A system for separating sulfur dioxide from a gas using an aqueous absorption liquid. The system includes a housing, an apertured plate, an outlet box, a distribution mechanism, a container, and a pump. The housing has an inlet and an outlet. The apertured plate is positioned between the inlet and the outlet and includes a lower side, an upper side, and apertures fluidly connecting the lower and upper sides. The outlet box includes a distribution mechanism that is arranged so that the absorption liquid draining from the outlet box contacts the gas from the inlet before the gas passes through the apertures in the apertured plate. The container contains the absorption liquid and is fluidly connected with the housing. The pump draws the absorption liquid from the container through the pump and through a conduit to the upper side of the apertured plate.