Low ash pelleted carbon and process of preparation

The method of preparing a low ash pelletted carbon from a high ash pelletted carbon containing 3%-10% non-volatile ash including silica and non-silicious components selected from the group consisting of sodium, magnesium, calcium, aluminum, iron, and phosphate which comprises

• leaching said high ash pelletted carbon in contact with aqueous hydrochloric acid at 100.degree. F.-250.degree. F. thereby forming a reduced ash carbon;
• leaching said reduced ash pelletted carbon in contact with aqueous hydrofluoric acid at 100.degree. F.-250.degree. F. thereby forming a low ash pelletted carbon containing less than 0.1% of non-volatile ash;
• and
• recovering said low ash pelletted carbon.

A low ash pelletted carbon characterized by an ash content of less than about 0.1% of non-volatile ash prepared by the method which comprises

• leaching a high ash pelletted carbon in contact with hydrochloric acid thereby forming a reduced ash pelletted carbon;
• leaching said reduced ash pelletted carbon in contact with hydrofluoric acid thereby forming a low ash pelletted carbon;
• and
• recovering said low ash pelletted carbon.