The present invention relates to cellulose flakes obtained by grinding Kraft paper from discarded packing from construction work, a manufacturing method for said cellulose flakes and a binding compound incorporating said flakes. The aforementioned cellulose flake improves the mechanical properties of any product obtained using the same, for example, mortars and concretes.

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy or sugary materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy or sugary materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a crusher unit, a defibrator unit, a second web forming unit, and a shaping unit. The crusher unit coarsely crushes a raw material that contains fibers into coarsely crushed pieces. The defibrator unit defibrates coarsely crushed pieces into defibrated material. The second web forming unit forms a web by accumulating defibrated material. The shaping unit forms a sheet from the web. The crusher unit is positioned vertically below the shaping unit.

A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a crusher unit, a defibrator unit, a second web forming unit, and a shaping unit. The crusher unit coarsely crushes a raw material that contains fibers into coarsely crushed pieces. The defibrator unit defibrates coarsely crushed pieces into defibrated material. The second web forming unit forms a web by accumulating defibrated material. The shaping unit forms a sheet from the web. The crusher unit is positioned vertically below the shaping unit.

An apparatus reduces material left between a shredding unit and a defibrating unit. A sheet manufacturing apparatus including a shredder that separates feedstock containing at least fiber into shreds in air; a defibrating unit that defibrates at least the shreds in air; and a forming unit that forms a sheet using defibrated material defibrated by the defibrating unit; wherein the defibration capacity, which is the amount defibrated per unit time by the defibrating unit, is greater than or equal to the shredding capacity, which is the amount shredded per unit time by the shredder.

An apparatus reduces material left between a shredding unit and a defibrating unit. A sheet manufacturing apparatus including a shredder that separates feedstock containing at least fiber into shreds in air; a defibrating unit that defibrates at least the shreds in air; and a forming unit that forms a sheet using defibrated material defibrated by the defibrating unit; wherein the defibration capacity, which is the amount defibrated per unit time by the defibrating unit, is greater than or equal to the shredding capacity, which is the amount shredded per unit time by the shredder.

Provided are a shredder assuring greater freedom in designing a feedstock supplier that supplies sheets, and a sheet manufacturing apparatus. The shredder has a feedstock supplier having a supply opening through which a sheet is supplied; and a shredding device configured to shred the sheet supplied from the feedstock supplier. The shredding device includes a rotary cutter that rotates on a first axis, and a circulating cutter that moves in an endless path and cuts the sheet in conjunction with the rotary cutter. The circulating cutter includes a conveyor configured to convey the sheet from the feedstock supplier to the rotary cutter.

A method is provided for recovering pulp fibers having little damage from a used absorbent article which includes a water permeable front sheet, a water impermeable back sheet and an absorbent body that contains pulp fibers and a superabsorbent polymer. At least one opening with a circle equivalent diameter of 5-45 mm, or 10-45 mm cut, is made in the front sheet and/or the back sheet of the used absorbent article, which is then agitated in an organic acid aqueous solution with a pH of less than or equal to 2.5, and the superabsorbent polymer is deactivated and the pulp fibers and superabsorbent polymer are discharged from the used absorbent article through the opening or cut.

A method is provided for recovering pulp fibers having little damage from a used absorbent article which includes a water permeable front sheet, a water impermeable back sheet and an absorbent body that contains pulp fibers and a superabsorbent polymer. At least one opening with a circle equivalent diameter of 5-45 mm, or 10-45 mm cut, is made in the front sheet and/or the back sheet of the used absorbent article, which is then agitated in an organic acid aqueous solution with a pH of less than or equal to 2.5, and the superabsorbent polymer is deactivated and the pulp fibers and superabsorbent polymer are discharged from the used absorbent article through the opening or cut.