The invention provides compositions to remove mercury and other pollutants
from a fluid stream,, particularly flue gases containing them. The
composition is a mixture consisting of (a) polyhydroxy compound selected
essentially from the group consisting of mono, di, poly saccharides and
mixture thereof; (b) a catalyst selected essentially from the group of
ammonium compounds, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid and salts, zinc
chloride, and mixture thereof; and (c) specificity producing compound
selected from the group of elemental sulfur, sullides and polysulfides of
ammonia and alkalies, compounds and metals of copper, silver, tin, gold,
and mixture thereof. The polyhydroxy compound in (a) above, either alone
or in conjunction with the third group (c), above is also shown effective
to remove mercury and other pollutants from fluid streams. The
composition can be liquid or dry powder. Methods are provided for
applying the formulation.