Abstract: A medical waste disposal device having a blade that rotates and chops medical waste into chips and other small particles. The blade includes at least one opening with at least one sharpened edge. The blade also has at least one raised portion adjacent to the sharpened edges. The blade cooperates with a cutting plate to chop or scissor the medical waste. The raised portion pushes chopped medical waste away from the blade and the cutting plate.

Abstract: The nature of the method of treating multicomponent, composite and combined materials, consisting of organic and inorganic, non-metallic and metallic components and especially of waste from electronic and electric devices and equipments, consists in that the treated materials are pretreated by removing contaminating components containing toxic heavy metals and poly-chlorinated biphenyls, by grinding the waste to particles having the size of 5 to 25 mm at most, and they are subjected, in an inert or reducing environment at a temperature of 350° C. to 600° C. and at a pressure of 100 kPa to 10 MPa, to the action of blades of a rotational mechanism for 10 seconds to 10 minutes, and to the action of a moving bed of solid particles of a substance, performing whirling motion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating materials or material mixtures in a treatment apparatus operating on the principle of the double-action impact mill, which includes a discharge conveyor (34), such as a discharge screw. A material layer (40) is maintained between the discharge opening and the discharge conveyor, using the material exiting the outermost ring (16?) of the treatment apparatus through the discharge opening (30), which layer prevents free discharge of the material to be treated from the treatment apparatus.

Abstract: Methods of modifying fibers, such as glass fibers, are disclosed. The modified fibers can be used, for example, in a lead acid battery.

Abstract: Disclosed are fine powder of waste polyurethane foam and a manufacturing method thereof. According to this invention, fine powder of waste polyurethane foam can be manufactured using a crushing process including primary and secondary coarse crushing steps and a fine grinding step and a classification process, thereby solving conventional problems of the deterioration of the properties and the difficulty forming a desired cell structure, due to the use of waste polyurethane powder having a large particle diameter, and widening the range of waste polyurethane that can be recycled.

Abstract: A method for harvesting weighting agent fines includes milling weighting agent into a plurality of pieces, classifying the pieces based on size to extract those particles having a particle size less than an acceptable maximum diameter, reclassifying the pieces based on size to extract those particles having a particle size less than an acceptable minimum diameter, collecting the particles having a particle size between the standard acceptable minimum and maximum diameters, and collecting the particles having a particle size less than the acceptable minimum diameter. A system for harvesting weighting agent fines includes a mill to reduce the weighting agent particle size, a first classifier to extract particles having a particle size less than the acceptable maximum diameter, a second classifier to extract particles having a particle size less than the acceptable minimum diameter, a fine particle collection area, and a coarse particle collection area.

Abstract: A refiner steam separation system according to the present invention includes a blowline for transporting a mixture of fiber material from a refiner to an inlet of a steam separator. Waste steam is discharged from the separator through a waste steam outlet. Cleaned fiber material is discharged from the separator through an exit, which prevents a substantial portion of the waste steam from passing through the exit. A relay pipe communicates with the exit and a dryer duct, and transports cleaned fiber material therebetween. A resin input communicates with the relay pipe, and supplies resin therein. The resin is mixed with the cleaned fiber material prior to the cleaned fiber material being dried in the dryer duct. The present invention is also directed to a method of reducing VOC emissions generated during refining cellulosic fibrous material.

Abstract: True zero-clearance cutting on a commercial scale is provided via a cutting area including a sacrifice material that is relatively softer than the cutter. One example is a cutting system which is capable of cutting a material such as, for example, tape or paper, into a fiber or powder. The cutting system includes a cutting blade, typically a rotary cutter, and a sacrificial plate or round bar contacting the cutting blade. The contacting portion has a zero clearance during the cutting operation. A metering mechanism is also provided which is capable of metering the material at a predetermined rate to the cutting blade. A mechanism is also provided for incrementally moving the sacrificial blade towards the cutting blade to ensure that the zero clearance is maintained between the cutting blade and the sacrificial plate, even when the sacrificial plate begins to wear down due to usage.

Abstract: The invention relates to the selection of a natural calcium carbonate crushed to a high degree of fineness, possibly treated with one or more fatty acids or one or more of their salts or mixtures thereof, and its use as a rheology regulator for polymeric compositions. The specific surface area is 14 to 30 m2/g measured according to the BET method to ISO 4652, and the oil absorption is greater than 16 measured according to ISO 787-V (Rub-out method). The conditions of mixing of the constituents and manufacture are improved, as well as the properties of the final product.

