Rapid decomposition system for absorbent articles and method of operation thereof

Abstract

A rapid decomposition system for absorbent articles and a method for operating the same are provided. [Solution] The rapid decomposition system for absorbent articles and its operating method of the present invention mainly include a cutting and pulping module, a waterproof recycled raw material sorting machine, a recycling module, a salt slurry processing module, a plastic raw material production module, an absorbent raw material production module, and a cotton-like fiber raw material production module. The rapid decomposition system for absorbent articles and its operating method enable recycled absorbent articles to be decomposed into plastic raw materials, water-absorbing raw materials, and cotton-like fiber raw materials, and organic pollutants attached to the absorbent articles are decomposed, and purified and treated water is recovered, thereby realizing recycling.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a rapid decomposition system for absorbent articles and a method for operating the same, and more particularly to a rapid decomposition system for absorbent articles and a method for operating the same, which can decompose, purify, and recycle wastewater from organic pollutants carried by absorbent articles, and further manufacture fluff fiber raw materials, absorbent raw materials, and plastic raw materials.

Background Art

[0002] Commercially available absorbent articles such as disposable diapers and sanitary napkins are used in modern life. Users of all generations may use absorbent articles according to their respective needs. This is due to the development of people's consumption habits and living habits, and the development of industrial production capacity. Absorbent articles exhibit advantages such as low cost, light weight, cleanliness, hygiene, and easy disposal after use.

[0003] For example, care diapers and pads are usually made of a skin-friendly non-woven fabric because they usually come into contact with the user's skin. On the other hand, the middle layer of the absorbent article is an absorbent layer, which exhibits excellent liquid absorption capacity. And the outer layer of the absorbent article is a waterproof layer made of waterproof plastic.

[0004] Furthermore, diapers that require attachment include an adhesive tape, and a three-dimensional leg cuff may be provided at the part that contacts the crotch of the human body, and may be designed to prevent leakage of urine and feces. When the above-mentioned absorbent article needs to be discarded after use, excreta such as urine and feces can be wrapped by the absorbent article. The liquid excreta is absorbed by the absorbent layer. Finally, the wrapped absorbent article can be discarded in a form covered by the waterproof layer.

[0005] On the one hand, society is aging at an unprecedented rate. The absorbent articles consumed by adult users are increasing significantly. Generally, absorbent articles that need to be discarded are transported to incinerators or landfills by garbage collection trucks. However, many of the above-mentioned absorbent articles are composed of chemicals that are not easily decomposed. In addition, since the absorbent articles to be discarded have water absorption properties themselves, they may be heavy. Therefore, the difficulty of recycling absorbent articles is extremely high.

[0006] Since absorbent articles composed of multiple types of materials are difficult to recycle, even if the recycling process is successful, the recycled products made from the recycled materials of absorbent articles may not be able to have good chemical and physical properties. Therefore, there is a current need for a system or method that can process absorbent articles composed of multiple types of materials.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] In order to solve the problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a rapid decomposition system for absorbent articles and an operation method thereof.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The rapid decomposition system for absorbent articles of the present invention mainly consists of a cutting and pulping module, a waterproof recycled raw material separator, a recycling module, a salt slurry treatment module, a plastic raw material manufacturing module, an absorbent raw material manufacturing module, and a cotton fiber raw material manufacturing module.

[0009] The waterproof recycled raw material separator is connected to the cutting and pulping module. The recycling module is simultaneously connected to the cutting and pulping module and the waterproof recycled raw material separator. The salt slurry treatment module is connected to the cutting and pulping module.

[0010] Furthermore, the plastic raw material manufacturing module proceeds to the subsequent process by being connected to the waterproof recycled raw material sorter, and the absorbent raw material manufacturing module is connected to the salt slurry treatment module. On the other hand, the cotton-like fiber raw material manufacturing module is connected to the salt slurry treatment module.

[0011] The cutting pulping module transfers at least one waterproof recycled material to the waterproof recycled raw material sorter. The salt slurry treatment module separates at least one absorbent recycled material into at least one primary cotton-like fiber raw material and at least one primary absorbent raw material. The at least one primary cotton-like fiber raw material and the at least one primary absorbent raw material are respectively transferred to the cotton-like fiber raw material manufacturing module and the absorbent raw material manufacturing module.

