Abstract: An electromagnetic converter directs the exhaust stream of a fossil fuel combustion process, for example the exhaust from an internal combustion engine, through a series of electrostatic fields to convert a substantial portion of the pollutants into non-harmful base elements. In an exemplary embodiment, the exhaust stream is directed through an anti-turbulator chamber, which conditions the flow. The chamber includes an electron transfer grid in the path of the flow. The grid has a negative dc charge of sufficient strength to achieve the first ionization level of the HC, CO, and CO.sub.2 molecules present. The ionized exhaust is thereafter directed to an ion generator chamber, which includes coils carrying a very high positive dc charge, e.g. 20,000-50,000 volts dc, sufficient to achieve ionization potential of the molecules to induce molecular breakdown into the base components of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.