An antibacterial and antifungal agent, cat litter, and two-component cat litter products.

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of antifungal and antimicrobial agents, and discloses an antimicrobial and antifungal agent, cat litter, and a two-component cat litter product. The antimicrobial and antifungal agent comprises a fungicide and a fungicide encapsulated in polyvinyl alcohol, and a filler; wherein the weight ratio of polyvinyl alcohol, the fungicide, and the fungicide is (10-20):(1-2.5):1, and the weight ratio of polyvinyl alcohol to the filler is 1:1 / 2 to 1:2. This invention utilizes polyvinyl alcohol with a specific structure to emulsify and encapsulate the fungicide and the fungicide in a specific ratio to obtain the antimicrobial and antifungal agent; after adding this to cat litter, the resulting cat litter not only has a uniform distribution of the antimicrobial and antifungal agent, but also does not affect the clumping speed and strength of the cat litter.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of antifungal and antibacterial agents, and more particularly to an antibacterial and antifungal agent, cat litter, and two-component cat litter products. Background Technology

[0002] Cat litter has a very high market penetration rate in cat grooming products, with plant-based cat litter having the highest market share in China. From a consumer perspective, plant-based cat litter is characterized by its easy clumping, easy flushing, and low dust content. From a sustainability perspective, plant-based cat litter is more biodegradable than bentonite cat litter and mineral litter. However, it also presents problems. If cat owners do not promptly remove cat urine clumps, bacteria will multiply rapidly, producing a stronger odor. Furthermore, plant-based cat litter is prone to absorbing moisture, which can also lead to bacterial growth and mold, negatively impacting the cat's health. Therefore, cat litter products with antibacterial and anti-mold properties are essential.

[0003] In existing technologies, antibacterial effects are typically achieved by adding antibacterial agents to cat litter. For example, Chinese patent CN15956510A discloses a synergistic and efficient deodorizing cat litter and its preparation method, which achieves antibacterial effects by adding quaternary ammonium salt antibacterial agents; Chinese patent CN106342701B discloses an aromatic and antibacterial applewood composite cat litter, which achieves antibacterial effects by adding nano-silver and benzalkonium chloride.

[0004] However, existing technologies do not address the issue of mold prevention in cat litter itself. While adding antibacterial agents can achieve some mold prevention, their effectiveness is far from sufficient in prolonged humid environments or when cat excrement is not promptly cleaned. Therefore, our team initially attempted to combine antibacterial and antifungal agents and add them to cat litter to achieve antibacterial and antifungal effects. However, in actual production, we found that the antibacterial and antifungal agents were unevenly distributed in the formed cat litter, resulting in continued poor antibacterial and antifungal effects. In subsequent research, our team attempted to encapsulate the antibacterial and antifungal agents with polyvinyl alcohol to solve the problem of uneven dispersion. However, we found that the high viscosity and strong film-forming properties of polyvinyl alcohol were detrimental to the formation of the antibacterial and antifungal formulation, and its addition to plant-based cat litter negatively impacted its clumping speed and strength. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention provides an antibacterial and antifungal agent, cat litter, and a two-component cat litter product. This invention utilizes polyvinyl alcohol with a specific structure to emulsify and encapsulate an antibacterial and antifungal agent in a specific ratio to obtain the antibacterial and antifungal agent; this agent is then added to cat litter. The resulting cat litter not only has a uniform distribution of the antibacterial and antifungal agent but also does not affect the clumping speed or strength of the cat litter.

[0006] The specific technical solution of this invention is as follows: In a first aspect, the present invention provides an antibacterial and antifungal agent, comprising a fungicide and an antibacterial agent encapsulated in polyvinyl alcohol, and a filler; wherein the weight ratio of polyvinyl alcohol, fungicide and antibacterial agent is (10-20):(1-2.5):1, and the weight ratio of polyvinyl alcohol and filler is 1:1 / 2 to 1:2.

[0007] Preferably, the weight ratio of polyvinyl alcohol, antibacterial agent, and antifungal agent is (10-18):(1-2.5):1; more preferably (12-18):(1.5-2.5):1. The weight ratio of polyvinyl alcohol and filler is 1:1 to 1:2.

[0008] To impart antibacterial and antifungal properties to cat litter, the invention team initially attempted to add a compound of antibacterial and antifungal agents to the litter. However, they found that the antibacterial and antifungal agents were unevenly distributed in the formed litter during actual production, resulting in poor antibacterial and antifungal effects. In subsequent research, the team tried to encapsulate the antibacterial and antifungal agents with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to address the uneven dispersion issue. However, they discovered that PVA's high viscosity and strong film-forming properties hindered the formation of the antibacterial and antifungal agent, and its addition to plant-based cat litter negatively impacted its clumping speed and strength. Therefore, after further research, the invention team discovered that using PVA to emulsify and encapsulate the antibacterial and antifungal agents in a specific ratio to obtain an antibacterial and antifungal agent, and then adding this to the cat litter, resulted in a final litter with a uniform distribution of the antibacterial and antifungal agents, without affecting the litter's clumping speed and strength.

