The absorption of SO2 in flue gas with sodium hydroxide solution in a novel rotating packed bed was studied. The effects of high gravity factor, ratio of liquid to gas and gas flow rate on removal rate of SO2 (h) and mass transfer coefficient (KGa) were examined experimentally. Besides, the effect of number of cycles on h and pH of absorbing solution under the condition of circulation absorption was also studied. The results showed that h increased with the increase of high gravity factor, ratio of liquid to gas, but decreased with the increase of gas flow rate, and KGa increased with the increase of high gravity factor, ratio of liquid to gas and gas flow rate. Under the condition of circulation absorption, h and pH value of absorbing solution decreased with the increase of number of cycles. The optimum experimental conditions were obtained as high gravity factor of 67, gas flow rate of 55 m3/h, and ratio of liquid to gas of 1.1~1.3 L/m3. Under the optimized conditions, SO2 concentration of exit gas was reduced to below 100 mg/m3, and h reached around 98.7%. The removal rate of SO2 in the novel RPB was 18.7% higher compared with that of a multi-stage-spraying rotating packed bed. Based on the experimental data, the empirical formula of KGa was expressed as .