A study is reported of the controlled thermal decomposition of hydrated dolomitic lime originated from a high-grade dolomite. Both increasing and constant temperature weight-loss methods have been employed to measure the rate of thermal dehydration of hydrated dolomitic lime at 305-400 degrees C. The amassed data have been correlated with the use of an Arrhenius-type rate equation. Changes in the specific surface area of calcines due to sintering phenomena have also been studied at 400-600 degrees C. An empirical, fractional-order kinetic relationship has been developed for surface area reduction as a function of temperature and elapsed time of sintering. Presented findings make it possible to specify the operation conditions needed for the preparation of reactive dolomite-derived sorbents.