An active liquid distributor containing, packed column wherein a casing contains perforated, active liquid frothing plates directly supporting packed beds filling the whole of the gas flow path in the casing. The total perforated, cross-sectional area, and the cross-sectional area of each perforation, for each plate is chosen to match the permeability of the packed beds so that the plates and packed beds contribute significantly to the gas/liquid contact thus greatly increasing the mass transfer efficiency of the packed column.