[0012] The present invention further provides an operation method for a rapid decomposition system of absorbent articles. In step (A), the rapid decomposition system of the absorbent article described above is provided. In step (B), the at least one absorbent article is introduced into the cutting pulping module and is cut, separated, and broken. In step (C), the at least one absorbent article waits until it is broken by the cutting pulping module into at least one absorbent recycled material and at least one waterproof recycled material.

[0013] Thereafter, it is determined to execute step (D1) or (D2) on the separation product by the cutting pulping module. In step (D1), the cutting pulping module transfers the absorbent recycled material to the salt slurry treatment module and executes step (E1). In step (D2), the cutting pulping module transfers the at least one waterproof recycled material to the waterproof recycled raw material sorter and executes step (E2).

[0014] In step (E1), the at least one primary fibrous raw material and the at least one primary water-absorbing raw material are separated from the at least one absorbent recycled material by the separation of the salt slurry treatment module, and the at least one primary fibrous raw material and the at least one primary water-absorbing raw material are respectively transferred to the fibrous raw material production module and the absorbent raw material production module, and step (F) is executed. In step (E2), the at least one waterproof recycled material is transferred to the plastic raw material production module by the waterproof recycled material sorter, and step (F) is executed.

[0015] Finally, in step (F), the fibrous raw material production module generates at least one fibrous raw material, the absorbent raw material production module generates at least one water-absorbing raw material, and the plastic raw material production module generates at least one plastic raw material.

[0016] Embodiments of the present invention are shown by way of example and not for limitation, and like reference numerals in the accompanying drawings indicate like elements.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] To understand the technical features and actual effects of the present invention and to implement it in accordance with the content of this specification, a detailed description will be given below with reference to the drawings showing the best embodiments.

[0019] Refer to the schematic diagram of an embodiment of the rapid decomposition system of the absorbent article of the present invention in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the embodiment in FIG. 1 mainly shows a rapid decomposition system 10 of an absorbent article composed of a cutting and pulping module 100, a waterproof recycled raw material sorter 200, a recycling module 300, a salt slurry treatment module 400, a plastic raw material manufacturing module 500, an absorbent raw material manufacturing module 600, and a cotton-like fiber raw material manufacturing module 700. The absorbent article referred to in the present invention may be a diaper or may be personal hygiene products such as pads and sanitary napkins. The present invention is not limited thereto.

[0020] In this embodiment, the cutting and pulping module 100 is used to break and separate multiple types of materials from the absorbent article to improve the pulping efficiency. Refer to the schematic diagram of the cutting and pulping module in the embodiment of the rapid decomposition system of the absorbent article of the present invention in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows the internal structure of the cutting and pulping module 100 of this embodiment. The cutting and pulping module 100 of this embodiment includes a spoiler 11, a rotor 12, and a blade 13. The spoiler 11 is designed to be composed of a plurality of boards or plates. Increasing the number of the spoilers 11 can generate vortices and promote the downward flow of the liquid. Therefore, when the cutting and pulping module 100 rotates, the possibility that the internal waste (absorbent article) itself comes into contact with the blade 13 installed on the bottom surface of the cutting and pulping module 100 increases, and it is possible to prevent the waste from being rounded and clogged without being separated.

[0021] In this embodiment, the blade 13 may be a spiral knife of a disk blade. The number of the blades 13 is two, and the blades 13 are symmetrically installed on the bottom surface of the cutting and pulping module 100. The spoiler 11 is composed of a plurality of boards or plates, and the spoiler 11 is symmetrically installed on the side wall of the cutting and pulping module 100 to form the center of the cutting and pulping module 100. In this embodiment, the distance between each spoiler 11 is the same. Therefore, the rotation of the liquid in the cutting and pulping module 100 can maintain the balance of centrifugal force by itself. On the other hand, the cutting and pulping module 100 further includes a rotor 12. In this embodiment, the rotor 12 is a vertical rotor connected to an inverter motor. The rotor 12 can directly cut and mince the absorbent article in the cutting and pulping module 100 to form an excellent separation effect.

