Desulfurization of high-sulfur coal prior to use by dry chlorination under various conditions was investigated. The contents of total carbon, total sulfur, pyritic sulfur, sulfate and organic sulfur of the coal were 72.48, 5.95, 1.08, 0.66 and 4.22 wt.%, respectively. It was found that the chlorination temperature and particle size had a great influence on sulfur removal. The optimal chlorination temperature and particle size for sulfur removal was 350 degrees C and 48-75 mu m, respectively. Under optimal conditions, sulfur content in the chlorinated coal was 1.12 wt.%. The removal percentages of total sulfur, pyritic sulfur, sulfate and organic sulfur were 67.7, 93.0, 65.6 and 61.6, respectively, indicating that a high proportion of organic sulfur, pyritic sulfur and inorganic sulfur were removed by dry chlorination. Meanwhile, the fixed carbon did not lose appreciably. It was speculated that the removal of organic sulfur by dry chlorination at 350 degrees C proceeded mainly based on the equation 2R-S + Cl-2 = 2R-Cl + S2Cl2. The chlorinated coal thus obtained could be used in production of various carbon-containing materials such as metallurgical coke after a complete dechlorination pretreatment at 500-600 degrees C. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.