The effects of different operating conditions (temperature, gas velocity and sodium (Na) concentration) and three Ca compounds (Ca(NO3)(2), CaCO3 and CaO) on the distribution of bottom ash heavy metals during the processes of agglomeration/defluidization were discussed. The results indicate that when a particle's diameter was less than 0.50 mm and greater than 1.00 mm, the concentration of heavy metals in the particle showed an increasing trend. Under different operating conditions, the retention capacity of Cr was found to be greater than that of Cd. At different operating conditions, when the temperature was 900 degrees C, the concentration of Na was 1.1%, the operating gas velocity was 1.1 U-mf and the retention capacity and retention ratio of the heavy metals in the bed material were at their lowest. When compared with the retention results of the heavy metal compounds with different Ca-compound additions, for Cd, because it is more volatile, the retention capacities of the three Ca compounds in the processes of agglomeration/defluidization were similar. However, for Cr. the retention capacities of the three Ca compounds were Ca(NO3)(2) > CaCO3 >CaO. Crown Copyright (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.