an apparatus and method for washing and recovering raw coal with no more than about 5 % moisture and coal fines down to 200 mesh is disclosed . a complete washing plant having the ability to wash raw contaminated coal is disclosed . however , this invention is directed toward methods and apparatus for processing the coal slurry or effluent , and the wet coal obtained from a coal washing plant which methods and apparatus recovers coal fines down to 28 mesh . the apparatus and method of this invention separates the slurry which includes coal fines and contaminant material below 28 mesh by various screening and centrifugal processes such that coal fines down to 200 mesh are recovered . in addition , the methods and apparatus include various screens and centrifugal dryers for drying the wet coal thus recovering even more coal fines and reducing the moisture . the method and apparatus processes the effluents which include water and the contaminant materials such that the contaminant solids are removed from the water . the clarified water may then be reused in the coal washing process such that no more than 40 - 50 gallons of water per minute will be necessary for a washing plant having capability of handling 100 - 150 tons of coal per hour . the final clarifying process uses binding agents such as polymers so the smallest contaminant particles in the water are bonded into larger solids which then quickly settle out of the water so that they may be readily centrifuged and disposed .