LDA has been used to measure liquid velocities in a small-scale bubble column, internal diameter of 50 mm, packed with glass Raschig rings, 10 and 15 mm. A mixture of benzyl-alcohol and ethyl alcohol was index matched against the packing material. A method to separate the signals from liquid and bubbles was developed. It was found that the axial time-averaged liquid velocity was lower than that obtained in empty bubble columns, and that both the time-averaged liquid velocity and the RMS value of the liquid increased for the larger acking size. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.