The pyritic sulphur extraction from a sub-bituminous coal in an oxidizing aqueous media was examined. The results show that the pyritic coal desulphurization in H2SO4 solutions and in presence of H2O2 could be effectively increased to 89% by the addition of complexing agents such as quercetin, phosphoric, oxalic and citric acids. According to the above, the current study might contribute to establish a new alternative process to eliminate pyritic sulphur from coal concentrates. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.