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.