The effects of chemical heat treatments of a semi-anthracite char (AC) on textural properties and reactivity in air of the material are investigated. The starting char was first treated with a mixture of LiCl/KCl or LiCl/KCl/CaO at 743, 873 or 1173 K and the products obtained were then washed thoroughly with distilled water. A small fraction of these samples were treated with 10(-3) M HCl solution. Valuable information on textural modifications produced in the material was derived from the adsorption isotherms for CO2 At 273 K. The reactivity tests were carried out at 808, 823 and 823 K. The microporosity developed and the reactivity in air increased in the partially demineralised products. The former effect was stronger for the LiCl/KCl/CaO-treated samples and the latter for a,larger number of the LiCl/KCl-treated samples. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.