Coal beneficiation

A process for the beneficiation of a low rank solid fuel which comprises forming a mixture of particulate low rank solid fuel and water, heating the mixture to a temperature between about 300.degree. F. and 706.degree. F. at a pressure sufficient to maintain substantially all of the water in the liquid state in the presence of an added catalytic amount of a decarboxylation catalyst comprising a soluble salt of a metal selected from the group consisting of vanadium, copper and nickel.