The effectiveness of dispersing kerosene in water, using a novel static mixing elements made from woven screens, was investigated over a wide range of operating and design conditions. A laser-based light attenuation technique was used to monitor spatial variations of drop sizes in the mixers. Drop diameters were found to decrease as the two phase system is passed through successive screens, ultimately reaching an equilibrium drop diameter which can be as small as 100 mu m. The rate at which equilibrium is approached was found to increase with increasing fluid velocity, decreasing dispersed-phase volume fraction, and reduced screen open area. For a fixed energy input, it was found that up to a 20-fold increase in interfacial area may be obtained if screen static mixing elements are used instead of tanks agitated by Rushton-type impellers. Compared to commercially available static mixers, the use of screen type static mixing elements results in more than a 3-fold increase in interfacial area at the same level of energy consumption per unit mass of the two-phase system processed. Furthermore, the results obtained using small-scale testing facilities are easier to scale up because of the hydrodynamic uniformity encountered in this mixer type.