This article deals with a theoretical analysis of direct contact latent heat transfer between two immiscible liquids in a counterflow spray column. The non-dimensional parameters governing the evaporation process are identified and a study of the effects of the variation of these parameters is made. The longitudinal dispersion in the continuous phase is taken into account in the analysis. The predicated column heights required for complete evaporation compare favourably with the available experimental data. The theoreatical model also predicts the temperatue profile of the dispersed phase along the column. © 1983.