AbstractPacked columns are being considered for contacting liquid metals with molten salts to extract fission products from spent nuclear fuel. Extraction rates between a liquid cadmium alloy and a liquid chloride salt were measured at 530°C. in a prototype column. With a system of water and a low melting metal alloy, measurements of the pressure drop, limiting flow rates, and hold‐up were made and compared with the predictions of existing correlations. These data indicate that packed columns might be effective contacting devices for pyrochemical process