Abstract: An absorbent article may include a top sheet that is liquid-permeable, a back sheet that is liquid-impermeable, and an absorbent body situated between the top sheet and the back sheet in a thickness direction. At least one of the top sheet and the back sheet may include a synthetic resin sheet that includes a synthetic resin component and an oxidative decomposer comprising a mixture of a carboxylate and a rare earth compound. The synthetic resin sheet may contain the oxidative decomposer in a mass ratio such that a decomposition rate index (Di), as determined by formula (1), is 7.8 or less: Di=Br×Sa??(1) where Br represents a mass ratio (g/g) of the oxidative decomposer with respect to the synthetic resin component, and Sa represents a specific surface area (cm2/g) of the synthetic resin sheet.

Abstract: A simple method is provided for producing a saccharified solution from a used absorbent article such as a used diaper. In order to produce a saccharified solution from a used absorbent article comprising a non-cellulosic liquid permeable surface material and an absorbent body that contains pulp fibers, the used absorbent article is immersed, without first being decomposed, in a saccharifying enzyme solution containing cellulase. The pulp fibers in the used absorbent article are saccharified by the cellulase, producing a saccharified solution. The produced saccharified solution is exuded out of the used absorbent article through the liquid permeable surface material, so it is possible to easily separate and recover the saccharified solution from the used absorbent article while maintaining the outer shape.

Abstract: The present invention provides an applicator improved so that the entirety of the tampon may be reliably inserted into vagina. A raised portion is located on an exterior surface of an inner tube in the vicinity of a rear end thereof and put in a slidable contact with a part of an interior surface of an outer tube. The raised portion has an outer shape having a width dimension gradually increasing rearward from an apex located on a front end.

Abstract: A method is provided for recovering pulp fibers having little damage from a used absorbent article that contains pulp fibers and a superabsorbent polymer. The used absorbent article is treated at a temperature of greater than or equal to 80° C. with an organic acid aqueous solution having a pH no greater than 2.5, and the superabsorbent polymer is deactivated. Preferably, the pulp fibers and the deactivated superabsorbent polymer are separated from the used absorbent article after treatment with the organic acid aqueous solution, and further, a mixture including the separated pulp fibers and deactivated superabsorbent polymer is treated with an oxidizing agent, the deactivated superabsorbent polymer is decomposed, reduced in molecular weight and solubilized.

Abstract: A method is provided for recovering pulp fibers having little damage from a used absorbent article which includes a water permeable front sheet, a water impermeable back sheet and an absorbent body that contains pulp fibers and a superabsorbent polymer. At least one opening with a circle equivalent diameter of 5-45 mm, or 10-45 mm cut, is made in the front sheet and/or the back sheet of the used absorbent article, which is then agitated in an organic acid aqueous solution with a pH of less than or equal to 2.5, and the superabsorbent polymer is deactivated and the pulp fibers and superabsorbent polymer are discharged from the used absorbent article through the opening or cut.

Abstract: A method is provided which, by a simple process, separates and recovers pulp fibers from a used absorbent article that contains pulp fibers and a superabsorbent polymer. A used absorbent article is treated with an aqueous solution that contains greater than or equal to 0.05 mass % of at least one kind of terpene selected from the group comprising terpene hydrocarbons, terpene aldehydes, and terpene ketones and that contains a deactivating agent that can deactivate the superabsorbent polymer; the superabsorbent polymer is deactivated, the adhesive that bonds together the constituent materials of the absorbent article is dissolved with the terpene to decompose the absorbent article, the pulp fibers are discharged to outside of the absorbent article, and the pulp fibers are separated from the absorbent article and recovered.

Abstract: A method of recycling a used absorbent article having human waste includes: a first step of separating pulp fiber from the used absorbent article to obtain regenerated pulp fiber; a second step of conversion to solid fuel from constituent materials of the used absorbent article remaining after separation of the pulp fiber to obtain solid fuel, and a third step of supplying waste water containing organic material generated from the first step to a microbial fuel cell to obtain electric power while purifying the waste water. The processing rate for the used absorbent article containing human waste is 90 mass % or greater.

Abstract: A method is provided which, by a simple process, separates and recovers pulp fibers from a used absorbent article that contains pulp fibers and a superabsorbent polymer. A used absorbent article is treated with an aqueous solution that contains greater than or equal to 0.05 mass % of at least one kind of terpene selected from the group comprising terpene hydrocarbons, terpene aldehydes, and terpene ketones and that contains a deactivating agent that can deactivate the superabsorbent polymer; the superabsorbent polymer is deactivated, the adhesive that bonds together the constituent materials of the absorbent article is dissolved with the terpene to decompose the absorbent article, the pulp fibers are discharged to outside of the absorbent article, and the pulp fibers are separated from the absorbent article and recovered.

Abstract: A method of recovering urine-derived nutrient salts from a used absorbent article containing urine, includes: immersing the used absorbent article in an aqueous solution containing a calcium compound to deactivate a superabsorbent polymer; using a sieve to separate a solid-liquid mixture yielded by the deactivation into a first fraction containing the constituent materials of the absorbent article, and a second fraction containing an aqueous solution containing the calcium compound and nutrient salts, and nutrient-salt-containing sediment that has passed through the sieve; producing nutrient-salt-containing sediment using a HAP method; and adjusting the pH of the aqueous solution in contact with the nutrient-salt-containing sediment to within a range of 5.6-7.0, dissolving at least some of a calcium compound other than hydroxyapatite in the sediment, and increasing the hydroxyapatite content of the sediment.

