The operating characteristics of a novel reciprocating plate column used for counter-current gas-liquid contacting (The Landau RPC column) was investigated. Compared with other types of contactors, the results obtained in this unit (gas holdup up to 0.6, interfacial areas as high as 350 m(2) m(-3), equivalent axial dispersion coefficient as low as 2 cm(2) s(-1), and maximum superficial gas velocities of up to 1.7 m s(-1)) suggest that it can be advantageously used in a wide variety of industrial operations.