Patent ID: 8318062

Claim:
A method of manufacturing an industrial absorbent, the method comprising: obtaining recycled cellulose from a group of cellulose sources including a source of post-industrial cellulose and a source of post-consumer cellulose; shredding the cellulose; declumping the cellulose; applying liquid fire retardant to the cellulose in a spray booth; after applying the liquid fire retardant, drying the cellulose; after drying the cellulose, mixing the cellulose with bicomponent fiber; milling the dried cellulose; placing a first scrim on a forming wire positioned below a forming head; forming a web of the cellulose and bicomponent fiber on the first scrim to form a pad; and heating the pad in an oven to cause an outer layer of the bicomponent fiber to melt to bond at least some of the bicomponent fiber to at least some of the cellulose and to cause at least a portion of the first scrim to bond with the web.