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A method and apparatus for removing contaminants from gas streams. A first step involves selecting a contaminant to be removed from a gas stream and determining a characteristic ionizing energy value required to selectively ionize the selected contaminant with minimal effect on other contaminants in

A method and apparatus for removing contaminants from gas streams. A first step involves selecting a contaminant to be removed from a gas stream and determining a characteristic ionizing energy value required to selectively ionize the selected contaminant with minimal effect on other contaminants in the gas stream. A second step involves applying the characteristic ionizing energy value to the gas stream and selectively ionizing the selected contaminant. A third step involves capturing the selected contaminant after ionization.

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1. An apparatus for removing contaminants from gas streams, comprising:an ionization assembly; a tuner for selectively tuning the ionization assembly to produce an electric field having a characteristic ionizing energy value required to selectively ionize a selected contaminant with minimal affect o

1. An apparatus for removing contaminants from gas streams, comprising:an ionization assembly; a tuner for selectively tuning the ionization assembly to produce an electric field having a characteristic ionizing energy value required to selectively ionize a selected contaminant with minimal affect on other contaminants in a gas stream; a collector assembly for capturing the selected contaminant after ionization, the collector assembly including a charged metal substrate cooled below a characteristic liquefying temperature for the selected contaminant, thereby liquefying the selected contaminant. 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein a magnetic field generator is provided for applying a magnetic field to deflect the selected contaminant to the collector assembly, the magnetic field being applied at an angle to the motion of the selected contaminant to deflect the selected contaminant along an arcuate path to the collector which can be predetermined based upon known data regarding mass and average drift velocity of the selected contaminant.3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, the collector assembly being charged with an electric charge having a different polarity to that of the selected contaminant after ionization, whereby the selected contaminant is attracted to the collector assembly.4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, the charged metal substrate being positioned at an angle, with a collection vessel being positioned beneath the charged metal substrate, such that after liquefaction the selected contaminant flows down the charged metal substrate into the collection vessel.5. An apparatus for removing contaminants from gas streams, comprising:an ionization assembly; a tuner for selectively tuning the ionization assembly to produce en electric field having a characteristic ionizing energy value required to selectively ionize a selected contaminant with minimal effect on other contaminants in a gas stream; a collector assembly for capturing the selected contaminant after ionization; the ionization assembly including a first body having a first set of conductive members, a second body having a second set conductive members, the first body and the second body extending through openings of an insulated, support in parallel spaced relation, the first set of conductive members being intermeshed with the second set of conductive members. 6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5, means being provided to effect relative movement of the first body and the second body toward and away from each other, thereby cleaning the first set of conductive members and the second set of conductive members by rubbing them against the insulated support.7. An apparatus for removing contaminants from gas streams, comprising:an ionizing assembly including a first body having a first set of conductive members, the first body and the second body extending through openings in and being supported by an insulated support in parallel spaced relation, the first set of conductive members bing intermeshed with the second set of conductive members; a tuner for selectively tuning the ionization assembly to produce an electric field having a characteristic ionizing energy value required to selectively ionize a selected contaminant with minimal effect on other contaminants in a gas stream; a collector assembly for capturing the selected contaminant after ionization, the collector including a charged metal substrate with an electric charge having a different polarity to that of the selected contaminant after ionization, whereby the selected contaminant is attracted to the collector assembly, the charged metal substrate being cooled below a characteristic liquefying temperature for the selected contaminant, thereby liquefying the selected contaminant, the charged metal substrate being positioned at an angle, with a collection vessel being positioned beneath the charged metal substrate, such that after liquefaction the selected contaminant flows down the charged metal substrate into the collection vessel; and a magnetic field generator for applying a magnetic field to deflect the selected contaminant to the collector, the magnetic field being applied at an angle to the motion of the selected contaminant to deflect the selected contaminant along an arcuate path to the collector which can be predetermined based upon known data regarding mass and average drift velocity of the selected contaminant. 8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, means being provided to effect relative movement of the first body and the second body toward and away from each other, thereby cleaning the first set of conductive members and the second set of conductive members by rubbing them against the insulated support.