An industrial packed column for gas stream processing to remove a component by liquid absorbent contact includes:a. a plurality of packed tubular members having ends aligned in vertical parallel array to form a first bundle,b. an upper lean absorption liquid inlet and lower rich absorption liquid outlet;c. a raw gas feed inlet positioned below the packing material, connected to a raw feed gas manifold via control valves for selectively admitting the feed gas to one or more of the plurality of tubular members,d. an upper treated gas outlet, connected via valved conduit to (i) a treated gas collection manifold and (ii) the raw gas inlet of one or more of the other tubular members, andthe apparatus equipped with appropriate systems so that desired portions of the treated gas stream exiting a tubular member can be passed for further treatment to at least one other tubular member in the first bundle.