Cat litter and method of making same

Abstract

The application discloses cat litter and a preparation method thereof. The cat litter is a core-shell structure, and comprises the following components in mass fractions: non-food plant fibers: 100 parts, a clumping factor: 0.6-12 parts, a water absorption factor: 0.6-12 parts, a breeding improvement factor: 0.13-2.23 parts, a deodorization factor: 0.13-2.23 parts, and a mildew-proof factor: 0.13-2.23 parts; the surface shell layer comprises the following components in mass fractions: non-food plant fibers: 100 parts, a clumping factor: 99.5-600 parts, a water absorption factor: 3.33-100 parts, a breeding improvement factor: 33.3-300 parts, a deodorization factor: 3.33-100 parts, and a mildew-proof factor: 0.66-20 parts; and the mass ratio of the surface shell layer to the core is 1:(4-5). The cat litter has improved water absorption, clumping, low dust, water solubility, antibacterial and deodorization functions, and can be adapted to pet bedding of various intelligent cat toilets.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of pet cleaning products technology, specifically relating to a cat litter and its preparation method. Background Technology

[0002] To make it easier for cat owners to clean up after their cats, freeing their hands and avoiding the strong odor released during manual scooping, cat litter has emerged on the market. Cat litter is used by cat owners to bury their cats' feces and urine, and generally has good absorbency. Cat litter is classified according to its chemical properties and raw materials into organic and inorganic types. Organic cat litter mainly includes paper litter and pea pulp litter; inorganic cat litter includes bentonite litter and crystal litter.

[0003] Paper-based cat litter has poor absorbency and clumping ability. Pea pulp cat litter contains pea and soybean pulp, which contain easily perishable components such as protein and fat. These components, when present in high humidity environments, can easily breed a rotten odor, failing to deodorize and instead becoming a source of unpleasant smells. Bentonite cat litter's main drawback is dust; excessive dust can easily cause urinary tract and respiratory infections in cats if not properly managed. Crystal cat litter does not clump easily, has large granules, is uncomfortable, and inconvenient to use, as it cannot be directly flushed down the toilet. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, this application provides a cat litter and a method for preparing the same, aiming to provide a pet litter that is easy to absorb water, has good clumping properties, is dust-free, has good water solubility, has antibacterial and deodorizing functions, and can be adapted to various smart cat toilets.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a cat litter with a core-shell structure, comprising:

[0006] The core, by mass parts, comprises the following components: non-grain plant fiber: 100 parts; clumping factor: 0.6–12 parts; water-absorbing factor: 0.6–12 parts; aquaculture improvement factor: 0.13–2.23 parts; deodorizing factor: 0.13–2.23 parts; and anti-mildew factor: 0.13–2.23 parts; and

[0007] The outer shell, which covers the core, comprises the following components by mass parts: non-grain plant fiber: 100 parts, clumping factor: 99.5–600 parts, water-absorbing factor: 3.33–100 parts, aquaculture improvement factor: 33.3–300 parts, deodorizing factor: 3.33–100 parts, and anti-mildew factor: 0.66–20 parts;

[0008] The mass ratio of the shell to the core is 1:(4-5).

[0009] According to an embodiment of one aspect of this application, the cat litter satisfies at least one of the following conditions:

[0010] The moisture content of cat litter is 5% to 10%;

[0011] Cat litter can pass through a 10-mesh filter sieve;

[0012] The dust content of cat litter is ≤0.05%;

[0013] The bulk density of cat litter is 280-400 g / L;

[0014] The cat litter is stick-shaped, and the core is also stick-shaped. The diameter of the stick is 2-3.5mm; the ratio of the length to the diameter of the stick is (1-3):1.

[0015] The thickness of the outer casing layer is 0.5mm to 3mm.

