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    Pat 5558745

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
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    9 views14 pages

    Pat 5558745

    Uploaded by

    CharlesDayan
    Pat 5558745

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 14
    United States Patent 1» Conway et al. USOOSSS8745A (s4] TREATMENT OF ABSORBENT SANITARY PAPER PRODUCTS (75) Inventors: Marlene E. Conway, Brampton; Francois Jooste, Beamsville; Michael (73) Assignee: D. smith, Brampton, all of Canada Knowaste Technologies Inc, Mississauga, Canada [21] Appl. No. (22) PCT Filed (86) PCT No. $371 Daw: 4 3026) Dat: [87] PCT Pub. No: WO9207995 PCT Pub, Date: May 14, 1992 (nder 37 CFR 1.47) (30) Foreign Application Priority Data (oe. 29, 1990 163) Jon. 17,1991 cx} {1} Int. cL [52] US. Ch [58] Field of Search (56) 1.798.459 2ossass 3.89516 (200486 4219381 4485308 400,640 4338767 460.117 490244 81,369 Oct. 29, 1991 PCTICAS1/00393 Jun. 29, 1993 Tan. 29, 1993 United Kingdom ou23ce United Kingdom ccc 9113004 pain 1732 vn WOUGO, 162/5; 16214; 13406 241/99.3, DIG.38 1462/4, 60, 5, 55; 32140; 2087, 4,7, 9, "AF; 13426, 27, 28, 29,30 References Cited US. PATENT DOCUMENTS anss ss 11965 ‘ni980 isso arises ‘98s angas wise 211991 more eta 162160 Welle nen 92 Dachanget 160% Vagae etn 1628 Semell ” 1924 Poller oS anise Self von eniss Fide eee air onsite eens Anderson nose 2092. ut) Patent Number 5,558,745 (45) Date of Patent: Sep. 24, 1996 522504571993 Watson reas FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 3199677 W991 Japa se veut 2100861 2/1983 United Kingdom 5008789 1990 WIPO (OTHER PUBLICATIONS. Report on Disposable Diaper Recyeling Programs, Final Report to Procter & Gamble Co. Apr 29,1991, by Arthur D. Litle, Aco Park, Cambridge, Mass. P & G invests $400,000 in diaper recycling project Non: woven World, Vol. 5, No. 6, Aug. 1990. Pulp recovery unit with separation of fu, Abstract Bulletin ofthe Insite of Paper Chemisty, Vol. 36, No. 2, p. 211, Aug. 1985. An provided by applicant but not cited on PTOL-1449, James E, Alexander, Chemical Pulp Recovery Plant with Separation ofthe Floceulent Pulp,Clovis, Inc. Ape 4, 1992. NonWovens Markets, Miller Freeman Publications Inc., Max. 16, 1990, Primary ExaminerBrenda A Lam’ tn ABSTRACT ‘A process for the treatment of absorbent sanitary paper products 1 separate such products ino components thereot in a form suitable for recycling or re-use is disclose absorbent sanitary paper products include disposable dia pers, incontinence products, feminine hygiene products, bedpads and other related absorbent and adsorbent products, ‘The process comprises the step of treating said products in atleast one bath of an agueous solution to remove particulate and/or soluble matter from the products. The bath is oper- fated under conditions that are conducive to non-destructive separation of said products into components thereof. In preferred embodimens, the treated product ths obtained is ‘treated with atleast one aqueous washing solution and with at least one aqueous solution of at least one of bleaching agent and antimicrobial agent, and separate streams of plastic and celulosic materials are recovered, The process results in the recovery of usable products from absorbent sanitary paper products. 31 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets USS. Patent FIG.1 19 Sep. 24, 1996 Sheet 1 of 3 5,558,745 pee! WATER 3 1a 4 ' 11 Vv [rx eTeRGENT = v VI | PEROXIDE to 12: Ww }AG waTeR 1 14 vit ry ac 13 * WATER 15 x 1 WATER 16 WATER 20 U.S. Patent Sep. 24, 1996 Sheet 2 of 3 5,558,745 5,558,745 Sheet 3 of 3 Sep. 24, 1996 US. Patent FIG.3 5,558,745 1 ‘TREATMENT OF ABSORBENT SANITARY PAPER PRODUCTS The present application relates to the treatment of absor bent sanitary paper products in a manner that provides ‘materials that may be recycled for further use. AS used herein, absorbent sanitary paper products include disposable Aiapets, incontinence products, feminine hygiene products, bedpads and othr related absorbent and adsorbent products ‘Absorbent sanitary paper products typically consist of () ‘non-woven shee formed from a liquid permeable material, for example a liguid permeable membrane formed from Polypropylene, polyethylene, or woven products formed from cotion oF rayon, (il) a liquid impermeable back sheet formed from for example polyethylene, polypropylene, starch based degradable plastic films, wovea