Abstract: The characteristics of high-sodium Zhundong coal in chemical looping combustion (CLC) as well as the migration of sodium upon combustion were investigated in a fluidized-bed reactor with natural hematite as the oxygen carrier, in order to mitigate the severe slagging and fouling problems and enhance the utilization efficiency of Zhundong coal.The results indicated that the carbon conversion and reaction rate for Zhundong coal in CLC were evidently higher than those of other coals at 850-1 000℃; aluminosilicate Na₂O·Al₂O₃·6SiO₂ of high melting point is formed in the CLC process, which is effective to mitigate the severe slagging and fouling problems.During a 10-cycle CLC test, the reactivity of hematite increases with the increase of cycle number, whereas the sodium content in the CLC fly ash is reduced.