Pollution control system and method for the removal of sulfur oxides

A method for the removal of sulfur oxides from flue gases and the production of elemental sulfur comprising:

• contacting the flue gases with an adsorbent char in a first vessel and adsorbing the sulfur oxides onto said char;
• passing the sulfur oxides saturated char to a second vessel;
• introducing a quantity of coal into said second vessel;
• simultaneously burning a portion of said quantity of coal as a fuel in the presence of said sulfur oxides-saturated char to provide heat to desorb said char of said sulfur oxides and reacting said sulfur oxides with the remaining portion of coal to produce gaseous elemental sulfur, the adsorbent characteristics of said remaining coal portion being enhanced such that the remaining coal portion constitutes a carbonaceous adsorbent material after said reacting;
• condensing said gaseous elemental sulfur to liquid sulfur;
• and
• conveying said desorbed char and said reacted portion of said coal to said first vessel for use as an adsorbent material.