To remove solid particles such as soot, aerosols, and the like, from the exhaust gas of an internal combustion (IC) engine, for example a Diesel engine, the solid particles and aerosols are first charged in an electrostatic field which is generated between a solid surface (2), preferably cylindrical, and pointed discharge elements, typically electrostatic spray disks (3). The solid particles will adhere together, and to the surface, to form--with respect to the original dust and soot particles and aerosols, large area flakes and agglomerates which are carried along by the gas flow, and are then separated out in a mechanical separator (7, 15, ).