Provided is a method of manufacturing an alkaline-earth-metal-sulfate-loaded support material, the method comprising: providing a first slurry comprising a support material, alkaline-earth-metal ions and an organic compound, wherein the organic compound comprises a functional group selected from a sulfo group (-SO3H), a sulfonyl group (-S(=O)2-) and a sulfinyl group (-S(=O)-); spray drying the first slurry to provide a spray-dried powder; and heating the spray-dried powder to form an alkaline-earth-metal-sulfate-loaded support material.