Abstract: The material to be dried, such as coal, is mixed with an aromatic liquid, such as benzene, which removes a portion of the available water from the coal. The mixture of water and benzene, called an azeotrope, has a minimum boiling point relative to the surrounding liquid medium and is easily removed from the total mixture as a vapor. The condensed vapor forms two phases which are separated, furnishing a water stream for use elsewhere in the overall coal processing system and a benzene steam for recycle use. The dried coal/benzene slurry is further processed.