AbstractThe extended crossflow model is proposed and developed for describing gas absorption with chemical reaction in a packed bed operated in the trickle flow regime. The model involves the division of the total interfacial area into the interfacial area of the static hold‐up and that of the dynamic hold‐up. The concept of the effectiveness of the interfacial area of the static hold‐up is presented. A procedure is developed for calculating the effectiveness, and consequently, the effective interfacial area for various different absorption processes with chemical reaction, both liquid phase controlled and gas phase controlled. The predictions based on the present model agree well with reported experimental data. The present model is shown to be simpler and more accurate than previous m