Upgraded coal

A method of upgrading coal, the method comprising:

• cleaning coal having a largest dimension of 25 mm or less using a strong mineral acid at a temperature of 30° C. to 100° C. to form a cleaned coal residue;
• and
• at least one of
• reacting the cleaned coal residue at 100° C. to 500° C. under an inert gas with an oxidizable inorganic metallic agent comprising iron (II) sulfate heptahydrate (FeSO4·7H2O), iron (II) chloride tetrahydrate (FeCl·4H2O), or a combination thereof, and
• reacting the cleaned coal residue at 0° C. to 50° C. in an organic solvent with a reducing agent comprising lithium aluminum hydride (LAH), sodium borohydride (NAH), or a combination thereof,
• to form the upgraded coal;
• wherein
• the upgraded coal has a lower ash content, as compared to the coal used to form the upgraded coal, and
• the upgraded coal has a lower oxygen concentration and a higher carbon concentration, as compared to the naturally-sourced coal used to form the upgraded coal.