Apparatus and method for sterilizing absorbent hygiene products

A treatment apparatus used absorbent sanitary products, comprising: - a cylindrical revolving autoclave (14) having a sidewall (42) and two ends, at least one of which terminates in a gate (18, 20) which can opened to enable access to said autoclave (14) and is sealed 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 . characterized by - a plurality of cutting nozzles (38) fed by the pressurized fluid, which are arranged to direct the jets of respective pressurized fluid inside said autoclave (14), wherein the operating pressure of the cutting nozzles (38 ) is between 10 and 30 MPa, - the cutting nozzles (38) projecting inwardly from said side wall (42).