A new structured packing using carbon fibres, called Sepcarb (R) 4D, is presented. This packing has several attractive properties, such as high voidage (epsilon = 94%) and high effective area (a = 420 m(2) m(-3)). These properties are advantageous for packing used as a gas-liquid contactor for separation units. To determine the internal characteristics of this packing, we performed several experiments using a 150-mm-internal-diameter column. Firstly, hydrodynamics experiments were conducted using an air-water counter current flow to determine the pressure drop (for both dry and wet packing) and flooding point. Secondly, the mass transfer efficiency was determined in terms of HETP (height equivalent to theoretical plate) by total reflux experiments with an n-heptane/cyclohexane mixture at atmospheric pressure. Hydrodynamic performance and mass transfer efficiency were compared with those of packings generally used in distillation and absorption. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.