Unexpectedly unique and environmentally friendly composite material structures, storage articles fabricated therefrom, and related methods. The composite structure includes at least one or more fiber-containing layers, such as fiberboard or other layers having fibers from natural and/or synthetic sources, and one or more mineral-containing layers. The mineral-containing layer(s) comprises a thermoplastic bonding agent fixing the mineral particles in place. The fiber-containing layer(s) and mineral-containing layer(s) can be shaped, sized, and manufactured such that the composite structure formed therefrom is capable of being machined to form the storage article. The composite structure can be repulped and recycled without the use of dispersions, emulsions, or aqueous solutions. Further, the composite reduces layer mass requirements for heat seal, barrier, and fiber adhesion compared to polymer layers. The composite structure further has tensile strength and other structural characteristics that allow it to be readily machined into desired storage article forms.

Improving the recovery from recycling a disposable absorbent article including superabsorbent polymer includes separating the article into a mixed polymeric material/cellulosic fiber stream and a superabsorbent polymer/fibers stream; and processing the mixed polymeric material/cellulosic fiber stream using an enzyme to release the cellulosic fibers from the polymeric materials. The method can also include shredding the disposable absorbent article; re-pulping the shredded disposable absorbent article; and dehydrating the superabsorbent polymer, wherein dehydrating includes belching fluid from swollen superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) by immersing swollen SAP in a gel state into a composition for removing moisture, wherein seawater and 0.5 to 3% by weight of calcium chloride based on the weight of seawater are mixed for 10 minutes to 4 hours.

A method of separating constituent layers from a paper-plastic laminate material includes disposing a sheet of a paper-plastic laminate material on a first surface. The paper-plastic laminate material includes a paper layer on a first side and a plastic layer on a second side. The method also includes moving an abrasive second surface over the paper layer on the first side to contact the paper layer and separate portions of the paper layer from the plastic layer. The method further includes collecting the separated portions of the paper layer and providing the separated portions of the paper layer as input to a paper recycling process, and collecting the plastic layer and providing the plastic layer as input to a plastic recycling process. The method may help increase recycling rates of paper and plastic, reduce raw material harvesting, reduce pollution and habitat destruction, and improve the quality of recycled material.

Unexpectedly unique and environmentally friendly composite material structures, storage articles fabricated therefrom, and related methods. The composite structure includes at least one or more fiber-containing layers, such as fiberboard or other layers having fibers from natural and/or synthetic sources, and one or more mineral-containing layers. The mineral-containing layer(s) comprises a thermoplastic bonding agent fixing the mineral particles in place. The fiber-containing layer(s) and mineral-containing layer(s) can be shaped, sized, and manufactured such that the composite structure formed therefrom is capable of being machined to form the storage article. The composite structure can be repulped and recycled without the use of dispersions, emulsions, or aqueous solutions. Further, the composite reduces layer mass requirements for heat seal, barrier, and fiber adhesion compared to polymer layers. The composite structure further has tensile strength and other structural characteristics that allow it to be readily machined into desired storage article forms.

A reusable, fiber containing pulp product is described that is highly suited for use in the manufacture of paper products. The reusable, fiber containing pulp product provides a mixture of fibers and small, dense polymer/particle fragments. The polymer/particle fragments within the reusable, fiber containing pulp product have a size range and density that facilitates efficient removal of the polymer/particle fragments using pressure screens.

The present patent refers to a process for the recycling and recovery of waste, particularly that of plastified and aluminized packaging, cartoned or not, by means of a method and equipment for extracting and separating the main components present in them for the recovery of waste, avoiding environmental pollution, recycling of waste constituents, and recovery of constituents: Plastic, aluminum and paper in their original form, with the steps A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, L, M, O, P, Q e R, bringing advantages of obtaining reusable grade polymer; obtaining isolated aluminum; to make use of a low cost and low energy consuming solvent; to allow the pulp cellulose to be recycled in the production of paperboard for boxes, to be incorporated as part of a mechanical pulp load or even to be incorporated to the bleaching process; to have lower processing and investment costs and to have a lower cost/benefit ratio.

Improving the recovery from recycling a disposable absorbent article including superabsorbent polymer includes separating the article into a mixed polymeric material/cellulosic fiber stream and a superabsorbent polymer/fibers stream; and processing the mixed polymeric material/cellulosic fiber stream using an enzyme to release the cellulosic fibers from the polymeric materials. The method can also include shredding the disposable absorbent article; re-pulping the shredded disposable absorbent article; and dehydrating the superabsorbent polymer, wherein dehydrating includes belching fluid from swollen superabsorbent polymers (SAPS) by immersing swollen SAP in a gel state into a composition for removing moisture, wherein seawater and 0.5 to 3% by weight of calcium chloride based on the weight of seawater are mixed for 10 minutes to 4 hours.

A reusable, fiber containing pulp product is described that is highly suited for use in the manufacture of paper products. The reusable, fiber containing pulp product provides a mixture of fibers and small, dense polymer/particle fragments. The polymer/particle fragments within the reusable, fiber containing pulp product have a size range and density that facilitates efficient removal of the polymer/particle fragments using pressure screens.

An advanced manufacturing plant and process to efficiently deconstruct and recycle post-consumer carpet primarily in an aqueous environment. The water-based technology substantially eliminates airborne particulate emissions into the workplace and the environment. It also significantly increases the quality and quantity of the resources recovered from the carpet. In addition to recycling residential carpet, it also reclaims and recycles material from commercial broadloom carpet.

A reusable, fiber containing pulp product is described that is highly suited for use in the manufacture of paper products. The reusable, fiber containing pulp product provides a mixture of fibers and small, dense polymer/particle fragments. The polymer/particle fragments within the reusable, fiber containing pulp product have a size range and density that facilitates efficient removal of the polymer/particle fragments using pressure screens.