Absorbent articles with biocompostable properties

Abstract

Disclosed is an absorbent article with biocompostable properties, such as a baby diaper, adult incontinence product, or a feminine hygiene pad. Particularly, the present invention is directed to a biocompostable absorbent sanitary article with a high degree of biocompostability. The sanitary article comprises, in one embodiment, at least a top layer, a back layer, and absorbent core, wherein the absorbent core includes a superabsorbent polymer, and wherein at least the superabsorbent polymer is biocompostable.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A disposable absorbent sanitary article, comprising:
 a fluid-permeable top layer;   a fluid-resistant back layer; and   an absorbent core;   wherein the fluid-permeable top layer is chemically and/or physically attached to the absorbent core, and wherein the absorbent core is chemically and/or physically attached to the fluid-resistant back layer;   wherein the absorbent core is positioned between the fluid-permeable top layer and the fluid-resistant back layer;   wherein the absorbent core includes a super absorbent polymer (SAP);   wherein the SAP includes a modified biopolymer and a non-biocompostable SAP;   wherein the modified biopolymer is not a graft polymer.   
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the biobased carbon content of the modified biopolymer is at least approximately 50%. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid-permeable top layer, the fluid-resistant back layer, and/or the absorbent core are biocompostable or biodegradable. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the modified biopolymer has an absorbency under load (AUL) at 0.7 psi of between 5 g/g and 15 g/g in a saline solution. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the article has an acquisition time under load (ATUL) of between 60 seconds and 80 seconds for a first dose of 80 milliliters of 0.9% wt saline, thereby yielding a first average acquisition rate of between 1.000 milliliter/second and 1.333 milliliters/second. 
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 5 , wherein the modified biopolymer has an ATUL of between 85 and 105 seconds for a second dose of 80 milliliters of 0.9% wt saline, and an ATUL of between 155 and 205 seconds for a third dose of 80 milliliters of 0.9% wt saline, thereby yielding a second average acquisition rate of between 0.7619 milliliters/second and 0.9411 milliliters/second, and a third average acquisition rate of between 0.3902 milliliters/second and 0.5161 milliliters/second. 
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein between approximately 15% and approximately 75% of the SAP is the modified biopolymer and between approximately 25% and approximately 85% of the SAP is the non-biocompostable SAP. 
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein an alcohol is not used in a charge modification step of an extrusion process in making the modified biopolymer. 
     
     
         9 . A disposable absorbent sanitary article, comprising:
 a fluid-permeable top layer;   a fluid-resistant back layer; and   an absorbent core;   wherein the fluid-permeable top layer is chemically and/or physically attached to the fluid-resistant back layer;   wherein the absorbent core is positioned between the fluid-permeable top layer and the fluid-resistant back layer;   wherein the absorbent core includes a super absorbent polymer (SAP) and absorbent fiber;   wherein the SAP includes a modified starch-based biopolymer and a non-biocompostable SAP;   wherein the modified starch-based biopolymer is not a graft polymer; and   wherein between approximately 15% and approximately 75% of the SAP is the modified starch-based biopolymer and between approximately 25% and approximately 85% of the SAP is the non-biocompostable SAP.   
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 9 , wherein the modified starch-based biopolymer is biocompostable such that the modified starch-based biopolymer is operable to exhibit at least 90% degradation within 180 days when compared to cellulose control. 
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one adhesive between layers of the absorbent sanitary article, and/or further comprising an external adhesive, wherein the at least one adhesive and/or the external adhesive are biocompostable such that the at least one adhesive and/or the external adhesive is operable to exhibit at least 90% degradation within 180 days relative to an analytical grade cellulose control. 
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 9 , wherein biobased carbon content of the modified starch-based biopolymer is at least 80%. 
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 9 , wherein the article has an acquisition time under load (ATUL) of between 60 seconds and 80 seconds for a first dose of 80 milliliters of 0.9% wt saline. 
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 9 , wherein the modified starch-based modified biopolymer has a free swell capacity (FSC) of at least 25 g/g in a 0.9% saline solution, a centrifuge retention capacity (CRC) of at least about 16 g/g in a 0.9% saline solution, and an absorbency under load (AUL) at 0.7 psi of at least about 6 g/g in a 0.9% saline solution. 
     
     
         15 . A disposable absorbent sanitary article, comprising:
 a fluid-permeable top layer;   a fluid-resistant back layer; and   an absorbent core including a super absorbent polymer (SAP);   wherein the fluid-permeable top layer is chemically and/or physically attached to the absorbent core, wherein the absorbent core is chemically and/or physically attached to the fluid-resistant back layer;   wherein the absorbent core is positioned between the fluid-permeable top layer and the fluid-resistant back layer;   wherein the SAP includes a modified biopolymer and a non-biocompostable SAP; and   wherein the article has an acquisition time under load (ATUL) of between 60 seconds and 80 seconds for a first dose of 80 milliliters of 0.9% wt saline, thereby yielding a first average acquisition rate of between 1.000 milliliter/second and 1.333 milliliters/second.   
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 15 , wherein the absorbent core is constructed without fluff. 
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 15 , wherein the non-biocompostable SAP is physically blended with the modified biopolymer to create a blend of the modified biopolymer and the non-biocompostable SAP. 
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 15 , wherein the modified biopolymer exhibits no cytotoxicity and is not a dermal irritant. 
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 15 , wherein the modified biopolymer includes a modified starch-based biopolymer. 
     
     
         20 . The article of  claim 15 , wherein at least 85% of the particle sizes of the modified biopolymer are between about 100 micrometers and about 850 micrometers.