Abstract: A drying apparatus for drying material treated with liquid by heating and circulating a drying gas and for recovering vaporized liquid absorbed by a drying gas comprises at least one chamber unit which is essentially completely closed to the external atmosphere, a heating system in the chamber, a condensing system located in the chamber lowermost portion, means for guiding the material, in the form of a web, through the chamber through slot-like inlet and outlet openings such that the web is maintained free of contact at its wet surface, and a drying gas circulation system which divides the drying gas into several streams.