Patent ID: 7429330

Claim:
A method for removing contaminant from a fluid stream resulting from a process having solid and gaseous by-products, said method comprising the steps of: a. contacting at least a portion of said stream with a magnetic adsorbent wherein said adsorbent is selected from the group of adsorbents consisting of a porous carbonaceous adsorbent, silica, alumina, zeolite, zirconium oxide, ion exchange resins, or combinations thereof, and has incorporated therein at least one ferromagnetic material wherein said magnetic adsorbent adsorbs the contaminants; and b. separating said contaminated magnetic adsorbent from said by-products using a magnetic separation process and recovering any contaminated magnetic adsorbent from the other by-products, wherein said by-product is combustion product or fly ash from a coal burning power plant.