An electro thermal 
fluidized bed furnace is adapted to be used in a process for continuously 
heat treating of 
fine particulate matter, such as 
carbon black material, by continuously introducing a non-reactive fluidizing gas through the nozzles of the furnace at a pre-determined rate, continuously introducing untreated 
carbon black material through the feed 
pipe of the furnace at a predetermined rate so that it forms a 
fluidized bed, energizing the 
electrode so as to heat the 
fluidized bed, and continuously collecting the treated 
carbon black from the 
discharge pipe. The carbon black collected from the 
discharge pipe exhibits properties of having the PAHs and 
sulfur removed, the carbon black has been graphitized, the 
moisture pick-up by the carbon black has been eliminated and the carbon black is more 
oxidation resistant, Furthermore, the 
resultant furnace carbon backs have a particle size of 7-100 nm and an 
oil absorption number of 50-300 ml / 100 g., while the thermal blacks have a particle size of 200-500 nm and an 
oil absorption number of less than 50 ml / 100 g. All of these properties result in thermally 
modified carbon blacks having such properties and of such purity so as to provide 
improved performance properties in 
food contact type applications, 
moisture cured 
polymer systems, 
zinc-carbon 
dry cell battery applications, and semi-conductive wire and cable applications.