Improvement in the floatability and cleanability of ultrafine, lower rank bituminous coals - removal of pyritic sulfur and ash - has been achieved by employing mixtures composed of anionic surfactants and conventional frothing alcohols. In particular, of those surfactants studied, the lower molecular weightcis-dialkylethenesulfonate salts afforded the greatest improvement. Roughly half as much alcohol/surfactant mixture as conventional alcohol/kerosene blends produced equivalent energy recoveries. Ratios of surfactant to alcohol must be properly balanced to maximize ash and pyrite rejections. Such mixtures were also beneficial for floating and cleaning higher rank bituminous coals and for use in conventional fine size froth flotation feed.