[0016] According to an embodiment of one aspect of this application, non-grain plant fibers satisfy at least one of the following conditions:

[0017] Non-grain plant fibers include one or more of the following: sugarcane bagasse fiber, bamboo fiber, corn cob fiber, eucalyptus fiber, giant reed fiber, straw fiber, dragon's beard grass fiber, and bamboo shoot shell fiber.

[0018] According to one embodiment of this application, the particle size of non-grain plant fibers in cat litter passes through an 80-100 mesh sieve.

[0019] According to an embodiment of one aspect of this application, the clumping factor includes one or more of whey protein, sodium alginate, corn protein, montmorillonite, carboxymethyl cellulose and its derivatives, guar gum, native starch, pregelatinized starch, and gelatin.

[0020] According to an embodiment of one aspect of this application, the water-absorbing factor includes one or more of polyacrylate, starch acrylate polymer, starch-acrylonitrile graft copolymer, acrylamide-acrylonitrile-acrylic acid terpolymer, polyacrylamide and its derivatives, and polyvinyl alcohol.

[0021] According to one embodiment of this application, the aquaculture improvement factor includes one or more of attapulgite, polyacrylamide-attapulgite composite adsorbent, high-purity nano-modified montmorillonite, plant essential oil, hydrated sodium aluminosilicate, diatomaceous earth, and zeolite.

[0022] According to one embodiment of this application, the deodorizing agent includes one or more of the following: alumina, hydrophilic modified ultrafine silica, baking soda, nano zinc oxide, and nano titanium dioxide.

[0023] According to an embodiment of one aspect of this application, the antifungal agent includes one or more of the following: esterified dextromannan, hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate, silver-loaded zirconium phosphate antibacterial powder, copper-loaded phosphate antibacterial powder, organic zinc ion antibacterial powder, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, 4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-3-isothiazolinone, 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, and N-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one.

[0024] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a method for preparing cat litter according to the first aspect, the method comprising:

[0025] The first raw material for providing the core comprises, by mass parts, the following components: the core components in the first aspect cat litter and 120 to 100 parts of water;

[0026] A second raw material for the outer shell layer is provided, the second raw material comprising, by mass parts, the following components: the components of the outer shell layer in the first aspect cat litter and 133 to 1000 parts of water;

[0027] The first raw material is mixed and stirred to obtain a first mixture.

[0028] The first mixture is granulated and first sieved to obtain the core intermediate product;

[0029] The second raw material is mixed and stirred to obtain a surface layer mixture.

[0030] The core intermediate product is moistened, and then the moistened core intermediate product is wrapped with a shell mixture to prepare a coating mixture;

[0031] The mixture was subjected to a second sieve, dried, and a third sieve in sequence to obtain cat litter.

[0032] According to an embodiment of one aspect of this application, the preparation method satisfies at least one of the following conditions:

[0033] The initial stirring speed is 5-850 r / min, and the initial stirring time is 0.5-5 minutes;

[0034] The rotation speed during granulation is 800–1000 r / min;

[0035] The second stirring speed is 0-1500 r / min, and the second stirring time is 0.5-3 minutes;

[0036] The water content of the kernel intermediate is less than 45%;

[0037] The core intermediate product is rod-shaped, with a diameter controlled between 2 and 3.5 mm, and the length to diameter ratio of the core intermediate product is (1 to 3): 1.

[0038] The moisture content of the outer shell mixture is less than 50%;

[0039] The equipment rotates at a speed of 30–60 r / min during packaging, and the packaging time is 2–6 minutes.

[0040] The moisture content of the packaged mixture is below 45%;

[0041] The particle size m of the product after the second sieving is: 5 mesh < n < 8 mesh;

[0042] The particle size n of the product after the third sieving is: 8 mesh < n < 12 mesh, which can be selected as 10 mesh;

[0043] The drying temperature is 65–75℃;

[0044] After drying, the product is polished and shaped. The polishing speed is 30-60 r / min and the polishing time is 15-30 min.

