A method of removing contaminants from a contaminated gas or vapor stream, which method includes passing a contaminated gas or vapor stream through a bed of curled separating media linearly in an upward direction at a linear velocity of up to 6 m/s; allowing a contaminant in the contaminated gas or vapor stream to collect on the separating media as the gas or vapor stream passes through the bed of separating media, thereby removing the contaminant from the gas or vapor stream and thus purifying the gas or vapor stream; allowing the contaminant that has collected on the separating media to pass from the separating media into a collection zone; removing the contaminant from the collection zone; and withdrawing a purified gas or vapor stream from the bed of separating media.