Chemical treatment is widely used for demineralization of carbonaceous materials. In this case it was done by treating the brown coal in the powdered state with 3% HNO//3 solution at 50-60 degree for 2h. The mineral composition of the coals was determined before and after demineralization. It is found that acid demineralization of brown coals leads to decrease of the amount of ash components and to increased activity of the carbonaceous materials with respect to activated oxygen. Mineral components of brown coals, decomposed during traditional thermal ashing, can be isolated by low-temperature electric-discharge ashing. Low-temperature electric-discharge ashing can be used for control of acid demineralization of coals.