Separating impurities from a fluid stream using multiple co-current contactors

An apparatus for decontaminating a contaminated fluid stream, comprising:

• a vessel comprising:
• a contaminated fluid stream inlet;
• a decontaminated fluid stream outlet;
• a solvent inlet;
• a contaminated solvent stream outlet;
• and
• a co-current contacting bundle disposed within the vessel, wherein the co-current contacting bundle comprises at least two substantially parallel separation units, and wherein each separation unit comprises:
• a contacting section including an inlet section and a mass transfer section, the mass transfer section comprising a tubular body having a first end into which a contaminated fluid stream is directed, the inlet section including a nozzle situated at the first end of the tubular body and oriented to direct an atomized solvent stream, generated by the nozzle, into the tubular body such that the atomized solvent stream flows in the same direction as a direction of flow of the contaminated fluid stream, thereby forming a mixed stream, the tubular body arranged to permit absorption of contaminants in the contaminated fluid stream by the atomized solvent stream to generate a contaminated solvent stream and an at least partially decontaminated fluid stream;
• and
• a separation section arranged to receive the contaminated solvent stream and the at least partially decontaminated fluid stream from the mass transfer section, the separation section configured to separate the contaminated solvent stream from the at least partially decontaminated fluid stream.