Abstract: An automated method and system of manufacturing an animal bedding composition includes cutting or shredding pieces of multiple panel corrugated cardboard structures having an internal corrugated panel sandwiched between outer panels and adding an adsorptive deodorizing ion exchange agent such as a zeolite dispersed throughout the cardboard pieces and carried on outer and inner surfaces of the pieces of cardboard and on outer and inner surfaces of the corrugations to provide a comfortable, hygienic and deodorized floor covering for animal stalls.

Abstract: True zero-clearance cutting on a commercial scale is provided via a cutting area including a sacrifice material that is relatively softer than the cutter. One example is a cutting system which is capable of cutting a material such as, for example, tape or paper, into a fiber or powder. Destruction of the material is further enhanced by advantageous strategic patterning of cutting edges on a rotary cutter, and further by secondary shredding features. For example, on the same axis as the rotary cutter, may be disposed, one on each end, rotating secondary shredders that receive material that has been cut by the rotary cutter as well as material that has escaped cutting by the rotary cutter. A variety of materials, of different thicknesses and types, may be reduced to a dust or powder-size.

Abstract: A method and device that comminutes particulate organic substances in suspensions of microorganisms in mediums such as wastewaters or sludges of biological sewage treatment plants, whereby the organic substances are subjected to inertial forces in an active chamber as a result of short-term acceleration, immediately followed by deceleration of a carrier medium flowing in a closed flow channel. To generate these inertial forces, the carrier medium is evaporated and subsequently condensed in the active chamber, whereby this change in the carrier medium's aggregate state is achieved by changing the flow speed. Because of the enormous increase of the liquid phase volume upon its transition into the vapor state, the flow speed of the medium concomitantly increases. As a result, extreme acceleration forces are exerted on the loading of the liquid phase, which immediately after condensation of the vapor into the liquid phase revert back into deceleration forces.

Abstract: A method for recycling concrete waste includes the steps of: a) heating the concrete waste to provide a measure of fragility to the concrete waste; b) milling and sieving the heated concrete waste to separate coarse aggregate from the concrete waste; and c) milling and sieving a remaining portion of the concrete waste remaining after separation of the coarse aggregate to separate the remaining portion of the concrete waste into a cement-containing fraction and fine aggregate.

Abstract: The invention provides high surface area talc compositions by a novel hybrid milling method or soaking method. The hybrid milling method comprises dry milling talc powder followed by mixing with water and wet milling to provide a nano-talc slurry with high surface area, also of the invention. The soaking method comprises dry milling talc powder followed by mixing with water and soaking to provide high surface area nano-talc slurry. The slurry may be dewatered and dried to provide dry nano-talc powder. The nano-talc powder provided by the invention is a novel hydrophilic talc composition. Further embodiments of the invention include organic solvent dispersed nano-talc slurries and methods for providing the same. These slurries can be used to provide polymer nano-talc composites in the form of coatings, sealing and gasketing materials, foams, extruded thermoplastic and thermoset sheets and films, thermoplastic pellets, thermoplastic and thermoset molded polymer composite articles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrous kaolin product having improved optical properties, for example, when used in the production of paper products. The present invention comprises an improved barrier coating for paper and a method of making the coated paper. The present invention also comprises an improved method from making filled and coated paper products. The present invention uses a composition comprising kaolin having a shape factor of at least about 70:1, such as at least about 80:1 or at least about 100:1.

Abstract: Methods to at least partially reduce a niobium oxide are described. In one embodiment, a milling process is described wherein the surfaces of the mill in contact with the starting metal oxide, getter material, and/or oxygen reduced metal oxide are the same as the material being milled. Other milling techniques and products are also described.

Abstract: True zero-clearance cutting on a commercial scale is provided via a cutting area including a sacrifice material that is relatively softer than the cutter. One example is a cutting system which is capable of cutting a material such as, for example, tape or paper, into a fiber or powder. Destruction of the material is further enhanced by advantageous strategic patterning of cutting edges on a rotary cutter, and further by secondary shredding features. For example, on the same axis as the rotary cutter, may be disposed, one on each end, rotating secondary shredders that receive material that has been cut by the rotary cutter as well as material that has escaped cutting by the rotary cutter. A variety of materials, of different thicknesses and types, may be reduced to a dust or powder-size.

