An apparatus to effect at least partial breakdown of a discrete material or product item or a combination of discrete material or product items. The apparatus includes a treatment vessel in which the discrete material or product item or combination of discrete material or product items are located for treatment. There is at least one entry for introduction of at least one working fluid, at least one pressurisation arrangement to increase pressure on the material or product item or combination of material or product items within the treatment vessel. At least one decompression arrangement to rapidly reduce the pressure on the material or product item or combination of material or product items within the treatment vessel may also be provided. The at least one pressurisation arrangement and the at least one decompression arrangement are operable to cause repeated pressurisation and rapid decompression on the material or product item or combination of material or product items within the treatment vessel.

An apparatus to effect at least partial breakdown of a discrete material or product item or a combination of discrete material or product items. The apparatus includes a treatment vessel in which the discrete material or product item or combination of discrete material or product items are located for treatment. There is at least one entry for introduction of at least one working fluid, at least one pressurisation arrangement to increase pressure on the material or product item or combination of material or product items within the treatment vessel. At least one decompression arrangement to rapidly reduce the pressure on the material or product item or combination of material or product items within the treatment vessel may also be provided. The at least one pressurisation arrangement and the at least one decompression arrangement are operable to cause repeated pressurisation and rapid decompression on the material or product item or combination of material or product items within the treatment vessel.

A method for sterilizing and decontaminating post-consumer absorbent products polluted with organic compounds derived from human metabolism including drug residues, the post-consumer absorbent sanitary products comprising fractions of plastic, super-absorbent polymers (SAP), and optionally cellulose, the method including at least the steps of: sterilizing (SR) the absorbent sanitary post-consumer products by heating to a temperature equal to or less than 140° C., and to a pressure lower than 4 bar, decontaminating (DC) the post-consumer absorbent sanitary products of organic compounds by treating with an oxidizing composition comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, sodium percarbonate, potassium percarbonate, sodium perborate, potassium perborate, potassium monopersulfate, ammonium persulfate, sodium persulfate, potassium persulfate, and ozone. The at least one compound is contained in the oxidizing composition in an amount equal to or greater than 2% by weight with respect to the dry weight of the post-consumer absorbent sanitary products.

A method and an apparatus for treating comminuted waste material the method comprising: •a) providing a heating chamber (28) and one or more combustion heating means (40a-f) for heating the contents of the heating chamber (28), the heating chamber (28) having an inlet (21) and an outlet (22), •b) feeding comminuted waste material through the inlet (21) and into the heating chamber (28); •c) heating the comminuted waste material in the heating chamber (28), using the combustion heating means (40a-f), to generate a combustible gas; and •d) supplying at least a portion of the generated combustible gas to the one or more combustion heating means (40a-f) for heating the heating chamber (28).

A method and an apparatus for treating comminuted waste material the method comprising: •a) providing a heating chamber (28) and one or more combustion heating means (40a-f) for heating the contents of the heating chamber (28), the heating chamber (28) having an inlet (21) and an outlet (22), •b) feeding comminuted waste material through the inlet (21) and into the heating chamber (28); •c) heating the comminuted waste material in the heating chamber (28), using the combustion heating means (40a-f), to generate a combustible gas; and •d) supplying at least a portion of the generated combustible gas to the one or more combustion heating means (40a-f) for heating the heating chamber (28).

A method of treating comminuted waste material, the method comprises: a) feeding comminuted waste material into a heating chamber (28); b) introducing steam into the heating chamber (28); c) contacting the steam and comminuted waste material; d) heating the steam and comminuted waste material to generate a combustible gas; and e) altering or controlling the ratio of steam to comminuted waste material such that the generated combustible gas comprises a target amount (e.g. value or percentage) of a component thereof.

A method of treating comminuted waste material, the method comprises: a) feeding comminuted waste material into a heating chamber (28); b) introducing steam into the heating chamber (28); c) contacting the steam and comminuted waste material; d) heating the steam and comminuted waste material to generate a combustible gas; and e) altering or controlling the ratio of steam to comminuted waste material such that the generated combustible gas comprises a target amount (e.g. value or percentage) of a component thereof.

The invention relates to a method and system for the elimination of odours in recycled plastic materials, which comprises the steps of: separating and conditioning the plastic; shredding the plastic by means of a bladed shredded, which reduces the plastic into powder-sized particles; chemically washing with a surfactant, which is carried out in a stirring tank; rinsing the plastic material to eliminate dirt and the chemicals used, which is carried out in a rinsing reactor; mechanically drying the clean material in a dryer; and deodorising the plastic, wherein volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are removed from the clean, dry material by means of steam distillation, deodorisation being performed in a steam distillation column, the VOC-free plastic exiting through the bottom part of the column.

The invention relates to a method and system for the elimination of odours in recycled plastic materials, which comprises the steps of: separating and conditioning the plastic; shredding the plastic by means of a bladed shredded, which reduces the plastic into powder-sized particles; chemically washing with a surfactant, which is carried out in a stirring tank; rinsing the plastic material to eliminate dirt and the chemicals used, which is carried out in a rinsing reactor; mechanically drying the clean material in a dryer; and deodorising the plastic, wherein volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are removed from the clean, dry material by means of steam distillation, deodorisation being performed in a steam distillation column, the VOC-free plastic exiting through the bottom part of the column.

A method for converting municipal solid waste to a stable solid fill-material (backfill) in the form of a multiplicity of compacted pieces, the method including mechanically reducing solid-waste piece size to form a solid-waste stream, heating the solid-waste stream and thereby killing bacteria in such stream, adding an antimicrobial agent to the solid-waste stream, and pelletizing the solid-waste stream.