[0022] Also, in this embodiment, the cutting and pulping module 100 further includes a gravity level meter. The gravity level meter can calculate the weight of the liquid and determine the liquid level. Specifically, when the liquid level meets a preset value, the absorbent article of this embodiment is automatically fed into the cutting and pulping module 100. The rotor 12 may rotate at a preset time and rotation speed. On the other hand, when the rotation is completed, the liquid level is automatically checked and added to the preset value. At the same time, the cut plastic pieces float on the liquid level, while other water-absorbing materials such as fluff pulp and polymer water-absorbing salts sink to the bottom of the cutting and pulping module 100. For this reason, in order to prevent the above-mentioned plastic pieces from curling and clogging, the cutting and pulping module 100 is connected to the waterproof recycled raw material separator 200. The waterproof recycled raw material separator 200 takes over the above-mentioned plastic pieces.

[0023] The waterproof recycled raw material sorter 200 is designed to form an inclined plane, and the liquid can flow naturally from a high place to a low place by gravity on the inclined plane. At the same time, the liquid transports the broken pieces of the absorbent article and passes through a filter with different diameter filter holes to remove unnecessary substances that may become obstacles in subsequent processes.

[0024] Furthermore, the waterproof recycled raw material sorter 200 is provided with liquid recycling holes. Therefore, the filtered or purified liquid can be recycled. For this reason, the recycling module 300 of this embodiment is simultaneously connected to the cutting and pulping module 100 and the waterproof recycled raw material sorter 200. The liquid generated by the treatment (separation, filtration, purification) of the absorbent article in the cutting and pulping module 100 and the waterproof recycled raw material sorter 200 can be recycled, purified, and regenerated by the recycling module 300, thereby forming the regeneration of water.

[0025] In this embodiment, the recycling module 300 is used for recycling the wastewater and surplus liquid from the waterproof recycled raw material sorter 200, the cotton-like fiber raw material manufacturing module 700 or the cutting and pulping module 100. The recycling module 300 may be a treatment tank / barrel containing a plurality of carriers. The carriers may be porous materials such as zeolite and activated carbon, filter materials, and scaffolds. The carriers are used to carry at least one decomposable microorganism. That is, the recycling module 300 receives the treated liquid from the absorbent article, and the treated liquid contains human excreta such as urine and feces carried or absorbed by the absorbent article.

[0026] Therefore, the decomposable microorganism is used to decompose organic or inorganic waste in the recycling liquid and purify the recycling liquid. The continuous liquid recycling mechanism can gradually purify the recycling liquid introduced into the cutting pulping module 100 and the waterproof recycling raw material sorter 200. Furthermore, the working efficiency of the bulk pulping module 200 and the waterproof recycling raw material sorter 200 can also be significantly improved.

[0027] The salt slurry treatment module 400 of this embodiment is connected to the cutting pulping module 100. In this embodiment, the salt slurry treatment module 400 is used to separate the broken pieces broken from the absorbent article in the cutting pulping module 100 through different densities. Specifically, the salt slurry treatment module 400 is used to receive the absorbent recycled material broken by the bulk pulping module 200. The absorbent recycled material is characterized as having different liquid absorption capacities and densities. Therefore, the absorbent recycled material of this embodiment can be naturally precipitated in the salt slurry treatment module 400 due to its different densities.

[0028] Specifically, refer to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the salt slurry treatment module in the embodiment of the rapid decomposition system of the absorbent article of the present invention. The salt slurry treatment module 400 of this embodiment includes a buffer tank 41, a sedimentation tank 42, and a slurry storage tank 43. The buffer tank 41 is used to receive the absorbent recycled material. The sedimentation tank 42 is used to separate at least one primary water-absorbing raw material (such as polyacrylate) having a high density from the absorbent recycled material. On the other hand, the slurry storage tank 43 is used to receive at least one primary cotton-like fiber raw material having a low density of the absorbent recycled material.

