A system for removing sulfur dioxide (SO 2) from SO 2 laden flue gas resulting from the burning of fossil fuel, comprising: an absorber configured to capture SO 2 from a flow of the SO 2 laden flue gas with a sorbent; a first separator configured to separate the sorbent with captured SO 2 into a first portion of sorbent and a second portion of sorbent and to also separate the first portion of sorbent from the flue gas; a second separator configured to separate the second portion of sorbent from the flue gas, which includes a fourth outlet for directing the flue gas from the second separator and a fifth outlet for directing the second portion of sorbent from the second separator; wherein the first separator, is a mechanical separator and includes a first outlet for directing the flue gas and the second portion of sorbent from the first separator, and a second outlet for directing the first portion of sorbent from the first separator, and further comprising: a hydrator configured to rehydrate the first portion of sorbent directed from the first separator, and including a third outlet for directing the rehydrated sorbent to the absorber, wherein the separator is configured such that an average size of sorbent particles in the first portion of sorbent are larger than an average size of sorbent particles in the second portion of sorbent, wherein a reheater is provided, which is configured to heat the flue gas and the second portion of sorbent directed from the first separator, and having a third outlet for directing the heated flue gas and the heated second portion of sorbent from the reheater; wherein the second portion of sorbent and the flue gas separated by the second separator are the heated second portion of sorbent and the heated flue gas directed from the reheater. an absorber configured to capture SO 2 from a flow of the SO 2 laden flue gas with a sorbent; a first separator configured to separate the sorbent with captured SO 2 into a first portion of sorbent and a second portion of sorbent and to also separate the first portion of sorbent from the flue gas; a second separator configured to separate the second portion of sorbent from the flue gas, which includes a fourth outlet for directing the flue gas from the second separator and a fifth outlet for directing the second portion of sorbent from the second separator; wherein the first separator, is a mechanical separator and includes a first outlet for directing the flue gas and the second portion of sorbent from the first separator, and a second outlet for directing the first portion of sorbent from the first separator, and further comprising: a hydrator configured to rehydrate the first portion of sorbent directed from the first separator, and including a third outlet for directing the rehydrated sorbent to the absorber, wherein the separator is configured such that an average size of sorbent particles in the first portion of sorbent are larger than an average size of sorbent particles in the second portion of sorbent, wherein a reheater is provided, which is configured to heat the flue gas and the second portion of sorbent directed from the first separator, and having a third outlet for directing the heated flue gas and the heated second portion of sorbent from the reheater; wherein the second portion of sorbent and the flue gas separated by the second separator are the heated second portion of sorbent and the heated flue gas directed from the reheater. a hydrator configured to rehydrate the first portion of sorbent directed from the first separator, and including a third outlet for directing the rehydrated sorbent to the absorber, wherein the separator is configured such that an average size of sorbent particles in the first portion of sorbent are larger than an average size of sorbent particles in the second portion of sorbent, wherein a reheater is provided, which is configured to heat the flue gas and the second portion of sorbent directed from the first separator, and having a third outlet for directing the heated flue gas and the heated second portion of sorbent from the reheater; wherein the second portion of sorbent and the flue gas separated by the second separator are the heated second portion of sorbent and the heated flue gas directed from the reheater.