[0009] With the total amount of antibacterial agent and antifungal agent remaining constant, the emulsification and encapsulation performance of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) for antibacterial agent and antifungal agent requires a certain specific gravity. The weight ratio of PVA, antifungal agent, and antibacterial agent should not be less than 10:(1-2.5):1. If excessive PVA encapsulates the antibacterial agent and antifungal agent, the antibacterial agent and antifungal agent will be difficult to release from the cavity of PVA, affecting the antibacterial and antifungal performance. Therefore, the weight ratio of PVA, antifungal agent, and antibacterial agent should not be higher than 20:(1-2.5):1. To better facilitate the release of antibacterial agent and antifungal agent, more preferably, the weight ratio of PVA, antifungal agent, and antibacterial agent is (10-18):(1-2.5):1. To better facilitate the encapsulation of PVA, more preferably, the weight ratio of PVA, antifungal agent, and antibacterial agent is (12-18):(1-2.5):1. To further improve the anti-mold properties of cat litter, the preferred weight ratio of polyvinyl alcohol, anti-mold agent, and antibacterial agent is (12-18):(1.5-2.5):1.

[0010] Preferably, the molecular structure of the polyvinyl alcohol is as follows: Wherein, R1 and R2 are selected from -H, -OH, and -OOCCH3, and there are only two combinations between R1 and R2: -H and -OH, and -H and -OOCCH3; the sum of n1 and n2 is less than 1000. Preferably, the percentage of hydroxyl groups in the polyvinyl alcohol (OH / (R1+OH) or OH / (R2+OH)) is 80-90%, more preferably 82-88%.

[0011] Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) contains both hydrophilic hydroxyl groups and hydrophobic hydrocarbon groups in its molecular structure, thus reducing the surface tension of aqueous solutions and exhibiting certain emulsifying properties. Our team discovered that when antibacterial and antifungal agents are encapsulated in PVA and added to cat litter, the percentage of hydroxyl groups and the degree of polymerization of PVA significantly affect the clumping speed and strength of the litter. Too high or too low a percentage of hydroxyl groups hinders the dissolution of PVA. The degree of polymerization also affects its performance; a higher degree of polymerization results in higher viscosity and a lower clumping rate. Furthermore, PVA has a strong film-forming property. Therefore, it is necessary to find PVA with a specific percentage of hydroxyl groups and a high degree of polymerization that exhibits good emulsifying and encapsulating properties for antibacterial and antifungal agents without affecting the water absorption and clumping properties of the cat litter itself.

[0012] Preferably, the polyvinyl alcohol is of type 0588, 0585, 0888, or 0885. Specifically, type 0588 represents a degree of polymerization of 500 and a degree of hydrolysis of 88%; type 0585 represents a degree of polymerization of 500 and a degree of hydrolysis of 85%; type 0888 represents a degree of polymerization of 800 and a degree of hydrolysis of 88%; and type 0885 represents a degree of polymerization of 800 and a degree of hydrolysis of 85%.

[0013] Preferably, the antifungal agent is selected from one or more of calcium propionate, sodium benzoate, sodium diacetate, potassium sorbate, dimethyl fumarate, methylparaben, methyl benzimidazole carbamate, n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 3-iodo-2-propargyl butylcarbamate, and 4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one; more preferably, it is selected from one or more of calcium propionate, methylparaben, and 4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one; and even more preferably, it is selected from calcium propionate and n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one.

[0014] Preferably, the antibacterial agent has a halogenated phenol structure, and its molecular structure is as follows: Each X is independently selected from chlorine or bromine, and a is 1, 2 or 3; each Y is independently selected from C1-C4 alkyl or halophenoxy, and b is 1, 2 or 3.

[0015] Preferably, the antibacterial agent is selected from one or more of 5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol, chlorodimethylphenol, and 5-chloro-2-(4-chlorophenoxy)phenol. More preferably, it is 5-chloro-2-(4-chlorophenoxy)phenol, which can be the product of BASF under the trade name Tinosan HP100.

[0016] Preferably, the filler is selected from one or more of α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, and microcrystalline cellulose. More preferably, the filler is selected from one or more of β-cyclodextrin, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and microcrystalline cellulose.

[0017] Secondly, the present invention provides an antibacterial and anti-mildew cat litter, comprising the following components by weight percentage: 40-80% plant fiber, 10-25% corn starch, 2-10% guar gum, 4-12% antibacterial and anti-mildew agent, 1-5% activated carbon, 1-5% bentonite, 1-5% zeolite powder, 0-1% graphene, 0-1% mesoporous silica, and 0-0.5% fragrance.

[0018] Preferably, the plant fiber is selected from one or more of pea fiber, soybean fiber, bamboo fiber, coffee grounds, fruitwood fiber, chestnut fiber, walnut fiber, corn stalk, peanut shell fiber, and pulp fiber.

[0019] Thirdly, the present invention provides a method for preparing antibacterial and anti-mildew cat litter, comprising: (1) Pretreatment: Place polyvinyl alcohol in water at 55-70℃, stir until clear, then gradually add antibacterial agent and antifungal agent. After dissolution, a premixed solution is obtained. (2) Add the filler to the premixed liquid, dry it, and pulverize it to a finer mesh than 100 to obtain an antibacterial and antifungal agent; (3) Mix plant fiber, corn starch, guar gum, activated carbon, bentonite, zeolite powder, graphene, mesoporous silica and fragrance evenly. Add antibacterial and antifungal powder during the mixing process and mix evenly. (4) After the obtained mixture is transferred to a storage silo at 70-75℃, it is extruded into granules and dried at 80-85℃ to obtain antibacterial and mildew-proof cat litter.

