The removal of organic sulfur from two Turkish lignites by chlorinolysis with chlorine gas in water and water-carbon tetrachloride media at ambient pressure was examined. The effects of stirring speed (5-20 s(-1)), particle size (250-425, 150-180 and 74-88 mu m), temperature (13-70 degrees C) and time (0-10800 s) were investigated. Significant portions of the organic sulfur in the coal samples were removed.