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THE METHOD OF PROCESSING CONTAMINATED EARTH SUCH AS ACTIVATED CLAY, WHICH IS CONTAMINATED WITH VOLATILE MATERIALS COMPRISES HEATING THE CONTAMINATED EARTH IN A FURNACE TO 180?-500?C TO DRIVE OFF THE VOLATILE MATERIAL WITHOUT IGNITION. THE EARTH CAN BE SUBSEQUENTLY OR ALTERNATIVELY HEATED TO 600?-950?C TO CAUSE IGNITION. THE APPARATUS COMPRISES A FLUIDISED BED FURNACE IN WHICH A PARTICULATE SUBSTANCE PROMOTES FLUIDISATION OF THE CONTAMINATED EARTH. THERE IS A BUBBLING ZONE WHERE EARTH IS INTRODUCED INTO THE FURNACE AND IS FLUIDISED AND ALSO A CIRCULATING ZONE WHERE FLUIDISING MEDIUM AND EARTH ARE ENTRAINED IN A GAS FLOW WHILE THE VOLATILE MATERIALS ARE BEING DRIVEN OFF. THE FLUIDISING MEDIUM IS COLLECTED AND RETURNED IN A HEATED STATED TO THE BUBBLING ZONE OF THE FURNACE. THE METHOD AND APPARATUS ARE APPLICABLE TO REPROCESSING GALLEON EARTH USED IN PALM OIL REFINING TO ENABLE REUSE OF THE EARTH. (FIG. 1)