TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The composition has a particle size of 25-2500 microns. In the composition, greater than 70% of the total amount of catalyst loaded is associated with the coal matrix. Preferred Components: The coal is sub-bituminous (preferred), bituminous, lignite and/or anthracite. The gasification catalyst is potassium cation, where the gasification catalyst is present in an amount such that a ratio of catalyst atoms to carbon atoms is 0.03-0.05. The catalyst is highly dispersed throughout the coal matrix. The catalyst is potassium, sodium and/or lithium. The solution further comprises a phosphorus- and boron-free wetting agent. Preferred Method: In the method, (a) the ground coal prior to step (b) is separated into a first fraction and a second fraction, where: the first fraction is larger than the second fraction; and the first and second fractions are in a ratio of greater than 50:50-90:10; and the first fraction is used in steps (b)-(d); and the second fraction is thoroughly mixed with the first fraction after steps (b)-(d) before step (e), or (b) the coal prior to step (a) is separated into a first fraction and a second fraction, where: the first fraction is larger than the second fraction; the first and second fractions are in a ratio of greater than 50:50-90:10; the first fraction is used in steps (a)-(d); and the second fraction is ground, and the ground second fraction is thoroughly mixed with the first fraction after steps (a)-(d) before step (e). The slurry is held at a contact temperature of 20-95 degrees C for a contact time of 1-48 hours. The thermally-treating step is performed at 90-250 degrees C. The aqueous solution comprises an amount of the catalyst salt: to provide (I) having a ratio of catalyst atoms to carbon atoms of 0.01-0.1; and greater than or equal to to the amount to achieve saturation ion-exchange loading of the coal. The amount of catalyst in the influent stream is controlled by a method comprising: monitoring the amount of catalyst in the raffinate stream; monitoring the amount of catalyst in the recycle stream; and adjusting the amount of catalyst in the makeup stream. The concentration of catalyst in the influent stream is sufficient to provide (I) having a ratio of catalyst atoms to carbon atoms of 0.01-0.1. The amount of catalyst in the influent stream is 0.3-3 mol/kg, preferably equal to or greater than the amount to achieve saturation ion-exchange loading of the coal. EXAMPLE - A sub-bituminous powder river basin (PRB) coal loaded with potassium catalyst by potassium carbonate soaking solution. The carbon content of the PRB coal was determined to 69.55%, and thus the required amount of catalyst to be loaded on the coal was calculated to be potassium (8.92 g)/100 g of dry coal. The ion-exchange loading capacity at room temperature for the PRB coal was determined by the experimental determination of the absorption isotherm and was found to be potassium (5.5 g)/100 g of dry coal. Thus, the amount of free catalyst was 8.92-5.5 g equal to 3.42 g of potassium/100 g of dry coal. The water content of the wet coal cake after soaking and dewatering was determined to 46 wt.% to achieve target catalyst loading, and the raffinate had a potassium concentration of 36 g/l. To achieve the target catalyst loading target amount, a solution of potassium carbonate was prepared by dissolving potassium carbonate (37.25 g) in water (312 g). Finely ground coal was added, and the potassium carbonate soaking solution was added to form slurry. The slurry density was maintained at 20 wt.%. The coal was then dewatered by filtering over a vibratory screen with a mesh size of +325 a well-filtered and drained catalyst-loaded wet coal cake. The wet coal cake was then thermally-treated to a constant weight under a stream of dry nitrogen flow at 180 degrees C and the dried catalyst-loaded coal composition was allowed to cool to room temperature under dry nitrogen flow. The final catalyst-loaded coal composition was stored at ambient temperature under dry and inert atmosphere.