a process for reducing particulate , hg , nox , and so 2 emissions from the combustion of fossil fuel while providing the capability of producing an end product that is commercially useful comprising the steps of oxidizing hg , nox and so 2 using a barrier discharge reactor to produce the hgo and acids hno 3 and h 2 so 4 , collecting the hgo , acids and particulates in a wet esp , and then draining them from the wet esp to remove them from the flue gas stream .