Lignite is known as low rank coal. As a result, it has less demand and limited in utilization. Because lignite has a low calorific value of combustion, high sulfur and water content, accordingly it is necessary improving the quality of that coal. One of the efforts that can be done is through the process of Upgrading Brown Coal (UBC) with a heating technique. This study aims to determine the effect of heating temperature on the UBC process conducted by using a solution of benzene and low sulfur wax residue (LSWR), so as to increase the minimum 50% lignite calorific value with inherent moisture content of a maximum of 5% and may decrease the value of volatile matter. Lignite with a particle size of 8 mesh are mixed with LSWR as additive and solution of benzene with a ratio of 1 g : 0.5 mL. Then, it was heated with heating temperature of 100oC, 125oC, 150oC, 175oC, 200oC for 1 hour. Lignite that had been treated were then analyzed for parameters of inherent moisture, ash content, volatile matter, fixed carbon and calorific values. The analysis shows the heating temperature of 125oC can produce coal with the highest improvement of calorific value namely 54.23% with a calorific value that is 5,735 cal/g, inherent moisture is 4.02%, ash content is 8.13%, volatile matter is 44.27% and a fixed carbon is 43,55%. This treatment can raise the rank of brown coal into sub-bituminous coal rank.

Keywords : Benzene; Brown Coal; Lignite; LSWR; Temperature; Upgrading.