SUMMARYA shrinking core model is proposed for the absorption of SO, in a sorbent consisting of CaO on y-A1203, which is made by a sol-gel method. The model assumes that pore diffusion and bulk gas transfer limit the absorption rate. Tests with a thermobalance, equipped with a special sampleholder to minimize external diffusion limitation, show that this model is very likely correct. In the thermobalance external diffusion limitation is important up to a conversion of approx. 40%. The mean effective pore diffusion coefficient is 5.3 t 0.5 lo-' m,/s. Relating this value to the Knudsen diffusion coefficient gives very realistic values for the tortuosity factor.