Apparatus and process for the recycling of absorbent health products

An apparatus for treating used absorbent sanitary products, comprising: - a rotary cylindrical autoclave (14) having a side wall (42) and two ends, at least one of which terminates in a hatch (18, 20) that can be opened to enable access to said autoclave (14) and sealably closed to enable pressurization of said autoclave (14); - a circuit for heating and pressurizing the autoclave (14) for heating the absorbent sanitary products to a sterilization temperature; and - a plurality of cutting nozzles (38) supplied by pressurized fluid, which are arranged for directing respective jets of pressurized fluid inside said autoclave (14).