[0020] Fourthly, the present invention provides a two-component cat litter product, comprising: Individually packaged antibacterial and anti-mildew cat litter; and Individually packaged cat litter deodorizing powder comprises the following components by weight percentage: 60-95% carbonates and / or bicarbonates, 5-40% silica, 0-10% binder, and 0-10% other additives; wherein a portion of the carbonates and / or bicarbonates are loaded in silica, with a loading amount of 60-80% of the silica.

[0021] Existing cat litter deodorizing powders primarily use inorganic salts (carbonates) as deodorizing agents, which neutralize cat urine odor when applied to the litter surface. However, we found that applying inorganic salts to the litter surface significantly reduces its clumping strength, making the litter brittle and difficult to clean, while also reducing the deodorizing effect of the powder itself. Research revealed that the root cause lies in the fact that the addition of inorganic salts alters the ionic balance and charge properties of the litter's raw materials. This may affect the charge density on the surface of the litter particles, thereby altering the attraction and interaction between particles, increasing repulsion, and weakening clumping. Therefore, this invention loads some inorganic salts onto silica. Silica has a porous structure and a large specific surface area, allowing it to load a certain amount of inorganic salts. This prevents the loaded inorganic salts from directly contacting the litter particles, effectively mitigating the negative impact of inorganic salts on litter clumping. To further reduce the negative impact of inorganic salts on cat litter clumping, an appropriate amount of binder can be added to the deodorizing powder. This provides good adhesion and adsorption, further ensuring that the deodorizing powder's impact on the cat litter's clumping ability is minimized. It can even help the cat litter clump when used in cat litter with poor clumping properties.

[0022] Preferably, the silica has undergone activation treatment, has an average particle size of 30–120 mesh, and a specific surface area of ​​200–350 m². 2 / g, with an oil absorption value of 170~280mL / 100g.

[0023] This invention reveals through experiments that ordinary silica has a weak loading capacity for inorganic salts at room temperature, but its loading capacity can be greatly enhanced after high-temperature activation. Furthermore, the loading capacity of activated silica is generally between 10% and 50%. Under the aforementioned particle size and specific surface area conditions, the loading capacity of activated silica can be significantly improved, fully utilizing the properties of silica to coat and load inorganic salts.

[0024] On the other hand, this invention also discovered that although silica can effectively load inorganic salts, adding it to cat litter deodorizing powder easily generates dust. Therefore, this invention found that by controlling the particle size of silica within the aforementioned range, not only is its loading capacity not affected, but the relatively large particle size also results in less dust generation. However, we subsequently discovered that because silica itself is relatively light, even with optimized particle size during mixing, some wear and tear still occurs, leading to dust generation and a poorer user experience. Ultimately, this invention solves the dust problem by minimizing silica content while ensuring that inorganic salts do not excessively affect the clumping properties of the cat litter; that is, only a portion of the inorganic salts are loaded into the silica (experiments ensured that the content of unloaded inorganic salts did not excessively affect the clumping properties of the cat litter).

[0025] Preferably, the adhesive contains at least a polysaccharide adhesive. Further, the polysaccharide adhesive comprises one or more of guar gum, xanthan gum, locust bean gum, guar gum, and other galactomannan-based plant gums.

[0026] This invention discovers that the type of polysaccharide adhesive significantly affects its adhesive effect. The reason for choosing galactomannan-based plant gums in this invention is that they exhibit the highest viscosity in aqueous solutions with a pH of 6–8. Since the pH of cat urine is approximately 7–7.5, this type of gum has a better ability to clump cat litter under normal cat urine conditions. Furthermore, due to the compatibility of this type of gum with inorganic salts (carbonates and bicarbonates), its aqueous solution shows strong tolerance to most monovalent salt ions, thus maintaining viscosity in inorganic salt environments and aiding in cat litter clumping.

[0027] Preferably, the pH of a 1% aqueous solution of the cat litter deodorizing powder is 7-9.

[0028] The cat litter deodorizing powder of this invention has a suitable pH value, which can neutralize feline urinary tract acid and other acidic odor sources in cat urine in a slightly alkaline environment, and is also less irritating to the paw pads of cats.

[0029] Preferably, the preparation method of the above-mentioned cat litter deodorizing powder includes the following steps: Step 1): Activate the silicon dioxide by heating.

[0030] Step 2): Take a portion of carbonate and / or bicarbonate to prepare a saturated inorganic salt aqueous solution, add activated silica, soak and filter, vacuum dry, reheat to activate, cool, and obtain inorganic salt@silica powder.

[0031] Step 3): Weigh the inorganic salt@silica powder obtained in Step 2) to determine the inorganic salt loading amount. Mix the inorganic salt@silica powder thoroughly with the remaining carbonates and / or bicarbonates, binders and other additives to obtain a cat litter deodorizing powder in the form of a powder mixture.