[0045] The beneficial effects of this application include at least the following:

[0046] 1. The cat litter of this application comprises a core and a shell layer, which respectively include non-food plant fiber, clumping agent, absorbent agent, breeding improvement agent, deodorizing agent, and anti-mold agent. These components work synergistically to improve the litter's clumping and absorbency, effectively separating urine from the clean, unclumped litter. This prevents waste of unused litter and reduces the likelihood of odor and mold growth in the clumped feces. Furthermore, the use of non-food plant fiber as the main raw material gives the litter good water solubility, allowing clumped litter to be flushed directly down the toilet after use.

[0047] 2. The cat litter of this application includes a core and a shell layer, which respectively include non-grain plant fibers. Compared with bentonite cat litter, tofu / bentonite mixed cat litter and tofu cat litter, the cat litter of this application has the characteristics of being lightweight and having a low specific gravity, which facilitates the storage, transportation and replacement of cat litter.

[0048] 3. The cat litter of this application uses a shell layer to wrap the core, and the mass ratio of the core to the shell layer is within a suitable range. On the one hand, this is beneficial to the cohesiveness of the cat litter and the reduction of dust rate. On the other hand, it is also convenient for the cat litter to cohede after absorbing moisture and to wrap the cat litter feces. In conjunction with related processes, the dust content of plant fiber cat litter is strictly controlled. Compared with bentonite cat litter, tofu / bentonite mixed cat litter and tofu cat litter, it has the characteristics of ultra-low dust, which is beneficial to the respiratory health of pets and owners. Attached Figure Description

[0049] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the implementation regulations of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments of this application will be briefly introduced below. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0050] Figure 1 A physical image of the cat litter of Embodiment 1 of this application is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0051] To make the purpose, technical solution, and beneficial technical effects of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with embodiments. It should be understood that the implementation details described in this specification are merely for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0052] For simplicity, this application only explicitly discloses some numerical ranges. However, any lower limit can be combined with any upper limit to form a range not explicitly stated; and any lower limit can be combined with other lower limits to form a range not explicitly stated, just as any upper limit can be combined with any other upper limit to form a range not explicitly stated. Furthermore, although not explicitly stated, every point or individual value between the endpoints of the range is included within that range. Therefore, each point or individual value can be used as its own lower or upper limit and combined with any other point or individual value or with other lower or upper limits to form a range not explicitly stated.

[0053] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise stated, "above" and "below" include the stated number, and "several" in "one or more" means two or more.

[0054] The foregoing description of this application is not intended to describe every disclosed implementation or method. Instead, the following description provides more specific examples of exemplary embodiments. Throughout the application, guidance is provided through a series of embodiments, which can be used in various combinations. The examples listed are representative only and should not be construed as exhaustive.

[0055] During the process of cleaning cat feces by rotating the built-in grid plate in the smart cat litter box, the cat litter granules will flow as the grid plate rotates. The reason why the granules flow is essentially due to the imbalance of forces on the granules. Analysis of the forces on the granules shows that the forces acting on the granules during the flow process include gravity, the adhesive force between the granules, friction, and electrostatic force. The forces that have the greatest impact on the flow of the granules are gravity and the adhesive force between the granules.

[0056] The factors influencing the flowability of cat litter granules are complex. Studies have found that the particle size distribution, shape, and sphericity of the granules significantly affect their flowability. In addition, factors such as moisture content, electrostatic voltage, porosity, bulk density, and internal friction coefficient also influence granule flowability. Analyzing these influencing factors is crucial for employing scientific methods to improve the flowability of granule aggregates.

[0057] This application provides a cat litter comprising a core and a shell layer. The composition and mass ratio of the core and shell layer affect the flowability of the cat litter, enabling it to be freely adapted to various smart cat litters on the market. This cat litter achieves the goal of universal applicability to smart cat litters, enabling the clean separation of clumped litter and litter containing feces from clean, unclumped litter, preventing waste of unused litter, and reducing the likelihood of feces clumping in the clean litter, thus minimizing odor accumulation.

