The solids are removed from an aq. suspension contg. 4-12 g coal fines/L using a suspension of a water-sol., high-mol. wt., highly crosslinked copolymer of di-Me diallyl ammonium chloride and 0.1-3 mol.% of a crosslinked comonomer, optionally mixed with anionic or nonionic polyacrylamide. The suspension is used at a rate of 0.1-4 mg/L at 276-310 K to form a floc which can be sepd. by known means. The floc is suitable for use in briquet manuf. [on SciFinder (R)]