The invention discloses a modified carbon-based adsorbent as well as a preparation method and application thereof. According to the method, activated carbon is used as a carrier, cuprous chloride, copper chloride, ferric chloride, calcium chloride, copper bromide, ferrous bromide, calcium bromide, cuprous iodide, ferrous iodide, calcium iodide and the like are loaded as activators, and a modified carbon-based material is successfully prepared through normal-temperature mechanical ball milling activation and used as an adsorbent for fixed removal of mercury in flue gas. The method is simple in process, easy to operate and short in consumed time; operation can be carried out at normal temperature without high-temperature roasting, and energy consumption is low; no wastewater or waste residue is generated in a modification process, the consumption of water and raw materials is small, and cost is remarkably reduced; and the modified carbon-based adsorbent is large in mercury adsorption capacity and high in adsorption rate, and a product obtained after mercury removal is environmentally friendly and free of secondary pollution.