Gas absorption, pressure drop, liquid holdup, and loading behavior in a packed column have been investigated using packing materials almost geometrically identical but fabricated from three different materials (ceramics, Saran, and polyethylene). For the absorption of oxygen into sodium sulfite solution, observed values of the liquid-side, composite, overall mass transfer coefficient, K L ~, were about 25% larger for the cet'amic packing than for the polymeric packings. It was also observed that liquid loading occurs more readily in the case of the polymeric packing materials and i t appears that the usual type of correlation is inadequate for predicting loading when polymeric packings are employed. I n the case of liquid operating holdup no differences were observed from packing to packing. These observations are discussed in terms of the nature of the interaction between liquid and pocking surface and it is pointed out how these phenomena may be fundamentally different from those of previous investigations, which relied upon surface-active agents added to the liquid Ceramic and stoneware tower packings continue to enjoy wide application in the process industries. However, the availability of new materials within recent years now permits more flexibility and latitude in the choice of tower packings, particularly those made of polymeric materials which can be easily fabricated in a wide variety of shapes, hitherto unavailable. Considerable data and many useful correlations exist for the purpose of estimating mass transfer efficiency, capacity, and pressure drop in towers containing ceramic and stoneware packings of different sizes and shapes. Not nearly so much information is available