The present invention provides a packing material capable of improving the uniformity of liquid distribution and of achieving a preferable gas-liquid contact reaction even in the case that the specific surface area of the packing material is small. Further, the invention improves the performance of air separators by provision of the packing material of the present invention in rectifiers for performing the gas-liquid contact reaction.
A plurality of projections (2) are provided on the surface of a thin plate (1), and holes (3) are provided between the projections (2). The transverse extension of the projections (2) is preferably larger than the longitudinal extension thereof, so that descending liquid (4) flows downward while being transversely dispersed at the projections (2). The holes (3) are provided between the projections (2) such that they do not obstruct the transverse dispersion of liquid (4) at the projections (2). Moreover, the holes (3) themselves accelerate the transverse dispersion of liquid (4) or the dispersion of liquid between the front and rear surfaces of the thin plate (1) by the surface tension of the liquid (4). As a result, an excellent uniformity of liquid distribution can be obtained on the surface of the thin plate (1).