Abstract: An absorbent article may include a top sheet that is liquid-permeable, a back sheet that is liquid-impermeable, and an absorbent body situated between the top sheet and the back sheet in a thickness direction. At least one of the top sheet and the back sheet may include a synthetic resin sheet that includes a synthetic resin component and an oxidative decomposer comprising a mixture of a carboxylate and a rare earth compound. The synthetic resin sheet may contain the oxidative decomposer in a mass ratio such that a decomposition rate index (Di), as determined by formula (1), is 7.8 or less: Di=Br×Sa ??(1) where Br represents a mass ratio (g/g) of the oxidative decomposer with respect to the synthetic resin component, and Sa represents a specific surface area (cm2/g) of the synthetic resin sheet.

Abstract: A simple method is provided for producing a saccharified solution from a used absorbent article such as a used diaper. In order to produce a saccharified solution from a used absorbent article comprising a non-cellulosic liquid permeable surface material and an absorbent body that contains pulp fibers, the used absorbent article is immersed, without first being decomposed, in a saccharifying enzyme solution containing cellulase. The pulp fibers in the used absorbent article are saccharified by the cellulase, producing a saccharified solution. The produced saccharified solution is exuded out of the used absorbent article through the liquid permeable surface material, so it is possible to easily separate and recover the saccharified solution from the used absorbent article while maintaining the outer shape.

Abstract: A method is provided for recovering pulp fibers having little damage from a used absorbent article which includes a water permeable front sheet, a water impermeable back sheet and an absorbent body that contains pulp fibers and a superabsorbent polymer. At least one opening with a circle equivalent diameter of 5-45 mm, or 10-45 mm cut, is made in the front sheet and/or the back sheet of the used absorbent article, which is then agitated in an organic acid aqueous solution with a pH of less than or equal to 2.5, and the superabsorbent polymer is deactivated and the pulp fibers and superabsorbent polymer are discharged from the used absorbent article through the opening or cut.

Abstract: A method is provided for recovering pulp fibers having little damage from a used absorbent article that contains pulp fibers and a superabsorbent polymer. The used absorbent article is treated at a temperature of greater than or equal to 80° C. with an organic acid aqueous solution having a pH no greater than 2.5, and the superabsorbent polymer is deactivated. Preferably, the pulp fibers and the deactivated superabsorbent polymer are separated from the used absorbent article after treatment with the organic acid aqueous solution, and further, a mixture including the separated pulp fibers and deactivated superabsorbent polymer is treated with an oxidizing agent, the deactivated superabsorbent polymer is decomposed, reduced in molecular weight and solubilized.

Abstract: Provided is a method for efficiently recovering pulp fibers with a high degree of safety and without detriment to the performance of the pulp fibers, from used absorbent articles such as disposable diapers containing pulp fibers and a super absorbent polymer. This method comprises: a step for extracting a mixture of pulp fibers, super absorbent polymer and water from used absorbent articles; a step of using a pair of electrodes to apply a voltage to the mixture of pulp fibers, super absorbent polymer and water to deactivate the super absorbent polymer; and a step for separating pulp fibers from the mixture of pulp fibers, deactivated super polymer and water.

Abstract: The present invention provides an applicator improved so that the entirety of the tampon may be reliably inserted into vagina. A raised portion is located on an exterior surface of an inner tube in the vicinity of a rear end thereof and put in a slidable contact with a part of an interior surface of an outer tube. The raised portion has an outer shape having a width dimension gradually increasing rearward from an apex located on a front end.

Abstract: A water disintegratable leak-proof sheet for an absorbent article that has an excellent leak-proof property during wear and excellent water disintegrating property after disposal. The water disintegratable leak-proof sheet of the present disclosure has the following construction. A water disintegratable leak-proof sheet for an absorbent article comprising a water disintegratable base material layer and a water-insoluble and biodegradable resin layer on the water disintegratable base material layer, wherein the tearing strength in the planar direction of the water disintegratable leak-proof sheet is no greater than 0.15 N/40 mm in both a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A tampon that has an absorbent body that absorbs a bodily fluid and that is to be inserted into a body cavity along a central axis of the absorbent body, wherein a leading end part in an inserting direction of the absorbent body includes a recessed part including a position of the central axis.

Abstract: The covering member includes an inner side surface being in contact with the absorber and an outer side surface to come into contact with a vaginal wall when in use. The covering member contains a hydrophobic fiber with a low affinity to water and a hydrophilic fiber with a high affinity to water. In the outer side surface, an abundance ratio of the hydrophobic fiber is higher than an abundance ratio of the hydrophilic fiber.

Abstract: An absorbent article that includes a water-disintegratable top sheet, a water-disintegratable back sheet, and a water-disintegratable absorber interposed between the top sheet and the back sheet. Adhesive coating regions of an adhesive are formed in the back sheet, and the coating regions of the adhesive are provided to continuously extend from one face of the back sheet to the other face of the back sheet.

Abstract: A catamenial tampon including a tampon body formed of a sponge adapted to be smoothly drawn out from the vaginal cavity. A catamenial tampon includes a tampon body and a withdrawal string. The tampon body is composed of an absorbent material formed of a liquid-absorptive sponge and a wrapping material formed of a liquid-permeable sheet material and adapted to wrap the absorbent material. The withdrawal string is attached to the wrapping material so as to extend in a direction in which the tampon body is drawn out.