Coal still remains an important source of power generation world over. Along with its usage, comes unwanted generation of noxious gas emissions, toxic metal releases into wastewater and other pollutants which ultimately lead to environmental concerns. So cleaning of coal through physical or chemical processes becomes utmost important. There are several coals which cannot be cleaned by physical beneficiation techniques to produce low ash cleaner coals. Such coals can be cleaned only through chemical cleaning techniques. The present paper reviews the chemical demineralisation and desulphurisation of coals over the years using various inorganic and organic acids, alkalis, oxidants, leachants and various acids and alkali-acid combinations to reduce the ash and sulphur contents in coals. As high as 90% demineralisation and desulfurization could be achieved with the use of these cheap inorganic acids as compared to the expensive solvents used for solvent extraction processes, a parallel approach of cleaning and refining coals.