This paper explores the effects of electrification of water sprays on the absorption of sulphur dioxide from exhaust gases. The results of this paper are based on experimental evidences related to the use of electrified (distilled) water in a lab-scale scrubber, coupled with independent determination of droplets morphology and charge. Experiments clearly show that electrification is associated with an appreciable improvement of sulphur dioxide absorption rate, reducing the height of transfer unit, HTU, of the lab-scale unit by at least 40%, with peaks over 80% with low supplementary costs, and it candidates to be a valuable innovation for spray tower absorbers. Water electrification is accompanied by chemical-physics and morphological modifications of the sprayed droplets influencing the conventional absorption rate of soluble gases. The experimental and theoretical evidences indicate the need to analyse the electrified absorption within a new and integrated theoretical framework that we define chemi-electro-hydrodynamics (CEHD). (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Institution of Chemical Engineers.