Separation method and assembly for process streams in component separation units

A process unit assembly comprising:

• a vessel having at least one bed with a plurality of stochastic three-dimensional cellular solid materials randomly packed therein, the cellular solid materials having:
• a pore size in the range of about 100 microns to about 6,000 microns;
• and
• a coating applied thereon, the coating comprising a catalytically active material that is capable of reacting with a contaminant in one or more of a first process stream and a second process stream introduced into the vessel,
• wherein the first process stream and the second process stream can be contacted with the cellular solid material to facilitate mass transfer therebetween and produce at least one component process stream having a desired composition that is different from the composition of the first process stream and the second process stream.

A method of decontaminating one or more process streams in a process unit comprising:

• providing a plurality of stochastic three-dimensional cellular solid materials within a bed in the process unit, the cellular solid materials having a pore size in the range of about 100 microns to about 6,000 microns and a coating applied thereon, the coating comprising a catalytically active material;
• passing a first process stream and a second process stream through the bed, wherein the first process stream and the second process stream each comprise one or more of a liquid phase, a vapor phase or combinations thereof;
• and
• contacting the first process stream and the second process stream with the cellular solid materials to facilitate mass transfer between the phases in the first process stream and the second process stream,
• wherein the mass transfer promotes reactivity of the coating with one or more contaminants in either of the first process stream and the second process stream.

A method of decontaminating a process stream in a process unit comprising:

• providing a plurality of stochastic three-dimensional cellular solid materials within a bed in the process unit, the cellular solid materials having a pore size in the range of about 100 microns to about 6,000 microns and a coating applied thereon, the coating comprising a catalytically active material;
• passing the process stream through the bed, wherein the process stream comprises one or more of a liquid phase, a vapor phase or combinations thereof;
• and
• contacting the process stream with the cellular solid materials to facilitate mass transfer between the phases in the process stream,
• wherein the mass transfer promotes reactivity of the coating with one or more contaminants in the process stream.