A mould for manufacturing a packing member from a liquid ceramic composition. The mould including a first part and a second part, wherein the first part and/or the second part comprise an open mould cavity and wherein the first and second parts are operable to engage to form a closed mould cavity, wherein the mould further includes a reservoir forming member, and wherein the mould is operable to be moved from an open position in which the first and second parts are at least partially spaced such that the reservoir member forms a reservoir cavity and the mould cavity is open, to a partially closed position in which the location of the reservoir cavity has moved with respect to the mould cavity and/or the volume of the reservoir cavity has reduced, and then to a closed position in which the first and second parts are engaged such that the mould cavity is closed.

A mould for manufacturing a packing member from a liquid ceramic composition. The mould including a first part and a second part, in which the first and/or second mould parts are resiliently deformable and the first part and/or the second part include a plurality of open mould cavities. The first and second parts are operable to engage to form closed mould cavities, and the mould is operable to be moved from an open position in which the first and second parts are partially spaced by the deformation of a mould part and in which position mould cavities are open, to a partially closed position by reducing the deformation of the mould part and in which position some of the mould cavities are closed, and then to a closed position by further reducing the deformation of the mould part and in which position the first and second parts are engaged such that the mould cavities are closed.

A packing member for use in a packed bed, preferably a support for use as a catalyst support in a packed bed reactor. The packing member includes ceramic material and has a geometric surface area per volume of ≥0.7 cm.sup.2/cm.sup.3 and a side crush strength of ≥250 kgf; or a geometric surface area per volume of ≥1.5 cm.sup.2/cm.sup.3 and a side crush strength of ≥150 kgf; or a geometric surface area per volume of ≥3 cm.sup.2/cm.sup.3 and a side crush strength of ≥60 kgf. The packing member optionally has a porosity of at least 6%, such as at least 15% or at least 20%.

A packing member for use in a packed bed, preferably a support for use as a catalyst support in a packed bed reactor. The packing member includes ceramic material and has a geometric surface area per volume of ?0.7 cm.sup.2/cm.sup.3 and a side crush strength of ?250 kgf; or a geometric surface area per volume of ?1.5 cm.sup.2/cm.sup.3 and a side crush strength of ?150 kgf; or a geometric surface area per volume of ?3 cm.sup.2/cm.sup.3 and a side crush strength of ?60 kgf. The packing member optionally has a porosity of at least 6%, such as at least 15% or at least 20%.

There is described a packing member for use in a packed bed, preferably a support for use as a catalyst support in a packed bed reactor. The packing member comprises ceramic material and has a geometric surface area per volume of ?0.7 cm.sup.2/cm.sup.3 and a side crush strength of ?250 kgf; or a geometric surface area per volume of ?1.5 cm.sup.2/cm.sup.3 and a side crush strength of ?150 kgf; or a geometric surface area per volume of ?3 cm.sup.2/cm.sup.3 and a side crush strength of ?60 kgf. The packing member optionally has a porosity of at least 6%, such as at least 15% or at least 20%.