cloth or rubber, and it) an adsorbent or absorbent core of air laid wood pulp Aull, commonly referred to as ar felt, andor synthetic pulp including polypropylene or polyethylene filaments that may be bonded or unbonded, hemp or other adsorbent fibrous material. The core is typically wrapped or encased in a creped envelope of wet strength tissue paper or a material with similar characterises. The wrapping on the core may cor may not be breathable, biodegradable, odour degradable or degradable or dissolvable by other means. The core usually also contains a super absorbent polymer (SAP) ‘material, which is typically a polyacrylae, polyacrylamide, crosslinked starch or other hydrophilic component, whic ray be synthetic, and may be in granular, flbrous or lami- nate form, possesting the ability to bond with water, urine or other body Muids or retain them without substantial release for discharge from the absorbent pation. Diapers and incon tinence products typically wtlize pressure sensitive adbe- sives for refastenable tape tabs or similar closure mechs nisms. Feminine hygiene pads and incontinence products often use pressure sensitive adhesives for glue ines o attach the pad or linr to the user's undergarments. Diaper and ‘Incontinence products typically utilize elastic, polyurethane, puckering and welding or adhesives to create close fitting fulfs around the leg and waist openings to provide e more leakproof fit, ‘Absorbent sanitary paper products are normaly disposed of along with garbage generated by households, institutions, hotels and the like, by incineration or in landfill disposal sites Incineration tends to sesult in air or other pollation being generated. Landfill disposal results in an accumulation of such products, ‘Thu, the consequences ofthe convenience or necessity ‘fuse of absorbent sanitary paper products include problems relating to disposal of such products. In addition, use of either incineration or landill disposal results in Toss or estruction of the components of the absorbent sanitary paper products, rather than reeycling some or all of those components to the same or other end-uses, The disposal problems are becoming of ever increasing concer to envi- ronmental and governmental authorities, and means aze required for ellective disposal and uiliation of used absor- ben sanitary paper products Continuous batch type washing machines for the wash ing of cloth goods are described by NL. Pellerin etal in US. Pat, No. 4,485,508, issued 1984 Dec, 4, and by .M. Katzfoy {in Canadian Patent 1,115,075, issued 1981 Dec.29.U.S, Pat No, 4,162,019 of C.’G. Joa, issued 1979 Ju, 24, describes cutting of sanitary anicles to expose the filler and then recovery ofthe filler using suction means; the plastic back- ‘ng film is discarded. U.S. Pat. No, 4,500,040 of B, Steffens, Which issued 1985 Feb, 19, describes shredding of sanitary 0 ey s 2 anicles followed by recovery of the filler using suction ‘means. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,303,501, issued 1981 Dec. 1, Steffens describes the use of sioves to recover Mock and cut slbsorbent materials from discarded sanitary articles. In U.S, Pat. No, 4,592,115, which issued 1986 Jun 3, 8. Holmstrom discloses apparatus and a process for separating cellulose fff fbres from waste fous material using an apertured cylindrical separator. The aforementioned processes are ‘understood to be directed to dry separation and recovery of ‘components of reject producs, and not recovery of compo- ‘ents from products that have been used by consumers. R. Albers discloses a drum for a continuously operaiing laundry processing machine in US. Pat. No. 4,391,108, which issued 1983 Jul. 5. Tt has now been found that absorbent sanitary paper products may be tresce! in a manner that permits recovery ‘of some or all ofthe components of such prodets in form that facilitates recycling or other use of those components. ‘Accordingly, the present invention provides a process for ‘he ueatment of absorbent sanitary paper products to sepa rate such producs into components thereof that are in @ form Suitable for reeycling or reuse, said products being com- prised of plastic, cellulosic and super absorbent polymer fractions, characterized in thal said process comprises the steps of: (j) eating sad products in atleast one bath of an aqueous ‘solution under conditions that are conducive 10 non

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