separator 72 examples of suitable separating units include countercurrent decant circuits precoat rotary filters plate filters and the like if separator 72 is a filter the filtrate comprises an ash lean stream of dissolved coal and solvent which is conveyed through line 74 to a solvent recovery station 76 such as a distillation tower or a critical pressure solvent fractionation unit solvent recovered in station 76 is returned through line 78 and 80 to line 68 for recycle to the mixer solubilizer 66 the product a molten about 450 u00b0 to about 550 u00b0 f stream of deashed coal containing less than 0 5 weight percent ash is withdrawn through line 82 the ash separated in separator 72 is conveyed through line 84 to a second solvent recovery station 86 the ash is first washed in station 86 to remove any entrained dissolved coal values after which the washed solvent may be flashed and recovered for recycle through lines 88 and 80 to the mixer solubilizer 66 if the quantity of dissolved coal associated with the ash is quite low the solubilization solvent may be flashed directly from the ash without a prior washing step the dry ash concentrate exiting from solvent recovery unit 86 then conveniently is fed to a hydrogen plant not shown wherein its carbon and hydrogen values may be utilized in the production.