Abstract: A process for reducing ash content of coal with an initial concentration of inherent ash of approximately 0.25 w/o to approximately 3 w/o. The coal is swollen and wetted with an alcohol solution such as methanol, then deashed with a mineral acid solution such as hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acid. The demineralized coal is neutralized, washed, and dried for use in making coal slurries with a very low ash content.

Abstract: An improved process for carbonization of agglomerates to produce formcoke suitable for use in ore reduction furnaces, wherein green formcoke agglomerates are mixed with separator particles of sufficient size and quantity to allow heating gases to pass through the mixture and to prevent the green agglomerates from sticking together while maintaining the mixture as a stationary bed, maintaining the mixture as a stationary bed while passing heating gases through the bed to set the green agglomerates to enable the shape to be maintained in subsequent handling during carbonization and then carbonizing the set agglomerates by heating to a temperature between about 1200.degree. F and about 2300.degree. F. Formcoke of very good strength is produced from pellets formed by tumbling a low density char having a particle size of less than about 100 mesh and a hydrocarbon binder.

Abstract: Sodium ions are added to manganese nodules to convert the montmorillonite clay naturally occurring in the nodule material into a bonding agent for pelletization into spherical agglomerates.The addition of coking coal to provide bonding stength after reduction, during which the clay bond is destroyed, is also disclosed.