Abstract: Method and unit for recycling a bituminous membrane provided with at least one reinforcement, which membrane is reduced to pieces which are introduced into a recycling unit, provided with a first rotor, housed in a first stator, and where they are heated and ground, said pieces being conveyed into a chamber, delimited by an external wall of the first rotor and a recess arranged in a counter-element mounted on the stator, where they are subjected to a trituration, the pieces thus triturated then being discharged from the chamber by flowing along said external wall of the rotor.

Abstract: In a method for the computer-based process control of a fragmentation apparatus having an energy storage device which is discharged via a spark gap to a load consisting of fragmentation goods submerged in a process liquid and disposed in a space between two electrodes which is filled with a process liquid, electrical operating parameters are determined during at least one discharge of the spark gap, whereby, in the space between the electrodes, a discharge channel is formed, and the point in time TD when such a discharge channel is formed and the electric resistance RE of the discharge channel are used as control values for controlling the fragmentation apparatus.

Abstract: A method of separating and processing a catalyst carrier that is contained in a processing object that includes a catalyst carrier metal cover to which an exhaust gas pipe is still connected, magnetic carrier foil or a ceramic carrier, a surface-enlarging coating film provided on the magnetic carrier foil or the ceramic carrier, and the catalyst carrier containing precious metal. This method includes the steps of: crushing the catalyst carrier and the metal cover to which the exhaust gas pipe is still connected, using a first crusher of a shearing type; breaking the catalyst carrier containing precious metal from the metal cover, using an impact-type pulverizer; and separating the catalyst carrier containing precious metals from the exhaust gas pipe and the metal cover, using a separator.

Abstract: True zero-clearance cutting on a commercial scale is provided via a cutting area including a sacrifice material that is relatively softer than the cutter. One example is a cutting system which is capable of cutting a material such as, for example, tape or paper, into a fiber or powder. Destruction of the material is further enhanced by advantageous strategic patterning of cutting edges on a rotary cutter, and further by secondary shredding features. For example, on the same axis as the rotary cutter, may be disposed, one on each end, rotating secondary shredders that receive material that has been cut by the rotary cutter as well as material that has escaped cutting by the rotary cutter. A variety of materials, of different thicknesses and types, may be reduced to a dust or powder-size.

Abstract: A method for fine grinding of mineral particles consists of producing by atomization pellets, made from steel with a high carbon content, or cast iron, with a granular size range less than 15 mm and mixing the pellets with balls, made from steel or cast iron with dimensions between 20 mm and 120 mm, in a rotating grinding mill, the proportion by weight of pellets depending on the granular size of the mineral particles for grinding and the desired reduction ratio.

Abstract: True zero-clearance cutting on a commercial scale is provided via a cutting area including a sacrifice material that is relatively softer than the cutter. One example is a cutting system which is capable of cutting a material such as, for example, tape or paper, into a fiber or powder. The cutting system includes a cutting blade, typically a rotary cutter, and a sacrificial plate or round bar contacting the cutting blade. The contacting portion has a zero clearance during the cutting operation. A metering mechanism is also provided which is capable of metering the material at a predetermined rate to the cutting blade. A mechanism is also provided for incrementally moving the sacrificial blade towards the cutting blade to ensure that the zero clearance is maintained between the cutting blade and the sacrificial plate, even when the sacrificial plate begins to wear down due to usage.

Abstract: A shredder dust electrostatic separation apparatus separates and recovers various kinds of crushed pieces included in shredder dust by the use of electrostatic force. The apparatus includes a rotating drum made of a conductive material, which receives supplied shredder dust, a positive or negative voltage being applied thereon. The apparatus further includes a discharge wire strung along the sideline of the rotating drum. A negative or positive voltage is applied to the discharge wire to cause a discharge in a space between the discharge wire and the rotating drum. The various kinds of crushed pieces included in the shredder dust are charged by the discharge, the polarity of the crushed pieces being opposite to that of the rotating drum. The charged crushed pieces are attracted to the rotating drum. The charges of the crushed pieces are allowed to move to the rotating drum in accordance with the conductivities of the crushed pieces. Accordingly, there are differences in attraction force of the crushed pieces.

