Applications Typical applications include vacuum and atmospheric crude oil fractionators, FCC main fractionators and TEG contactors. The separation of mono-, di- and triethanolamine, conducted under vacuum, may also utilize structured packing, owing to its relatively low pressure drop. Tall oil fractionation, the process of separating fatty acids from rosin acids and pitch obtained as a by-product of the Kraft process of wood pulp manufacture, also utilizes structured packing. The packing additionally finds use in the manufacture of styrene monomer and the dehydration of glycol in natural gas processing. Structured packing also finds use in the equipment/processes below: Air separation Cyclohexanone/Cyclohexanol separation Xylene splitters CO2 absorbers H2S absorbers Ethylene oxide absorbers Acrylonitrile absorbers Oleo Chemicals Fine Chemicals Advantages Structured packing offers the following advantages as compared to the use of random packing and trays: Lower pressure drop Higher efficiency (given the same tower height) Higher capacity Reduced liquid hold-up Disadvantages Structured packing offers the following disadvantages as compared to the use of random packing and trays: Cost Greater sensitivity to maldistribution See also Packed bed Raschig ring Dixon rings Random column packing References Distillation