Atmospheric pressure-temperature programmed reduction (AP-TPR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques were applied to low rank coals sulphur study. Coal samples were pyrolysed in a flow of water vapor (WV). It was demonstrated that this treatment influenced mainly aliphatic sulphur. Samples were characterised by two methods and data were interpreted within the limits of the techniques. XPS measurements registered sulphur 2p spectra with two main signals for organic and inorganic sulphur compounds. The AP-TPR set-up, with potentiometric detection of the formed H2S as S2- using an ion selective Ag2S-electrode, gives quantitative data about the presence of different sulphur species. The AP-TPR equipment on-line coupled with a mass spectrometer (MS) gives extra qualitative information about different reductive and oxidative organic sulphur forms. Using MS not only H2S but also SO2, COS, CS2, and all other volatile sulphur and organic compounds can be monitored, giving more information for the initial presence of the different sulphur forms and to the mechanisms involved in the pyrolytic process. This AP-TPR-MS experiment is subsequently followed by AP-TPO-MS measurement (in an oxidated atmosphere) to study sulphur presence in the residue (tar and char) in the reactor. Comparing all these AP-TPR profiles results in a better assignment of the different signals to specific sulphur functionalities. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.