A method of removing a nitrogen oxide from an exhaust containing the same which comprises preparing an absorbent solution by adding divalent copper ions alone or a mixture of the divalent copper ions and divalent manganese ions to an acid aqueous solution containing sulfites or acid sulfites of ammonium, alkaline metals, or alkaline earth metals or a mixture of two or more of these compounds; and introducing the plant exhaust into the absorbent solution to carry out reaction between the sulfite radical of the absorbent solution and the nitrogen oxides contained in the exhaust to reduce the nitrogen oxides to nitrogen gas.