[0029] The absorbent raw material manufacturing module 600 is connected to the salt slurry treatment module 400. The cotton-like fiber raw material manufacturing module 700 is also connected to the salt slurry treatment module 400. In this embodiment, the absorbent raw material manufacturing module 600 is used to receive the at least one primary absorbent raw material from the sedimentation tank 42. On the other hand, the cotton-like fiber raw material manufacturing module 700 is used to receive the at least one primary cotton-like fiber raw material with a lower density from the slurry storage tank 43.

[0030] The cotton-like fiber raw material manufacturing module 700 of this embodiment mainly includes a centrifugal pressure type inclined screening module 701 and an extrusion device 702.

[0031] The centrifugal pressure type inclined screening module 701 is connected to the slurry storage tank 43. The centrifugal pressure type inclined screening module 701 may filter and receive the at least one primary cotton-like fiber raw material with a lower density from the slurry storage tank 43. When the centrifugal pressure type inclined screening module 701 is operating, the at least one primary cotton-like fiber raw material may first be centrifuged. Furthermore, there may be an opportunity for the at least one primary absorbent raw material that is not completely separated in the sedimentation tank 42 to be re-separated by the centrifugal force of the centrifugal pressure type inclined screening module 701 and then transferred back to the sedimentation tank 42.

[0032] The centrifugal pressure type inclined screening module 701 of this embodiment may further soak the at least one primary cotton-like fiber raw material that has been centrifuged first. Furthermore, the centrifugal pressure type inclined screening module 701 may secondarily centrifuge the at least one primary cotton-like fiber raw material. Therefore, there may be an opportunity for the at least one primary absorbent raw material that is not completely separated in the sedimentation tank 42 to be re-separated and then transferred back to the sedimentation tank 42.

[0033] As a result, the at least one primary cottony fiber raw material that has been secondarily centrifuged is subjected to inclined screening within the centrifugal pressure type inclined screening module 701. This is due to the connection between the centrifugal pressure type inclined screening module 701 and the recycling module 300. The centrifugal pressure type inclined screening module 701 can recycle the surplus liquid of the at least one primary cottony fiber raw material, and the surplus liquid may be recycled and collected by the recycling module 300 and recycled. Finally, the extrusion device 702 of this embodiment may provide an effective physical force to squeeze out the recyclable liquid, and the extrusion device 702 also assists in drying the at least one primary cottony fiber raw material to form the cottony fiber raw material RF.

[0034] The absorbent raw material manufacturing module 600 of this embodiment mainly includes a centrifugal vibration screening module 601 and at least one separation device 602. The centrifugal vibration screening module 601 can centrifugally separate the at least one primary absorbent raw material from the sedimentation tank 42, and thus can separate the at least one primary cotton-like fiber raw material of the at least one primary absorbent raw material. Furthermore, when the primary absorbent raw material and the separated primary cotton-like fiber raw material are accumulated and their own amounts satisfy specific conditions within the centrifugal vibration screening module 601, the centrifugal vibration screening module 601 filters at least one primary absorbent raw material dried or separated by the screen and eccentric vibration generated by the centrifugal vibration screening module 601, and can form the primary absorbent raw material and the separated primary cotton-like fiber raw material. On the other hand, at least one primary cotton-like fiber raw material still adhering thereto or at least one primary absorbent raw material not yet dried is filtered. Finally, the at least one separation device 602 may be an air flotation separation device, a liquid cyclone device, or a combination thereof. The type of the separation device 602 is determined by the classification and processing needs of the at least one primary absorbent raw material. That is, the separation device 602 of this embodiment needs to be able to further filter at least one primary cotton-like fiber raw material that has not been completely filtered by the centrifugal vibration screening module 601. On the other hand, qualified at least one primary absorbent raw material is collected to form the absorbent raw material RS.

[0035] Furthermore, the waterproof recycled raw material sorter 200 of this embodiment is used to filter the waterproof recycled material. The above-mentioned waterproof recycled material is a fragment (broken piece) composed of polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE). The plastic raw material manufacturing module 500 of this embodiment is connected to the waterproof recycled raw material sorter 200, and this connection can be used for the subsequent process of the waterproof recycled material.

