The adsorption behavior of polyoxyethylene (23) lauryl ether (Brij-35) and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) on coal sample has been studied. The adsorption process is found to be sensitive to pH, temperature, electrolyte concentration, and the amount of surface active agent. An attempt has been made to explain the adsorption behavior of the surfactants using the Langmuir equation. The extent of adsorption of Brij-35 on coal is found to be the highest at pH 2, which decreases with increase in pH and remains constant in the neutral and alkaline pH regions. But, the adsorption of CTAB exhibits the opposite behavior of that of Brij-35. Adsorption of any of the surfactant at the coal/water interface sharply decreases the apparent viscosity of 55 wt% coal-water slurry (CWS) at a shear rate of 100 s(-1). Electrostatic adsorption of the surfactants on the coal surface decreases the surface charge and renders the coal surface hydrophobic which is manifested in the form of high apparent viscosity of the coal-water slurry under the test conditions. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.