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Abstract

A method for sterilizing and decontaminating post-consumer absorbent sanitary products contaminated by organic compounds deriving from human metabolism and comprising drug residue, said post-consumer absorbent sanitary products comprising fractions of plastic, super-absorbent polymers (SAPs), and optionally cellulose, the method comprising at least the steps of: i) sterilizing (SR) said post-consumer absorbent sanitary products by heating to a temperature equal to or lower than 140° C. and at a pressure comprised between 1 bar and 3.6 bar to obtain sterilized post-consumer absorbent sanitary products; and ii) decontaminating (DC) from organic compounds said sterilized post-consumer absorbent sanitary products by means of an oxidizing treatment. The oxidizing treatment is carried out by putting the sterilized post-consumer absorbent sanitary products in contact with a gas containing ozone preferably at a temperature equal to or higher than 60° C., more preferably comprised between 60° C. and 80° C. The sterilized post-consumer absorbent sanitary products subjected to the decontaminating step have a humidity of less than 80%, preferably comprised between 60% and 75%.

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First Claim