An improved version of a combustion-desulfurization model for fluidized bed combustors burning high ash and sulfur content low quality lignite in its own ash with the addition of limestone is presented. The desulfurization model considers sulfur retention by both limestone and ash and is based on first order catalyst deactivation where the kinetics of desulfurization is described by two rate constants; one for the initial surface reaction, the other for the rate of pore plugging or deactivation. The accuracy of the complete model with experimentally determined deactivation rate constants was tested by applying it to a 0.3 MWt AFBC test rig and comparing its predictions with measurements. Comparisons show that (he model produces reasonably accurate predictions of sulfur retention provided that the rate constants are determined experimentally under the fluidized bed combustor operating conditions.