A model of the process in a wet reactor for flue gas desulfurization by corona discharges is provided. Through deriving dependences of chain length Theta, desulfurization rate of the flue gas upon the parameters of injected energy density q, pH values of the liquid absorbents and mass transfer efficiency factor phi it is found that under the conditions of given energy injection of corona discharges the flue gas desulfurization rate can be remarkably increased when the pH value is appropriately adjusted and the inner surface of the wet plasma reactor is appropriately porous. It is realizable that the energy consumption can be reduced to lower than 2-4 Wh/N m(3), which is acceptable for industrial application. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.