the group consisting of calcium magnesium hydroxide ca oh 2 mg oh 2 and calcium hydroxide ca oh 2 initially limestone caco 3 or dolomite camg co 3 2 is calcined to its respective oxide cao or cao mgo usually in the temperature range of 900 u00b0 to 1100 u00b0 c lime temperature but preferably at around 1000 u00b0 c this produces a soft burned lime characteristic of that available at commercial lime plants the resulting oxide is then hydrated at a water to oxide ratio ranging from about 1 3 to 2 2 but preferably around 1 8 to 2 0 with water containing the desired amount of calcium lignosulfonate or other ionic surfactant the amount of calcium lignosulfonate utilized will be that sufficient to produce a resulting calcium hydroxide calcium lignosulfonate product containing up to about 5 percent by weight calcium lignosulfonate preferably the resulting product will contain about 0 5 to 2 percent calcium lignosulfonate the calcium lignosulfonate modified calcium hydroxide sorbent according to the present invention results in a higher capture of so 2 than an unmodified calcium hydroxide when injected into a fossil fuel fired combustor or combustor flue system typically the modified sorbent will be injected.