BACKGROUND: Emissions of SO 2 and NO from flue gas have caused serious environmental pollution issues. UV/vacuum ultraviolet(VUV)-activated H 2 O 2 advanced oxidation technology is one of the most promising processes to realize the simultaneous removal of SO 2 and NO. From the application perspective, it is necessary to carry out further research in a pilot-scale photochemical reactor with industrial conditions and actual coal-fired flue gas running conditions. RESULTS: Results showed that SO 2 removal efficiency can reach 100% under most experimental conditions. An increase of the VUV irradiation intensity, H 2 O 2 concentration and solution pH can promote NO removal, but the growth rate of that gradually slows down. It is not conducive to NO removal when the flue gas flow and NO concentration increases. Increasing liquid-gas ratio has dual effects on NO removal; NO removal efficiency increases at first, and then decreases sharply. SO 2 concentration has no great impact on removal of NO. Results of ion chromatography (IC) demonstrate that SO 4 2− and NO 3 − are the major removal products of SO 2 and NO. CONCLUSION: The VUV-activated H 2 O 2 advanced oxidation technology is suitable for industrial application. The investment and operating costs of this technology are lower than those of the combined processes NH 3 -SCR and Ca-WFGD.