In the present work, the design of a packed column was carried out to achieve the absorption of ethanol contained in a gaseous stream, using water as a solvent. As packing material, 35-mm Nor-Pac® plastic rings was selected. A column diameter of 0.334 m was obtained; the calculated total pressure drop was 321 Pa/m, which is lower than that allowed by the absorption system (350 Pa/m); a mass volumetric mass transfer coefficient of 0.201 kmol/m3s was obtained; the packing height had a value of 1.97 m; while the total height of the absorption column was 4 m. The packed column will have a total cost of approximately USD $ 22,000.