Coal char passivation process and apparatus

A method for passivating coal char comprising:

• fluidizing the coal char particles with a fluidizing gas stream injected into the reaction chamber of a fluidized bed reactor maintained at a temperature from about 110° F. to about 140° F. (about 43° C. to about 60° C.);
• passivating the char particles as they are fluidized by contacting them with oxygen and moisture in the reaction chamber, wherein the char in the fluidized bed reacts with oxygen exothermically and takes up moisture from about 3% to about 7% by weight;
• and
• cooling the char particles as they are fluidized and reacted exothermically by contacting them with an internal heat exchange system having heat exchange surfaces within the fluidized bed reactor.