[0036] In this embodiment, the plastic raw material manufacturing module 500 mainly includes a crusher 501, a washing, dewatering, and drying module 502, and a pelletizer 503. The crusher 501 is connected to the waterproof recycled material sorter 200 and can break the waterproof recycled material into smaller fragments. The washer 602 is connected to the crusher 501. The washing, dewatering, and drying module 502 can wash the particles and dust generated during the operation of the crusher 501. The washing, dewatering, and drying module 502 further filters and removes the water (liquid) of the waterproof recycled material. Finally, the washing, dewatering, and drying module 502 is also used for drying the waterproof recycled material. The pelletizer 503 is connected to the washing, dewatering, and drying module 502. The pelletizer 503 of this embodiment can receive the waterproof recycled material from the washing, dewatering, and drying module 502 and form granular plastic raw material RP.

[0037] Refer to FIGS. 1 and 2 simultaneously. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the operation method of the rapid decomposition system of the absorbent article of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation method of FIG. 2 functions under the embodiment of the rapid decomposition system of the absorbent article shown in FIG. 1.

[0038] First, in step (A), the rapid decomposition system 10 of the absorbent article shown in FIG. 1 is provided. In step (B), it is introduced into the cutting and pulping module 100 to cut, separate, and break the at least one absorbent article. In this embodiment, the cutting and pulping module 100 first cuts the absorbent article and is used to assist the subsequent process. Further, in step (C), it waits in the cutting and pulping module 100 until at least one absorbent article is broken and separated into at least one absorbent recycled material and at least one waterproof recycled material. In this embodiment, the cutting and pulping module 100 may break and separate the at least one absorbent recycled material and the at least one waterproof recycled material by the blade 3, the rotor 12, and the spoiler 11.

[0039] Furthermore, the cutting and pulping module 100 may alternatively execute steps (D1) and (D2). In step (D1), the cutting and pulping module 100 transfers the at least one absorbent recycled material to the salt slurry treatment module 400 and sends it to step (E1). Otherwise, in step (D2), the cutting and pulping module 100 transfers the at least one waterproof recycled material to the waterproof recycling raw material sorter 200 and then sends it to step (E2).

[0040] In step (E1), the salt slurry treatment module 400 separates the at least one absorbent recycled material into at least one primary cotton-like fiber raw material and at least one primary water-absorbent raw material, and further transfers the at least one primary cotton-like fiber raw material to the cotton-like fiber raw material manufacturing module 700. On the other hand, the at least one primary water-absorbent raw material is transferred to the absorbent raw material manufacturing module 600 and sent to step (F). Thereafter, in step (E2), the waterproof recycling raw material sorter 200 transfers the at least one waterproof recycled material to the plastic raw material manufacturing module 500 and then sends it to step (F).

[0041] In the final step (F), the cotton-like fiber raw material manufacturing module 700 generates the at least one cotton-like fiber raw material RF, the absorbent raw material manufacturing module 600 generates the at least one water-absorbent raw material RS, and the plastic raw material manufacturing module 500 generates the at least one plastic raw material RP.

[0042] The plastic raw material RP, cotton-like fiber raw material RF, and water-absorbent raw material RS manufactured according to the embodiments of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 have high purity and are advantageous for manufacturing recycled products. Furthermore, the liquid treated according to this embodiment may also be recycled and reused.

[0043] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the foregoing exemplary embodiments of the present invention do not limit the present invention but illustrate it. It is intended to include various changes and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, and the claims should be construed in the broadest possible manner to include all such changes and similar configurations. As described above, the best mode of the present invention has been explained, but it should be understood that various changes are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0044] 10 Rapid decomposition system for absorbent articles 11 Spoiler 12 Rotor 13 Blade 100 Cutting pulping module 200 Waterproof recycled raw material sorter 300 Recycling module 41 Buffer tank 42 Settling tank 43 Slurry storage tank 400 Salt slurry treatment module 500 Plastic raw material manufacturing module 501 Crusher 502 Washing, dewatering and drying module 503 Pelletizer 600 Absorbent raw material manufacturing module 601 Centrifugal vibration screening module 602 Separation device 700 Cotton-like fiber raw material manufacturing module 701 Centrifugal pressure inclined screening module 702 Extrusion device RP Plastic raw material RF Cotton-like fiber raw material RS Absorbent raw material (A), (B), (C), (D1), (D2), (E1), (E2), (F) Processes

