Animal husbandry – Material for absorbing moisture from waste product
Patent
1996-08-16
1998-04-07
Price, Thomas
Animal husbandry
Material for absorbing moisture from waste product
A01K 2900
Patent
active
057352321
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to an animal litter and to a process for producing a particular embodiment of this animal litter.
A known animal litter of the type described above consists of particles, which are built up completely from inorganic mineral material in granulate form. This mineral material may consist of granulates based on calcium silicate hydrate as well as of granulates based on clay minerals. These products have proven to be entirely satisfactory; however, the water absorption capacity and, in particular, the odor-binding capacity, seem capable of improvement.
Moreover, animal litter materials are also known, the individual parcels of which consist essentially of an organic material, such as treated waste paper or the like. In the case of these materials, the moisture absorption capacity is high, but there is frequently a problem with binding the odor.
It is an object of the invention to provide an animal litter of the generic type, which has a high water absorption capacity, good odor-binding properties and positive environmental properties. Moreover, a method is to be provided for producing a special embodiment of such an animal litter.
Pursuant to the invention, this objective is accomplished by an animal litter of or with a proportion of particles, which comprise at least one moisture-absorbing, organic material and at least one platelet-like mineral material.
The proportion of mineral material in the particles is between 5 and 25% by weight.
Pursuant to the invention, it is particularly preferred that the mineral material consists essentially of particles, which are identifiable visually as platelets (macroplatelets), the length to the thickness of these platelets being at least 10: 1.
A mineral material of mica or of minerals similar to mica, such as vermiculite, particularly expanded vermiculite and especially one that has been comminuted to particles smaller than 2 mm, is particularly preferred.
The invention proposes that the particles contain an odor binder, which is distributed essentially uniformly and preferably comprises magnesium chloride, sodium chloride and/or calcium chloride.
Pursuant to the invention, it is particularly preferred that the moisture-absorbing organic material comprises cellulose, and especially the fraction of comminuted cellulose having a fiber length less than 1,500 .mu.m.
The invention proposes that the particles comprise an inorganic and/or organic binder, which preferably is bentonite.
In an embodiment, which is particularly preferred pursuant to the invention, the individual particles in each case have a particle core, which comprises the liquid-absorbing organic material and optionally a portion of the platelet-like, mineral material, and a sheath, which essentially surrounds the particle core completely and contains the platelet-like mineral material.
Provisions can be made that the particle sheath is fixed to the particle core by a binder. This binder may comprise bentonite.
An odor binder, which is optionally present pursuant to the invention, may preferably be distributed essentially uniformly in the particle core.
Pursuant to the invention, the individual particles have an essentially roundish, oval shape. The invention proposes that the particles have a particle size of 0.5 to 8 mm and preferably of 3.3 to 6.5 mm.
The preferred bulk density of the inventive animal litter is 350-450 g/L.
The preferred residual moisture of the inventive animal litter is 5 to 15% by weight.
The preferred water absorption capacity of the inventive animal litter is 100 to 200% by weight.
The preferred pH of the inventive animal litter is 7 to 9.
The inventive method for producing an animal litter with particles, which consist of the previously described particle cores and particle sheaths, is distinguished owing to the fact that the particle cores are produced to begin with by pelletizing and that the particle cores subsequently are coated with the particle sheath.
Provisions can be made that, when an odor binder is used, it is incorporated into the particle cores during
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patent: 4621011 (1986-11-01), Fleischer et al.
patent: 5188064 (1993-02-01), House
patent: 5207830 (1993-05-01), Cowan et al.
patent: 5295456 (1994-03-01), Lawson
Hornig Rolf
Lang Rudiger
Lange Dietmar
Schlimm Peter
EFFEM GmbH
Price Thomas
Santisi Leonard J.
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