[0032] In the above process, the functions of the two high-temperature activations are as follows: Step 1) The first activation is to heat and activate silica to change its surface properties, increase its pore structure and surface area, thereby improving its loading capacity and providing more effective adsorption sites for subsequent loading of inorganic salts; Step 2) The second activation helps to improve the interaction between silica particles and inorganic salts, enhance the physical adsorption and binding force between them, thereby forming a more stable and efficient loading system.

[0033] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: (1) In this invention, antibacterial and antifungal agents are emulsified and encapsulated with polyvinyl alcohol of a specific structure in a specific ratio to obtain antibacterial and antifungal agents. After adding them to cat litter, the antibacterial and antifungal agents are evenly distributed in the final cat litter, and the clumping speed and strength of the cat litter are not affected.

[0034] (2) The two-component cat litter product of the present invention includes antibacterial and anti-mildew cat litter and cat litter deodorizing powder. The present invention loads some of the inorganic salts in the cat litter deodorizing powder into silica, which can effectively avoid direct contact between inorganic salts and cat litter particles without affecting the deodorizing effect, thereby effectively reducing the negative impact of inorganic salts on the clumping of cat litter. Attached Figure Description

[0035] Figure 1 The images show the antibacterial effect of cat litter in Example 1, Comparative Example 4, and Comparative Example 5. Figure 2 The images show the anti-mold effect of cat litter in Examples 1, 3, and 5. Detailed Implementation

[0036] The present invention will be further described below with reference to embodiments.

[0037] General Implementation Examples An antibacterial and antifungal agent comprises a fungicide and a fungicide encapsulated in polyvinyl alcohol, and a filler; wherein the weight ratio of polyvinyl alcohol, fungicide, and fungicide is (10-20):(1-2.5):1, and the weight ratio of polyvinyl alcohol and filler is 1:1 / 2 to 1:2; preferably, the weight ratio of polyvinyl alcohol, fungicide, and fungicide is (10-18):(1-2.5):1; more preferably, it is (12-18):(1.5-2.5):1; and the weight ratio of polyvinyl alcohol and filler is 1:1 to 1:2.

[0038] As a preferred embodiment, the molecular structure of polyvinyl alcohol is as follows: Wherein, R1 and R2 are selected from -H, -OH, and -OOCCH3, and there are only two combinations between R1 and R2: -H and -OH, and -H and -OOCCH3; the sum of n1 and n2 is less than 1000. The percentage of hydroxyl groups in polyvinyl alcohol (OH / (R1+OH) or OH / (R2+OH)) is 80-90%, more preferably 82-88%. Most preferably, the polyvinyl alcohol is of type 0588, 0585, 0888, or 0885. Wherein, type 0588 represents a degree of polymerization of 500 and a degree of alcoholysis of 88%; type 0585 represents a degree of polymerization of 500 and a degree of alcoholysis of 85%; type 0888 represents a degree of polymerization of 800 and a degree of alcoholysis of 88%; and type 0885 represents a degree of polymerization of 800 and a degree of alcoholysis of 85%.

[0039] Preferably, the antifungal agent is selected from one or more of calcium propionate, sodium benzoate, sodium diacetate, potassium sorbate, dimethyl fumarate, methylparaben, methyl benzimidazole carbamate, n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 3-iodo-2-propargyl butylcarbamate, and 4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one; more preferably, it is selected from one or more of calcium propionate, methylparaben, and 4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one; and even more preferably, it is selected from calcium propionate and n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one.

[0040] The antibacterial agent has a halogenated phenol structure, and its molecular structure is as follows: Wherein, each X is independently selected from chlorine or bromine, and a is 1, 2, or 3; each Y is independently selected from C1-C4 alkyl or halophenoxy, and b is 1, 2, or 3. Preferably, the antibacterial agent is selected from one or more of 5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol, chlorodimethylphenol, and 5-chloro-2-(4-chlorophenoxy)phenol. More preferably, 5-chloro-2-(4-chlorophenoxy)phenol can be a product of BASF under the trade name Tinosan HP100.

[0041] Preferably, the filler is selected from one or more of α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, and microcrystalline cellulose; more preferably, it is selected from one or more of β-cyclodextrin, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and microcrystalline cellulose.

[0042] An antibacterial and anti-mildew cat litter comprises the following ingredients by weight percentage: 40-80% plant fiber, 10-25% corn starch, 2-10% guar gum, 4-12% antibacterial and anti-mildew agent, 1-5% activated carbon, 1-5% bentonite, 1-5% zeolite powder, 0-1% graphene, 0-1% mesoporous silica, and 0-0.5% fragrance.

[0043] Preferably, the plant fiber is selected from one or more of the following: pea fiber, soybean fiber, bamboo fiber, coffee grounds, fruitwood fiber, chestnut fiber, walnut fiber, corn stalk, peanut shell fiber, and pulp fiber.

[0044] A method for preparing antibacterial and anti-mildew cat litter, comprising: (1) Pretreatment: Place polyvinyl alcohol in water at 55-70℃, stir until clear, then gradually add antibacterial agent and antifungal agent. After dissolution, a premixed solution is obtained. (2) Add the filler to the premixed liquid, dry it, and pulverize it to a finer mesh than 100 to obtain an antibacterial and antifungal agent; (3) Mix plant fiber, corn starch, guar gum, activated carbon, bentonite, zeolite powder, graphene, mesoporous silica and fragrance evenly. Add antibacterial and antifungal powder during the mixing process and mix evenly. (4) After the obtained mixture is transferred to a storage silo at 70-75℃, it is extruded into granules and dried at 80-85℃ to obtain antibacterial and mildew-proof cat litter.

