Method of Using a Crosslinked Polymer-Carbon Sorbent for the Removal of Heavy Metals, Toxic Materials and Carbon Dioxide

A method of removing carbon dioxide and heavy metal species from a flue gas from a combustion process from coal-fired power plants, the method comprising:

• 1) selecting a polymer-carbon sorbent, which sorbent comprises:
• a) a carbonaceous sorbent material, and
• b) a cured amine-containing polymer wherein
• i) a sulfur agent, S8 in the form of either orthorhombic, monoclinic, or amorphous forms, used to cure the curable amine-containing polymer, is selected from allotropes of elemental sulfur, which is added in molar excess of the amount required to cure the curable amine-containing polymer, in the presence of a carbonaceous sorbent material, and
• ii) the curable amine-containing polymer is formed by reacting an amine-containing polymer comprising contacting an amine-containing polymer having primary amine groups with an allyl halide, in the presence of a catalyst, to form a curable amine-containing polymer, comprising allyl end-groups, and secondary and tertiary amine groups,
• wherein the sorbent is in the form of particles;
• 2) contacting the polymer-carbon sorbent particles with the flue gas for a time sufficient to remove the heavy metal species;
• and
• 3) removing the polymer-carbon sorbent particles from the flue gas.