Process for the separation of particulate solids from vapors

A process for separating particulate solids from a stream comprising vapors and particulate solids passed in admixture through a vertically elongated contacting zone, which process comprises discharging said stream from said contacting zone into the main body of a disengagement zone, said disengagement zone having an interior cylindrical surface, the cylindrical axis of which is substantially vertical, altering the direction of flow of said stream upon the discharge of said stream from said contacting zone so as to effect the flow of said stream to be in a downward direction along the curvature of said interior surface and at a positive angle to the vertical, said stream having a downward progression while maintaining a helical twist of a vertical axis, whereby said solids fall to a bottom portion of said disengagement zone and said vapors rise to an upper portion thereof.