Patent ID: 8196533

Claim:
A method for operating a fluidized-bed reactor, the method comprising: introducing an alkali-containing material into a fluidized-bed reactor; introducing an unbeneficiated hydrous clay into the fluidized-bed reactor, the hydrous clay having a moisture content ranging from about 5% to about 15% by weight, and about 60% to about 80% of the hydrous clay having a particle size less than about 2 μm; heating at least a portion of the alkali-containing material and hydrous clay, such that at least a portion of the hydrous clay is at least partially calcined and the at least partially calcined clay adsorbs at least a portion of alkali present in the fluidized-bed reactor; and removing at least a portion of the at least partially calcined clay and adsorbed alkali from the fluidized-bed reactor.