An apparatus for separating impurities from a liquid by a non-dispersive
contacting of a liquid--liquid reactive systems, the liquids being
immiscible with each other, having a cylindrical column separated into a
first stage and a second stage, a plurality of modules of packed metallic
fibers mounted in the first stage of the column on a support, a first
distributor provided in the first stage of the column for distributing a
first liquid located above the support such that the first liquid
completely wets the fibers by capillary action and forms a film thereon,
a second distributor fitted at a bottom portion of the second stage for
distributing a second liquid containing impurities on to the metallic
fibers, wherein the second liquid flows concurrently with said first
liquid so that the impurities present in the second liquid react with the
first liquid and dissolve therein and a separator connected to a bottom
of said column separates the first liquid and purified second liquid.