Process for the reaction and absorption of gaseous air pollutants, apparatus therefor and method of making same

A process of removing gaseous pollutants from combustion stack gases comprising contacting a catalyst absorber, comprising an oxidation catalyst specie selected from platinum, palladium, rhodium, cobalt, nickel, iron, copper, molybdenum or combinations thereof disposed on a high surface area support, said oxidation catalytic specie being intimately and entirely coated with an absorber selected from a hydroxide, carbonate, bicarbonate or mixture thereof of an alkali or alkaline earth or mixtures thereof wherein said oxidation catalyst specie and absorber are present in discrete layers, with said combustion stack gas containing said pollutants such as carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides at a space velocity of 5,000 to 50,000 hr.sup.-1, and at a temperature above 150.degree. F. until the catalyst absorber is at least partially saturated.