Alkaline-earth based sorbent for removing effluent from a gas stream

The present invention relates to an improved sorbent for use in removing effluents such as sulfur dioxide from combustion gas streams. The sorbent comprises a hydroxide formed from an alkaline-earth based material such as lime and having incorporated therein an iron and organic compound promotion addition to enhance its ability to remove effluents from the gas stream. The sorbent is formed by co-dissolving an iron salt and an organic compound in a hydration solution and thereafter mixing the hydration solution containing the iron salt and the organic compound with an alkaline-earth based material. The sorbent thus produced may be injected into a gas stream in either dry or slurry form to remove the effluents.