Process for purifying exhaust gas using modified calcium hydroxide

A dry absorption process for purifying an exhaust gas containing impurities selected from the group consisting of volatile heavy metals, mercury, chlorinated hydrocarbons, polychlorinated dioxines and furanes, polychlorinated biphenyls, hexachlorobenzenes and pentachlorophenols, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons, comprising the steps of:

• (a) manufacturing a modified calcium hydroxide by adding from 0.1 to 25 wt. % of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of activated coal and open-hearth lignite coke to calcium hydroxide;
• (b) introducing said modified calcium hydroxide in dry powder form into the exhaust gas at a temperature of 20.degree. to 1200.degree. C.;
• (c) mixing said modified calcium hydroxide with the exhaust gas to absorb said impurities;
• and
• (d) removing the modified calcium hydroxide containing the absorbed impurities from said exhaust gas.