structured elements with capabilities for stream flow division and distribution and mitigation of undesired species that exceed those of conventionally available materials are provided. The structured elements provide increased opportunities for surface attraction, retention and coalescence of undesired species in a process stream. The functional contact surfaces of the structured elements can include one or more of the faces of cells, the surfaces of struts connecting cells, the surfaces of nodes connecting struts, and the surfaces of asperities or irregularities caused by channels, flutes, spikes, fibrils or filaments in or on the material surfaces.

Structured elements with capabilities for stream flow division and distribution and mitigation of undesired species that exceed those of conventionally available materials are provided. The structured elements provide increased opportunities for surface attraction, retention and coalescence of undesired species in a process stream. The functional contact surfaces of the structured elements can include one or more of the faces of cells, the surfaces of struts connecting cells, the surfaces of nodes connecting struts, and the surfaces of asperities or irregularities caused by channels, flutes, spikes, fibrils or filaments in or on the material surfaces.

Structured elements with capabilities for stream flow division and distribution and mitigation of undesired species that exceed those of conventionally available materials are provided. The structured elements provide increased opportunities for surface attraction, retention and coalescence of undesired species in a process stream. The functional contact surfaces of the structured elements can include one or more of the faces of cells, the surfaces of struts connecting cells, the surfaces of nodes connecting struts, and the surfaces of asperities or irregularities caused by channels, flutes, spikes, fibrils or filaments in or on the material surfaces.

In a method of manufacturing objects, extrudable ceramic forming material is extruded through multiple dies arrayed around an extrusion axis, the dies mounted to permit controlled movement of the dies during the course of extrusion to vary the position of several extrudate streams exiting the dies. Extruded objects are defined by spokes corresponding to the extrudate streams with the streams having a varying spacing from a central axis.

In a method of manufacturing objects, extrudable ceramic forming material is extruded through multiple dies arrayed around an extrusion axis, the dies mounted to permit controlled movement of the dies during the course of extrusion to vary the position of several extrudate streams exiting the dies. Extruded objects are defined by spokes corresponding to the extrudate streams with the streams having a varying spacing from a central axis.

An object is extruded to have the form of a cage, the cage defined by spokes corresponding to several extrudate streams. The spokes bound a hollow interior and extend between opposed hub regions where the spokes are fused together. In manufacturing the objects, ceramic material is extruded through multiple dies arrayed around an extrusion axis, the dies mounted to permit controlled movement of the dies during the course of extrusion to vary the position of extrudate streams exiting the dies.