Hydrated lime is an important chemical and sorbent for the removal of sulfur dioxide (SO₂), hydrochloric acid (HCl) and hydrofluoric acid (HF) from waste gases of utility and industrial boilers, municipal and industrial waste incinerators, and aluminum and glass melting furnaces. Commercially produced conventional hydrates normally have specific surface areas of 15 to 17 m²/g. Using water-alcohol mixtures for hydration, specific surface areas of 40 m²/g and higher are achieved. Rheinische Kalksteinwerke GmbH, Wuelfrath, Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), developed and patented a commercial process for the manufacture of high surface area hydrate (WUELFRAsorp®) and, since early 1989, operates a six metric tons per hour (TPH) plant, providing sorbent to several flue gas cleaning installations. The manufacturing steps in the commercial plant are described and results of industrial applications are given.