The present invention relates to a process and an apparatus for sterilising used hygiene products, comprising the use of an autoclave apparatus. Said autoclave apparatus comprises one or a plurality of rotating internal members. In some embodiments, the plurality of rotating members each concentrically position around a common axis of rotation. In some embodiments, the plurality of rotating members comprises holes of predetermined size, such that the autoclaved products can pass from a central rotating section towards radially outwardly positioned ones. This allows for short processing time with high process performance whilst minimising damage of compounds such as pulp fibre and superabsorbent polymers (SAP) while enabling pure plastic, pulp and SAP streams being separated.