Claims

1. A rapid disintegration system for an absorbent article, comprising: a cutting and pulping module; a waterproof recycled material sorter connected to the cutting and pulping module; a recycling module simultaneously connected to the cutting and pulping module and the waterproof recycling material sorting machine; a salt slurry treatment module connected to the cutting and pulping module; A plastic raw material production module connected to the waterproof recycled raw material sorter, further including a crusher connected to the waterproof recycled raw material sorter, a cleaning, dehydrating, and drying module connected to the crusher, and a pelletizer connected to the cleaning, dehydrating, and drying module; an absorbent raw material production module connected to the salt slurry treatment module; a cotton-like fiber raw material production module connected to the salt slurry treatment module; A system for rapid decomposition of absorbent articles, characterized in that the cutting and pulping module transfers at least one waterproof recycled material to the waterproof recycled raw material sorter, the salt slurry treatment module separates the at least one absorbent recycled material into at least one primary cotton-like fiber raw material and at least one primary water-absorbent raw material, and the at least one primary cotton-like fiber raw material and the at least one primary water-absorbent raw material are transferred to the cotton-like fiber raw material production module and the absorbent raw material production module, respectively.

2. The system for rapid decomposition of absorbent articles as described in claim 1, characterized in that the cotton-like fiber raw material manufacturing module further includes a centrifugal pressure type inclined screening module and an extrusion device connected to the centrifugal pressure type inclined screening module.

3. The system for rapid decomposition of absorbent articles according to claim 1, characterized in that the absorbent raw material production module further includes a centrifugal vibratory screening module connected to the salt slurry treatment module, and at least one separation device connected to the centrifugal vibratory screening module.

4. The system for rapid decomposition of absorbent articles according to claim 3, wherein the at least one separator is an air flotation separator, a hydrocyclone device, or a combination thereof.

5. The system for rapid decomposition of an absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the recycling module further comprises a plurality of carriers, each of the plurality of carriers supporting at least one organic matter decomposing microorganism.

6. A method of operating a rapid disintegration system for an absorbent article, comprising: (A) providing a rapid disintegration system for an absorbent article according to claim 1; (B) introducing said at least one absorbent article into said cutting and pulping module, where said absorbent article is cut, separated and destroyed; (C) waiting until the at least one absorbent article is broken down by the cutting and pulping module into the at least one absorbent recycled material and the at least one waterproof recycled material; (D1) the cutting and pulping module transporting the absorbent regenerator material to the salt slurry treatment module and carrying out step (E1); (D2) the cutting and pulping module transports the at least one waterproof reclaimed material to the waterproof recycled material sorter, and carrying out step (E2); (E1) separating the at least one primary floss-like fiber raw material and the at least one primary water-absorbent raw material from the at least one absorbent regenerating material by separating the salt slurry treatment module, and transferring the at least one primary floss-like fiber raw material and the at least one primary water-absorbent raw material to the floss-like fiber raw material production module and the absorbent raw material production module, respectively, and then carrying out step (F); (E2) carrying out step (F) after the waterproof recycled material sorter transfers the at least one waterproof recycled material to the plastic raw material production module; (F) A method for operating a rapid decomposition system for absorbent articles, comprising the steps of: the cotton-like fiber raw material manufacturing module producing at least one cotton-like fiber raw material; the absorbent raw material manufacturing module producing at least one water-absorbent raw material; and the plastic raw material manufacturing module producing at least one plastic raw material.

7. The method for operating the system for rapid decomposition of absorbent articles according to claim 6, characterized in that the recycling module is used for recycling wastewater from the waterproof recycled material sorting machine and the cotton-like fiber material manufacturing module.

8. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein said at least one absorbent article is a diaper.

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