[0045] A two-component cat litter product, comprising packaged antibacterial and anti-mildew cat litter and cat litter deodorizing powder.

[0046] The cat litter deodorizing powder comprises the following components by weight percentage: 60-95% carbonates and / or bicarbonates, 5-40% silica, 0-10% binder, and 0-10% other additives. More preferably: 70-90% carbonates and / or bicarbonates, 10-30% silica, 2-7% binder, and 0-10% other additives; wherein, a portion of the carbonates and / or bicarbonates are loaded into silica, with a loading of 60-80% of the silica, and the pH of a 1% aqueous solution of the cat litter deodorizing powder composition is 7-9.

[0047] Preferably, the silica undergoes activation treatment, resulting in an average particle size of 30–120 mesh and a specific surface area of ​​200–350 m². 2 / g, oil absorption value of 170-280mL / 100g; carbonate is one or both of sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate; bicarbonate is one or both of sodium bicarbonate and potassium bicarbonate; the adhesive contains at least a polysaccharide adhesive, further comprising one or more of guar gum, xanthan gum, locust bean gum, guar gum, and other galactomannan plant gums; other additives include one or more of fragrance, nano zinc oxide, nano silver oxide, nano titanium dioxide, nano silver antibacterial agent, probiotic deodorizer, white oil, p-chloro-m-xylenol, phenylisothiazolinone, and other functional additives.

[0048] The preparation method of the cat litter deodorizing powder composition includes the following steps: Step 1): Activate the silica by heating (200-300℃, 2-5 hours).

[0049] Step 2): Take a portion of carbonate and / or bicarbonate to prepare an 8-35 wt% saturated inorganic salt aqueous solution, add activated silica, soak for 24-36 hours, filter, vacuum dry, reheat and activate (200-300℃, 2-5 hours), cool to obtain inorganic salt@silica powder.

[0050] Step 3): Weigh the inorganic salt@silica powder obtained in Step 2) to determine the inorganic salt loading. Thoroughly mix the inorganic salt@silica powder with the remaining carbonates and / or bicarbonates, binders, and other additives using a mixer to obtain a cat litter deodorizing powder composition in powder form. Preferably, the mixer is a stirring mixer, a plow mixer, a zero-gravity mixer, a V-type mixer, or a three-dimensional oscillating mixer.

[0051] Test methods <Antibacterial Performance Test> 1. Cut the cat litter into 10mm long samples for later use.

[0052] 2. Prepare the culture medium containing bacteria: Weigh 25g of tryptone soybean agar medium, let it solidify, and take 1ml of Staphylococcus aureus bacterial suspension (10... 6 Add (cfu / ml) to the culture medium, shake the petri dish back and forth to ensure the bacterial solution completely and evenly covers the surface, dry for 15 minutes, and set aside.

[0053] 3. Place the cat litter sample from step 1 on the surface of the contaminated culture medium and incubate at 37°C for 24 hours. Measure and record the diameter of the inhibition zone (including the diameter of the cat litter) using calipers. Repeat the experiment three times and take the average.

[0054] <Anti-mold performance test> 1. Preparation of Aspergillus niger spore suspension: Add 10 ml of 0.05% Tween 80 PBS solution to a 6-day culture of Aspergillus niger. Wash off the spores with a sterile cotton swab. Filter the spore suspension through sterile gauze to remove mycelia. Then, bring the spore suspension to a final volume of 40 ml to obtain approximately 10... 6 A spore suspension of a certain concentration was prepared by mixing and then diluting it 100 times with PBS to make 10... 4 Prepare a spore suspension of a certain concentration for later use.

[0055] 2. Inoculation: Use sterile tweezers to add cat litter into a sterile Petri dish. Use a pipette to evenly drop the spore suspension onto the surface of the cat litter. Cover the Petri dish with a lid, seal it with sealing film to maintain humidity, and incubate it in a constant temperature and humidity incubator at 32°C and 85% humidity for 48 hours. Observe the results afterward.

[0056] 3. Evaluation criteria for anti-mildew performance: A No growth of Aspergillus niger was observed. B Scattered, localized mold growth was observed. C A large amount of Aspergillus niger growth was clearly observed. <Clumping Strength Test> Spread a cat litter sample in a sample container to a thickness of approximately 8–10 cm. Using a pipette (pipette or other measuring instrument), draw 20 mL of 1% sodium chloride solution at 36–40°C and transfer it to a stoppered burette. Adjust the burette so that the outlet is approximately 3 cm from the sample surface. Open the burette to allow the solution to flow out as quickly as possible. After all the solution has flowed out for 60 seconds, remove the clumped sample and weigh it (m). Then, drop the sample freely from a height of 60 cm onto a marble or other non-elastic tabletop. Pick up the largest clump of cat litter and weigh it (m1). The clumping strength is calculated using the following formula: In the formula: Q – Agglomeration strength (%); m4 — the mass of the largest agglomerate (g); m — weight of the clumping before the drop (g).