[0058] cat litter

[0059] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a cat litter with a core-shell structure, comprising:

[0060] The core, by mass parts, comprises the following components: non-grain plant fiber: 100 parts; clumping factor: 0.6–12 parts; water-absorbing factor: 0.6–12 parts; aquaculture improvement factor: 0.13–2.23 parts; deodorizing factor: 0.13–2.23 parts; and anti-mildew factor: 0.13–2.23 parts; and

[0061] The outer shell, which covers the core, comprises the following components by mass parts: non-grain plant fiber: 100 parts, clumping factor: 99.5–600 parts, water-absorbing factor: 3.33–100 parts, aquaculture improvement factor: 33.3–300 parts, deodorizing factor: 3.33–100 parts, and anti-mildew factor: 0.66–20 parts;

[0062] The mass ratio of the shell to the core is 1:(4-5).

[0063] According to the embodiments of this application, the cat litter of this application is differentiated in its core and outer shell layers. The outer shell layer has a suitable mass fraction of clumping factor, which is beneficial for the cat litter to clump during preparation. When the cat litter is used, the clumping factor in the outer shell layer, under the action of the absorbent factor in the outer shell layer, helps the cat litter absorb moisture from cat urine and feces, thereby clumping and avoiding contamination of other cat litter. When the absorbent factor in the outer shell layer absorbs moisture from cat urine and feces, the suitable mass fraction of non-grain plant fiber and absorbent factor in the core layer work together to help retain the absorbed moisture. By selecting a suitable mass ratio of the outer shell layer to the core, a pet bedding material with absorbent, clumping, antibacterial and deodorizing functions and compatible with various smart cat toilets is prepared.

[0064] The outer shell layer of cat litter has excellent water absorption and clumping properties, providing excellent water absorption performance and preventing cat urine from quickly seeping to the bottom of the litter box, making it inconvenient to clean. At the same time, it provides good quick clumping and excellent clumping drop strength.

[0065] The core of cat litter is made with high hardness through the selection of raw materials, control of moisture content and weight-increasing modification. The core and the outer shell have a suitable mass ratio, which provides the cat litter with high main body hardness, main body specific gravity and excellent shape support.

[0066] The cat litter of this application, made primarily of plant fiber, is characterized by being dust-free, safe and pollution-free, biodegradable, made from natural and renewable raw materials, rapidly absorbent, strongly clumping, deodorizing, and universally applicable to various smart cat litter boxes.

[0067] The cat litter described in this application has the functions of water absorption, clumping, antibacterial and deodorizing, and can be adapted to various smart cat toilets.

[0068] In some optional implementations, the sphericity of the cat litter meets the following requirements: the cumulative distribution rate of particles with a roundness value greater than or equal to 0.7 is greater than or equal to 88%; the cumulative distribution rate of particles with a roundness value less than or equal to 0.3 is less than or equal to 1.5%. By controlling the sphericity of the cat litter, friction and adhesion between cat litter particles are reduced, the flowability index of the cat litter particles is improved, and the probability of particle bridging is reduced to zero. The dust content of the cat litter is strictly controlled through multi-stage and multiple screenings to eliminate the stickiness of particles during the flow process caused by fine dust, thereby improving the flowability index of the cat litter particles.

[0069] The relationship between particle shape, particle size, and particle flowability was analyzed. Spherical particles have the smallest contact area with each other and therefore have the best flowability, followed by cubic particles. Other irregularly shaped particles have moderate flowability. Plate-like, dendritic, and needle-like particles have a large number of planar contact points on their surfaces and shear forces between irregular particles, so their flowability is poor.

[0070] According to the embodiments of this application, the mass ratio of the outer shell layer to the core is within the above-mentioned range, which controls the bulk density of the cat litter to be within a suitable range. This reduces the problem in related technologies where cat litter, due to its light weight and low specific gravity, does not slide down from the bottom of the litter box to the direction of rotation during the rotation of the smart cat litter box, resulting in poor fluidity and low grid passage. The problem is solved by using a suitable density.

