Ceramic block packing of Honeycomb type has been developed and studied for the purpose of absorption and heat transfer processes in column apparatuses. The packing design ensures high efficiency at relatively low pressure drop. The packing is easy to manufacture and the ceramic is resistant to high temperatures and chemically aggressive environments. Detailed studies on the characteristics of mass transfer and fluid flow have resulted in development of a reliable methodology for design of packed columns for absorption processes and direct heat transfer. Their successful implementations in the chemical industry, for environmental protection, and in the power production have confirmed the validity of the methodology. The Honeycomb packing is used in an industrial system for purification of process gases from H2S in staple cellulose fiber production, which operates with a degree of absorption greater than 99%. The packing is employed in industrial systems for heat recovery of flue gases from boilers burning natural gas, which utilize up to 13-15% extra heat and significantly reduce the harmful emissions. The heated and humidified air for combustion in one of the variants creates special conditions for fuel combustion such that the formation of nitrogen oxides is decreased by 3.5 times. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.