[0057] The formulations, cat litter preparation methods, and evaluation results of each example / comparative example are as follows: <Clumping Speed ​​Test> Take 10g of the cat litter sample to be tested and place it in a 100mL glass measuring cup. Use a separatory funnel to drop 20mL of 40℃ warm water drop by drop at a uniform rate. Record the time required for the water to be completely absorbed (completely absorbed means that no water drips when the beaker is inverted). Perform the test three times and take the average value.

[0058] Examples 1-6 Table 1 shows the composition of the antibacterial and antifungal agents in Examples 1-6, based on 100 parts by weight. Table 1. Composition of antibacterial and antifungal agents in Examples 1-6 Preparation methods of antibacterial and anti-mildew cat litter in Examples 1-6 Preparation of antibacterial and antifungal agents: Taking Example 1 as an example, the above proportions were followed. Three parts of type 0588 polyvinyl alcohol were added to 93.25 parts of pure water, heated to 60°C, and stirred until clear. 0.5 parts of n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one and 0.25 parts of 5-chloro-2-(4-chlorophenoxy)phenol were added, and after complete dissolution, three parts of β-cyclodextrin were added and stirred until homogeneous. The mixture was dried at 85°C for 8 hours, and then pulverized to a mesh size of 100 to obtain the antibacterial and antifungal agent powder. The preparation methods for Examples 2-5 are the same as in Example 1.

[0059] Preparation of cat litter: Take 40 parts pea fiber, 25 parts soybean fiber, 15 parts corn starch, 5 parts guar gum, 2 parts activated carbon, 2 parts bentonite, 2 parts zeolite powder, 0.5 parts graphene, 0.4 parts mesoporous silica and 0.1 parts fragrance and mix them evenly. During the mixing process, add 8 parts antibacterial and antifungal agent, transfer to a 75℃ storage silo, and then extrude it into granules. The resulting cat litter granules are dried at 85℃ to finally obtain cat litter with antifungal and deodorizing functions.

[0060] The test results are as follows: Table 2. Cat Litter Performance Test Results Antibacterial zone diameter / mm 33.4 32.0 33.0 32.2 31.8 32.7 Anti-mildew properties A A A A A A Agglomeration strength / % 92.5 91.0 92.4 92.1 91.2 91.7 clumping speed / s 9.3 8.5 8.6 8.9 9.2 8.5 From the table above and Figure 1 and 2 It can be seen that the cat litter produced in Examples 1-6 all have good antibacterial and anti-mildew properties, and the cat litter has good water absorption and clumping strength.

[0061] Examples 7-10, Comparative Examples 1-2 Table 3. Composition of antibacterial and antifungal agents in Examples 7-10 and Comparative Examples 1-2 Preparation methods of antibacterial and anti-mildew cat litter in Examples 7-10 and Comparative Examples 1-2 Preparation of antibacterial and antifungal agents: Taking Example 7 as an example, the above proportions were followed. 3 parts of type 0588 polyvinyl alcohol were added to 91.25 parts of pure water, heated to 70°C, and stirred until clear. 0.5 parts of n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one and 0.25 parts of 5-chloro-2-(4-chlorophenoxy)phenol were added, and after complete dissolution, 5 parts of β-cyclodextrin were added and stirred until homogeneous. The mixture was dried at 80°C for 8 hours, and then pulverized to 100 mesh to obtain the antibacterial and antifungal agent powder. The preparation methods for the antibacterial and antifungal agents in Examples 8-10 and Comparative Examples 1-2 were the same as in Example 7.

[0062] Preparation of cat litter: Take 26 parts pea fiber, 17 parts corn stalk, 12 parts soybean fiber, 12 parts coffee grounds, 12 parts corn starch, 5 parts guar gum, 2.5 parts activated carbon, 2 parts bentonite, 1.2 parts zeolite powder, 0.1 parts graphene, 0.1 parts mesoporous silica and 0.1 parts fragrance and mix them evenly. During the mixing process, add 10 parts antibacterial and antifungal agent, transfer to a 75℃ storage silo, and then extrude it into granules. The resulting cat litter granules are dried at 85℃ to finally obtain cat litter with antifungal and deodorizing functions.

[0063] The test results are as follows: Table 4. Cat Litter Performance Test Results Antibacterial zone diameter / mm 33.2 33.7 32.0 32.6 30.4 29.5 Anti-mildew properties A A A A A A Agglomeration strength / % 92.9 92.1 92.6 91.8 78.5 81.3 clumping speed / s 8.3 8.4 8.0 8.5 12.5 11.8 The table above shows that the cat litter prepared in Examples 7-10 has excellent performance, and the cat litter prepared by different combinations of antifungal and antibacterial agents still performs well. Through Comparative Examples 1-2, it was found that polyvinyl alcohol with a higher degree of polymerization showed a significant decrease in clumping strength and clumping rate within the same water absorption time. It is speculated that this may be because the water dissolution rate of polyvinyl alcohol with a higher degree of polymerization is reduced, and some hydrophobic groups are exposed, resulting in a certain degree of water repellency.