Abstract: A white pozzolan derived from by-products of manufacturing vitreous low alkali, low iron glass fibers, and to the method for producing the white pozzolan. The invention relates as well to cement compositions based on the white pozzolan, such as white and pigmented blended pozzolanic cements of high durability for use in applications such as white or colored architectural concrete, building materials, and manufactured cementitious products. The white pozzolan also functions as a high performance pozzolan with grey cement.

Abstract: A refrigerant gas is collected and a compressor is removed from a discarded refrigerator, a heat-insulating housing including a heat insulator is cut/processed and separated into a plurality of pieces, and the pieces are compressed/processed by compression rollers opposing each other so as to collect a gas contained in the heat insulator. In accordance with this method, substantially no gas contained in the heat insulator is diffused at the time of cutting the heat-insulating housing, and the gas can be collected at a high concentration because it is collected by being allowed to leak out at the time of compressing. Furthermore, by using the compression rollers, closed-cells in the heat insulator can be crushed easily, thereby collecting the gas completely and reliably. Thus, it is possible to collect a foaming gas contained in the heat insulator efficiently and disassemble a refrigerator at low cost without increasing the size of-equipment and an installation space.

Abstract: A method for processing municipal waste substantially reduces the volume of material to be disposed into a landfill by increasing the volume of materials of value collected from the municipal waste and by composting the remaining materials to create a salable product. The process includes the removal of materials of value by magnetic devices to extract ferrous materials, by an air classifier to extract light plastic materials, by an eddy current mechanism to extract aluminum materials, and by a plastic sort mechanism to extract large plastic materials. Composting can be accomplished with a composting vessel that is located in the process either before the materials of value are removed or afterward. A grinding of the materials before a final screening allows the commercial grade compost to be separated from the materials that are to be sent to the landfill for final disposal.

Abstract: A method of using polymeric grinding media to produce fine solid particles or fine solid dispersions in liquid, such as pigment dispersions for inks, is provided. The method of the present invention limits packing and plugging problems associated with polymeric media to allow efficient milling operation.

Abstract: A system is provided for pelletizing particulate raw matter having a first density, and thereafter subjecting the pellets to a milling process to obtain a powdered form of the particulate. During pelletizing steam can be added. The resulting powder is denser, or more granular or has better flow with less dust than the pre-pelletized particulate matter having the first density. The powderized particulate has applications for pharmaceutical, nutritional and herbal end products.

Abstract: A method for producing submicron polytetrafluoroethylene (“PTFE”) powder in a free-flowing, readily dispersible form. The irradiated PTFE starting material is placed in a desired solvent and undergoes grinding until the PTFE particles reach submicron size. The submicron particles are subsequently recovered from the solvent and dried to form a powder that may have particles less than 1.00 ?m in size. The dry PTFE powder may then be readily dispersed to submicron size into a desired application system. The submicron PTFE powder of this method is free-flowing, readily dispersible in various application systems, tends not to “dust” or self-agglomerate. Improved aqueous and organic dispersions of submicron PTFE particles may also be formed that display increased stability and require much less agitation than other processes of forming such dispersions. Such improved PTFE dispersions may be formed with or without the addition of surfactants, wetting agents, rheology modifiers, pH-adjusting agents, and the like.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is a method for making mechanical pulp, such as thermomechanical or chemi-thermomechanical stock. The mechanical pulp is used as a raw material for printing paper, and its freeness value is 30-70 ml CSF. The stock refined by the method is screened in several stages to form accept and reject stock portions. The wood raw material is refined at the first stage of refining at a superatmospheric pressure of over 400 kPa to form a stock that has a freeness value of 250-700 ml CSF.

Abstract: In a collecting method and a collecting apparatus for collecting foaming gas generated from foaming heat insulator material, as well as in a processing process and apparatus of disposals, disposals 1 including the foaming heat insulator material 5 are charged into a first and a second crushing machines 3 and 17 for separating the foaming gas contained in the foaming heat insulator material 5 thereof, and the separated foaming gas is collected by a collector 29, wherein measurement is made on the concentration of flammable gas separated, so as to control the charging of the disposals 1 and the foaming heat insulator material 5 into the first and second crushing machines 3 and 17, depending upon that concentration measured, thereby collecting the foaming gas with high efficiency, while controlling the concentration of the flammable gas, appropriately and with ease, and an charge amount thereof to be charged, appropriately, depending upon the concentration of that flammable gas contained therein.

