Abstract: A ceramic packing element comprising a monolith structure having a generally block shape and having plurality of equally spaced parallel openings therein extending the length of the block where the openings have generally straight sides and corners which are rounded. The corners are substantially radiused to produce the rounded corners. For example, where the openings in the element are between 1.8 and 6.5 mm, the radius will be between 0.3 and 1.8 mm. The block element will have between 20 to 60 cells by 20 to 60 cells totaling between 400 to 3600 cell elements.