[0064] Examples 11-14, Comparative Examples 3-4 Table 5. Composition of antibacterial and antifungal agents in Examples 11-14 and Comparative Examples 3-4 Preparation methods of antibacterial and anti-mildew cat litter in Examples 11-14 and Comparative Examples 3-4 Preparation of antibacterial and antifungal agents: Taking Example 11 as an example, the above proportions were followed. Three parts of type 0588 polyvinyl alcohol were added to 93.25 parts of pure water, heated to 70°C, and stirred until clear. 0.5 parts of n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one and 0.25 parts of 5-chloro-2-(4-chlorophenoxy)phenol were added, and after complete dissolution, three parts of hydroxypropyl cellulose were added and stirred until homogeneous. The mixture was dried at 80°C for 8 hours, and then pulverized to a mesh size of 100 to obtain the antibacterial and antifungal agent powder. The preparation methods of the antibacterial and antifungal agents in Examples 11-14 and Comparative Examples 3-4 were the same as in Example 7.

[0065] Preparation of cat litter: Take 28 parts pea fiber, 18 parts corn stalk, 14 parts soybean fiber, 13 parts coffee grounds, 12 parts corn starch, 5 parts guar gum, 2.5 parts activated carbon, 2 parts bentonite, 1.2 parts zeolite powder, 0.1 parts graphene, 0.1 parts mesoporous silica and 0.1 parts fragrance and mix them evenly. During the mixing process, add 4 parts antibacterial and antifungal agent, transfer to a 75℃ storage silo, and then extrude and granulate the mixture. The resulting cat litter granules are dried at 85℃ to obtain cat litter with antifungal and deodorizing functions.

[0066] The test results are as follows: Table 6. Cat Litter Performance Test Results The results of Examples 11-14 in the table above show that even with a lower proportion of antibacterial and antifungal agents, the cat litter still exhibits good antibacterial, antifungal, and clumping properties; while comparative examples 3-4 show only average performance. Figure 1 and 2 When excessive amounts of antibacterial and antifungal agents are added, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) cannot effectively emulsify and encapsulate them, leading to uneven mixing during cat litter preparation and a decrease in antifungal performance. Furthermore, performance is even worse when excessive PVA is added and insufficient amounts of antibacterial and antifungal agents are added.

[0067] Examples 15-17, Comparative Examples 5-7 Table 7. Composition of antibacterial and antifungal agents in Examples 15-17 and Comparative Examples 5-7 Preparation methods of antibacterial and anti-mildew cat litter in Examples 15-17 and Comparative Examples 5-7 Preparation of antibacterial and antifungal agents: Examples 15-17 are prepared in the same way as the examples above; Comparative Examples 5-7 do not contain polyvinyl alcohol or 4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-4-isothiazoline-3-copper or dichloromethylphenol.

[0068] Preparation of cat litter: Take 25 parts corn stalks, 20 parts fruitwood fiber, 15 parts corn starch, 12 parts bamboo fiber, 10 parts pea fiber, 8 parts guar gum, 2 parts activated carbon, 1 part bentonite, 0.8 parts zeolite powder, and 0.2 parts fragrance and mix them evenly. During the mixing process, add 6 parts antibacterial and antifungal agent, transfer it to a 75℃ storage silo, and then extrude it into granules. The resulting cat litter granules are dried at 85℃ to finally obtain cat litter with antifungal and deodorizing functions.

[0069] The test results are as follows: Table 8. Cat Litter Performance Test Results The table above shows that the cat litter prepared in Examples 15-17 exhibits excellent performance; meanwhile, Comparative Example 5 reveals that the cat litter without added polyvinyl alcohol shows a significant decrease in both antibacterial and antifungal properties. Figure 1 and 2 The performance of the product was reduced due to uneven mixing of the antibacterial and antifungal agents. Comparative examples 6 and 7 showed that the performance was significantly reduced when no antifungal agent or antibacterial agent was added; however, the water absorption and clumping strength were not significantly different.

[0070] Examples 18-20 Table 9 Examples of Combination Use of Cat Litter and Deodorizing Powder Preparation methods of antibacterial and antifungal agents and cat litter: Same as the above examples. Preparation method of deodorizing powder: Silica was activated in a muffle furnace at 200°C for 2 hours. An 8% aqueous solution of bicarbonate (80% by weight of silica) was prepared, and the activated silica was added. After soaking for 24 hours, the solution was filtered, vacuum dried, and then activated again in a muffle furnace at 200°C for 3 hours. The solution was then cooled in a desiccator to obtain a bicarbonate / carbonate / silica solid. Finally, the obtained solid was mixed thoroughly with the remaining bicarbonate, guar gum, nano-zinc oxide, and fragrance in a mixer.

[0071] <Clumping Strength Test> When using antibacterial and anti-mold cat litter and deodorizing powder together, spread the cat litter to a thickness of 8-10cm, then add 100g of deodorizing powder and spread it evenly on top of the cat litter. Subsequent testing methods are the same as above.

[0072] <Odor Deodorization Performance Test> The cat litter and deodorizing powder composition of the example was used as a test sample. The cat litter was spread in a layer 8-10cm thick, and then 100g of deodorizing powder was spread on the surface of the cat litter. Then 2g of cat urine odor source was added to the cat litter box and aged for 7 days.

[0073] During the aging process, 10 members of the odor assessment team conducted subjective olfactory evaluations daily, using the criteria outlined in Table 10. The final average of all scores was then taken as the overall odor-removing effect of the product.

