This paper presents a fundamental study on dewatering characteristics of filter cakes. Laboratory-scale batch pressure-filtration experiments were conducted on quartz, dolomite and andesite samples. having Gates-Gaudin-Schuhmann type of size distributions with different distribution parameters. The residual cake moisture and cake dewatering kinetics data were collected for filter cakes dewatered at varying applied pressure. Correlations for the entry pressure, residual saturation, pore size distribution index, and cake desaturation kinetics were studied in relation with particle size distribution characteristics. An assessment of previously recommended values of dewatering parameters and predictive correlation equations was presented with regard to their validity or limitations, and refinements were proposed for those giving poor fit. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd, All rights reserved.