Treatment of water-containing coal

A process for the treatment of water-containing coal which comprises:

• (a) in a mixing zone, mixing the water-containing coal with a hydrocarbon oil having a specific gravity higher than that of water at temperatures in the range of 100.degree. to 350.degree. C.;
• (b) heating the resulting mixture to a temperature in the range of 100.degree. to 350.degree. C. and a pressure not lower than the saturated vapor pressure of water at that temperature;
• and
• (c) introducing the heated mixture into a gravity separation zone at a temperature in the range of 100.degree. to 350.degree. C. and a pressure not lower than the saturated vapor pressure of water at that temperature, whereby the water separated from the water-containing coal is withdrawn from an upper section of the gravity separation zone and the mixture consisting of the dehydrated coal and the hydrocarbon oil is withdrawn from a lower section of the gravity separation zone.