Abstract: A method for creating ultra-fine particles of material using a high-pressure mill is described. The method includes placing a material in a first chamber and subjecting the material to a high-pressure fluid jet to divide it into particles. These particles are then transferred to a second chamber in which they are subjected to cavitation to further divide the particles into relatively smaller particles. These relatively smaller particles are then transferred to a third chamber, in which the particles collide with a collider to still further divide them into ultra-fine particles of the material. The mill of the present invention includes a first chamber having an high-pressure liquid jet nozzle, first and second slurry nozzles, a second cavitation chamber and a third chamber which houses a collider. In one embodiment, the slurry nozzle has an inner surface and sharp edges that project slightly out from the inner surface.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is a method for making mechanical pulp, such as thermomechanical or chemi-thermomechanical stock. The mechanical pulp is utilised as a raw material for printing paper, and its freeness value is 30—70 ml CSF. According to the method, the refined stock is screened in several stages into accept and reject stock portions. The stock is screened at a consistency of not less than 10%.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and an equipment for combining in one single apparatus, the functions for filtering, decontaminating, and thickening paper pulp from used paper, while providing the complementary function of clarifying the filtrates. The apparatus (1) rotates at high speed. The paper pulp is introduced through the center of the apparatus (2) and driven at its angular speed. The pulp is then brought along a grate (6) with small size holes for separating the fibers from the greater part of the water. The thickened pulp is evacuated through extraction nozzles (8). The water is clarified in the clarification zone (12) and recycled or eliminated depending on uses. More complete embodiments of the apparatus include the functions of fractionating, de-inking and purifying the pulp with slots or holes.

Abstract: A method of producing glass as an abrasive media for cutting materials includes the steps of providing a glass feed stock and reducing the glass feed stock in size to produce glass particles with a high angularity and low aspect ratio. The method also includes the step of classifying the glass particles to remove at least one of coarses and fines. The method further includes the steps of size classifying the glass particles to produce an abrasive media with a predetermined size classification for use in abrasivejet cutting of materials.

Abstract: An apparatus that pulverizes feedstock material with crushers injects a liquefied inert gas into the feedstock material, evaporation of the gas causing the material to become very cold, brittle, facilitating further processing. Very fine finished particle sizes, passing −200 micron mesh screens, result from the use of the apparatus. The apparatus generally requires little maintenance to achieve such small particle size as compared to mechanical crushers. Because of the effect of the inert gas upon the feedstock material, pulverization generally occurs by impact only. A method for pulverizing is also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bone grinding apparatus, which comprises a grinding chamber, primary and secondary cutting elements positioned within the grinding chamber to sequentially perform primary and secondary cutting operations on the bone, and a drive mechanism operatively engaging the primary and secondary cutting elements. The apparatus also includes a bone supplying cylinder engaging the grinding chamber and adapted to transport the bone to the cutting elements at a consistent pressure. The apparatus also includes a sealing component designed to operatively engage the drive mechanism and to separate the drive mechanism from the cutting elements.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method of comminuting/pulverizing polyurethane-containing materials to produce fine particles. The method of comminuting/pulverizing polyurethane-containing materials comprises first chopping the polyurethane-containing materials, thereby producing a polyurethane-containing flock. The polyurethane-containing flock is then processed to form a powder through a comminuting/pulverizing process wherein the comminuting/pulverizing process has at least two steps. Finally, a solid additive is added at any time during the comminuting/pulverizing process to prevent adherence of the polyurethane-containing materials powder during one of the at least two steps.

Abstract: Process is for environmentally friendly, low-waste reprocessing of side dams for the continuous casting of thin steel strip having a mechanically or chemically worn surface. The mechanically or chemically worn surface of the side dams is cleaned by methods known per se and the side dams are subsequently converted into a BN-containing powder by crushing and milling.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process and processor for reusing waste paint (i.e., a process and processor for converting waste paint into resources) which bring about efficient processing of the waste paint. In the process for reusing the waste paint, the waste paint is rolled between a pair of heated rotating drums disposed opposite to each other, to dehydrate and dry the waste paint (rough drying step); and the dehydrated and dried waste paint is ground by a rotating grinding rotor of which axial is perpendicularly arranged in a processing tank and further the dehydrated and dried waste paint is dehydrated, dried and pulverized (main drying step).