[0074] Table 10 Sensory Evaluation Criteria for Deodorizing Effect 1 The odor was extremely strong. 2 Strong odor 3 The odor is quite strong. 4 It has a distinct odor 5 The odor is mild. 6 Mild odor 7 No smell The test results are as follows: Table 11 Performance Test Results of Cat Litter and Deodorizing Powder Used Together In the above embodiments, antibacterial and mildew-resistant cat litter and deodorizing powder were used in combination. After testing the clumping strength and deodorizing effect, the results showed that the deodorizing powder composition had little effect on the clumping performance of the antibacterial and mildew-resistant cat litter; while the deodorizing effect was excellent, especially in Example 20, which contained cat litter made from coffee grounds and corn stalks, and its deodorizing effect was further improved.

[0075] Unless otherwise specified, the raw materials and equipment used in this invention are all commonly used in the field; unless otherwise specified, the methods used in this invention are all conventional methods in the field.

[0076] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Any simple modifications, alterations, and equivalent transformations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention shall still fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An antibacterial and antifungal agent, characterized in that: It includes a mildew inhibitor and a bacteriostatic agent encapsulated in polyvinyl alcohol, as well as a filler; wherein the weight ratio of polyvinyl alcohol, mildew inhibitor and bacteriostatic agent is (10-20):(1-2.5):1, and the weight ratio of polyvinyl alcohol and filler is 1:1 / 2 to 1:2; The molecular structure of polyvinyl alcohol is as follows: ； Among them, R1 and R2 are selected from -H, -OH, and -OOCCH3, and there are only two combinations between R1 and R2: -H and -OH, and -H and -OOCCH3; the sum of n1 and n2 is less than 1000; the proportion of hydroxyl groups in polyvinyl alcohol (OH / (R1+OH) or OH / (R2+OH)) is 80-90%; The antifungal agent is selected from one or more of the following: calcium propionate, methylparaben, benzimidazole carbamate, n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 3-iodo-2-propargyl butylcarbamate, and 4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one. The molecular structure of the antibacterial agent is as follows: ； Each X is independently selected from chlorine or bromine, and a is 1, 2 or 3; each Y is independently selected from C1-C4 alkyl or halophenoxy, and b is 1, 2 or 3; The filler is selected from one or more of α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, and microcrystalline cellulose.

2. The antibacterial and antifungal agent as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The weight ratio of the polyvinyl alcohol, antibacterial agent, and antifungal agent is (10-18):(1-2.5):

1.

3. The antibacterial and antifungal agent as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The weight ratio of the polyvinyl alcohol, antibacterial agent, and antifungal agent is (12-18):(1.5-2.5):

1.

4. The antibacterial and antifungal agent as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The polyvinyl alcohol contains 82-88% hydroxyl groups (OH / (R1+OH) or (OH / (R2+OH)).

5. The antibacterial and antifungal agent as described in any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that: The antifungal agent is selected from one or more of calcium propionate and n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one.

6. The antibacterial and antifungal agent according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that: The antibacterial agent is selected from one or more of 5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol, dichloromethylphenol, and 5-chloro-2-(4-chlorophenoxy)phenol.

7. The antibacterial and antifungal agent according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that: The filler is selected from one or more of β-cyclodextrin, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and microcrystalline cellulose.

8. An antibacterial and anti-mildew cat litter, characterized in that: It comprises the following components by weight percentage: 40-80% plant fiber, 10-25% corn starch, 2-10% guar gum, 4-12% antibacterial and antifungal agent as described in any one of claims 1-7, 1-5% activated carbon, 1-5% bentonite, 1-5% zeolite powder, 0-1% graphene, 0-1% mesoporous silica, and 0-0.5% fragrance.

9. The antibacterial and anti-mildew cat litter as described in claim 8, characterized in that: The plant fiber is selected from one or more of the following: pea fiber, soybean fiber, bamboo fiber, coffee grounds, fruitwood fiber, chestnut fiber, walnut fiber, corn stalk, peanut shell fiber, and pulp fiber.

10. A method for preparing the antibacterial and anti-mildew cat litter as described in claim 8 or 9, characterized in that... include: (1) Pretreatment: Place polyvinyl alcohol in water at 55-70℃, stir until clear, then gradually add antibacterial agent and antifungal agent. After dissolution, a premixed solution is obtained. (2) Add the filler to the premixed liquid, dry it, and pulverize it to obtain an antibacterial and antifungal agent; (3) Mix plant fiber, corn starch, guar gum, activated carbon, bentonite, zeolite powder, graphene, mesoporous silica and fragrance evenly. Add antibacterial and antifungal powder during the mixing process and mix evenly. (4) The obtained mixture is extruded into granules and dried to obtain antibacterial and mildew-proof cat litter.

11. A two-component cat litter product, characterized in that... include: The antibacterial and antifungal cat litter as described in claim 8 or 9, or the antibacterial and antifungal cat litter obtained by the preparation method described in claim 10, is individually packaged. Individually packaged cat litter deodorizing powder; The composition comprises the following components by mass percentage: 60-95% carbonates and / or bicarbonates, 5-40% silica, 0-10% binder, and 0-10% other additives; wherein a portion of the carbonates and / or bicarbonates are loaded in silica, with a loading amount of 60-80% of the silica.

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