To improve comminution efficiency, the effects of several process parameters on the comminution capability of high pressure water jet mill were investigated. Fractal dimension of particle size distribution, as an index of water jet mill comminution capability, was used for describing the fineness of the comminution product. Nine process parameters including the pump pressure, the mixing tube length and diameter, the coal particle mass flow rate, the diameter of feed material particle, the standoff distance, loading times, hardness of the target and the impact angle were investigated individually. The results obtained from this study provide deeper insight into the high pressure water jet comminution technology and a basis for process parameters optimization. We also show that the fractal dimension of particle size distribution can be used to monitor the comminution capability and estimate the degree of particle comminution. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.