Abstract: A method for recovering elastomeric material such as rubber from tires comprising the steps of soaking the tires in a mixture of an oil and a volatile solvent to soften the rubber, subjecting the softened tires to shear conditions in a separator having at least two pairs of counter rotating rollers mounted one above the other. The recovered rubber can be carbonized in a microwave chamber to produce carbon and oil.

Abstract: An improved two-stage comminuting and dehydrating system is efficient, environmentally sound, and may be employed to process sticky materials. The system includes a pair of cyclone structures for comminuting and dehydrating. Injection ports are positioned for injection of viscid substances directly into the low pressure region of each cone. The secondary cyclone structure is equipped with a lower exit port. A single blower is coupled with the cyclone structures to form an air flow loop from the primary cone bottom to the secondary cone top and from the secondary cone top to the primary cone top. Airflow for cycling material between the cones is controlled by feedback from moisture and particle size monitoring devices in a collection unit coupled with the secondary cone.

Abstract: Thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers are readily ground to smaller particle sizes by using a two or more stage grinding process. The particles produced usually are relatively short, but still, fibers. The ground LCP is useful for rotational molding, powder coating, and forming nonwoven structures.

Abstract: Process for the disintegration and cleaning of contaminant-containing raw paper stocks. The process includes producing a contaminant-containing suspension, feeding the contaminant-containing suspension to a closed coarse screen, drawing of a cleaned flow fraction from the closed coarse screen, and drawing off an overflow fraction containing an increased amount of contaminants from the coarse screen during at least about 80% of an operating time. The process also includes adjusting a volumetric mass flow of the overflow fraction to at least about 15% and maximally about 50% of a volumetric mass flow of an inflow into the coarse screen, and feeding the overflow fraction to a screening device, in which contaminants collected are sluiced out discontinuously as a further overflow fraction, thereby forming a further cleaned flow fraction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for disaggregating pieces of derived timber products from cellulose and/or lignocel-lulose-containing products, especially particle boards, medium-density fiber boards and the like, with a transport device and at least one disaggregation container. The inventive device is also characterized in that the disaggregation container and the transport device are configured as at least one common densifier screw (1) with a housing-mounted outer shell and a driven shaft located therein. The shaft is provided with helices of a predefined pitch. The pieces of derived timber products are transported in the axial direction of the densifier screw (1) from a feed opening in the outer shell towards an outlet opening on the front side thereof in the axial direction (direction of transport). A feed opening (7) for vapor is provided in the outer shell between the inlet opening and the outlet opening.

Abstract: Hydrogel particles are produced by a drying step followed sequentially by precomminuting, grinding, separating, and further drying of coarse particles.

Abstract: A low-fiber method for obtaining a fiber material (21) that is suitable for use as a raw material for insulation purposes, for the production of fiber mattresses or as a filing or padding material, from the fruits of poplars, willows, composites or similar plants. The closed fruits of said plants are dried and/or opened using an air flow and agitated in a treatment chamber (17), whereby the fiber material (21) contained in the fruit capsules (19) is substantially separated from the other constituent parts of said fruits.

Abstract: A method of crushing material in a crushing plant using multistep crushing to form a crushed product. The crushing plant has a first crushing station, an intermediate storage and a second crushing station. The material is crushed at the first crushing station. The amount of material in the intermediate storage is monitored. The degree of reduction at the first crushing station is changed according to the level of material in the intermediate storage. A device for crushing material has a level monitor arranged to monitor the level of material in the intermediate storage. The level monitor is connected to a control unit which is adapted to change the degree of reduction at least at the first of the crushing stations if the level of material in the intermediate storage increases or decreases.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for processing green organic waste (hereafter “GOM”) into mulch particles for forming a mulch windrow including feeding means (11) for feeding GOM to a first cutting zone and rotating a plurality of blades (25) through that zone to cut the GOM into smaller particles, transferring the particles to a second cutting zone and rotating a plurality of blades (25) therethrough, to reduce their size to a suitable mulch particle size and ejecting the mulch particles at high velocity to form a windrow. The method and apparatus further includes the addition of moisture to increase the moisture content of the windrow formed.