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Wet porous structures such as coal, paper, wood and sludge are dewatered by supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) by a combination of two processes. The free water is physically displaced by the CO2 whereas the bound water is solubilized by it. The degree of displacement is exclusively dictated by the viscosity of sCO2, which is strongly dependent on temperature. Displacement is the most efficient means of dewatering possible, and the relatively mild temperatures used in this application should lead to favorable industrial economics.