Trace elements in coal are detrimental from both an environmental and a technological perspective. Since most trace elements in coal are associated primarily with the mineral phases, they are often amenable to removal by conventional physical coal beneficiation methods. However, these methods generally are not adequate for removing those trace elements which are associated with the organic matrix or which are very finely disseminated. Thus, chemical treatments may be necessary for removal of these trace components. Data from a variety of studies indicate that cleaning by concentrating tables, jigs, heavy-media cyclones, hydrocyclones, froth flotation, and oil agglomeration could effectively remove many trace elements from some coals. However, trace element removal efficiencies varied widely between coals. Because cleaning efficiencies are strongly coal-dependent, conclusions regarding the relative effectiveness of various cleaning techniques are difficult to draw since different coals were used among studies.