[0071] In some alternative implementations, the bulk density of the cat litter is 280-400 g / L.

[0072] According to the embodiments of this application, compared to the bulk density of tofu cat litter (approximately 500-600 g / L), the bulk density of tofu / bentonite mixed cat litter (approximately 700-800 g / L), and the bulk density of bentonite cat litter (up to 1000 g / L), the bulk density of the plant fiber cat litter of this invention is only 280-400 g / L. The lightweight and low specific gravity of this application facilitates the storage, handling, and replacement of cat litter.

[0073] In some alternative implementations, the moisture content of the cat litter is 5% to 10%.

[0074] According to the embodiments of this application, the moisture content of the cat litter is within the aforementioned range. On the one hand, this improves the comfort of the cat litter when in contact with the cat; on the other hand, it improves the clumping properties of the various components in the cat litter, giving it a certain amount of water absorption capacity, which facilitates the absorption of moisture from cat feces to achieve clumping. Furthermore, the moisture content within the aforementioned range reduces the static electricity caused by excessively dry finished cat litter granules, leading to mutual attraction and adhesion between granules, thus increasing the flowability index of the cat litter granules. This enhances the flowability of the cat litter during the intelligent cat litter box's rotating cleaning process and improves the passage of unclumped cleaning cat litter through the grid's perforated spaces.

[0075] In some alternative implementations, the cat litter passes through a 10-mesh sieve. Alternatively, the cat litter can pass through a sieve of any value or combination thereof, such as 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50 mesh.

[0076] Cat litter that can pass through a 10-mesh filter can be understood as follows: the pore size of a 10-mesh filter is typically around 2.00–3.5 mm. A 20-mesh filter typically has a pore size of approximately 1.00 mm. If this cat litter can pass through 20-mesh and 25-mesh filters, it will certainly also pass through a 10-mesh filter. Cat litter that passes through a 10-mesh filter is suitable for use in smart litter boxes where it passes through the pores between the grid panels.

[0077] According to the embodiments of this application, the cat litter passes through a 10-mesh filter sieve, and its particle size meets the above conditions. The flowability of non-grain plant fibers in the cat litter can be improved by adjusting the raw materials and forming process at each stage of cat litter forming. This allows clean, unclumped cat litter to be retained in the gaps of the grid plate in the smart cat toilet, preventing waste of unused cat litter. Clumped cat litter containing cat feces can be directly discharged, which can be directly discharged into the toilet or other sewers. Its good flowability will not cause blockage.

[0078] In some alternative implementations, the dust content of the cat litter is ≤0.05%.

[0079] According to the embodiments of this application, the dust content of the cat litter is within the above-mentioned range, which is beneficial to providing a clean and comfortable environment for cats, reducing the impact of dust on the cat's urinary and respiratory systems, and is beneficial to the cat's health.

[0080] In some alternative implementations, the bulk density of the cat litter is 280-400 g / L.

[0081] Bulk density refers to the density of a mass of granular or powdered materials packed together under specific conditions. It is usually expressed as the ratio of mass to volume, and the unit is typically grams per cubic centimeter (g / cm³). 3 or kilograms per cubic meter (kg / m³) 3 ).

[0082] In some alternative implementations, the cat litter is rod-shaped, the core is rod-shaped, the diameter of the rod is 2 to 3.5 mm; the length-to-diameter ratio of the rod is (1 to 3):1; and the thickness of the outer shell layer is 0.5 mm to 3 mm.

[0083] According to the embodiments of this application, the cat litter is rod-shaped, the core is rod-shaped, and the diameter of the rod is 2 to 3.5 mm; the ratio of the length to the diameter of the rod is (1 to 3): 1; and the thickness of the outer shell layer is 0.5 mm to 3 mm. The above-mentioned shape, the ratio of the length to the diameter of the rod, and the thickness of the outer shell layer of the cat litter can adapt to the airflow direction of the cat litter in the smart cat toilet, so as to completely separate the cat litter clumped with urine and the cat litter containing feces from the unused clean cat litter, and to avoid wasting unused clean cat litter.

[0084] According to the embodiments of this application, the size and shape of cat litter particles are controlled by the device to improve the sphericity of the cat litter particles; the uniformity of the shape and size of the cat litter particles is improved by wrapping and solidifying the cat litter surface, thereby improving the sphericity of the cat litter particles and contributing to the improvement of the flowability index of the cat litter particles.

[0085] According to the embodiments of this application, the particle size, shape, inter-particle interaction, and water content of the cat litter affect its flowability. By controlling the size of the perforated holes on the smart cat litter grid, the size and size distribution of the cat litter particles are controlled, achieving the goal that the cat litter of this application can freely adapt to various smart cat litters on the market and that the cat litter is universally applicable to smart cat litters. This achieves the goal of cleaning and separating clumped cat litter containing urine and feces from clean, unclumped cat litter, preventing waste of unused cat litter, and making it less likely for clumped cat feces to remain in the clean cat litter, thus avoiding odor accumulation.

[0086] As an example of this application, the cat litter comprises: a core, comprising, by weight parts: 100 parts of non-grain plant fiber, 0.6-8 parts of clumping factor, 0.6-8 parts of absorbent factor, 0.13-1.23 parts of animal husbandry improvement factor, 0.13-2.23 parts of deodorizing factor, and 0.13-2.23 parts of anti-mold factor; and a shell layer covering the core, comprising, by weight parts: 100 parts of non-grain plant fiber, 99.5-400 parts of clumping factor, 3.33-100 parts of absorbent factor, 33.3-300 parts of animal husbandry improvement factor, 3.33-100 parts of deodorizing factor, and 0.66-20 parts of anti-mold factor;

[0087] The non-grain plant fiber includes any one or more of sugarcane bagasse fiber, bamboo fiber, corn cob fiber, and eucalyptus fiber; the clumping factor includes any one or more of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, guar gum, native starch, and pregelatinized starch; the mass ratio of the outer shell to the core is 1:(4-5); the moisture content of the cat litter is 5%-10%; the cat litter passes through a 10-mesh filter sieve; the bulk density of the cat litter is 280-400 g / L; the cat litter is rod-shaped, the core is rod-shaped, and the diameter of the rod is 2-3.5 mm; the length-to-diameter ratio of the rod is (1-3):1; the outer shell thickness is 0.5 mm-3 mm. The dust content of the cat litter is ≤0.05%; the flowability index of the cat litter is 85-95; the cohesive weight of the cat litter is 25-30 grams per 20 grams of water; the cohesive strength of the cat litter is 90%-98%; the water absorption rate of the cat litter is 200%-300%; and the initial mold growth period of the cat litter is greater than 30 days.

[0088] As another example of this application, the cat litter comprises: a core, comprising, by weight parts: 100 parts of non-grain plant fiber, 0.6-10 parts of clumping agent, 0.6-10 parts of absorbent agent, 0.13-2.23 parts of animal husbandry improvement agent, 0.1-2.23 parts of deodorizing agent, and 0.13-2.23 parts of anti-mold agent; and a shell layer covering the core, comprising, by weight parts: 100 parts of non-grain plant fiber, 99.5-100 parts of clumping agent, 50-100 parts of absorbent agent, 33.3-300 parts of animal husbandry improvement agent, 3.33-100 parts of deodorizing agent, and 0.66-20 parts of anti-mold agent;

[0089] The non-grain plant fiber includes any one or more of sugarcane bagasse fiber, bamboo fiber, corn cob fiber, and eucalyptus fiber; the clumping factor includes any one or more of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, guar gum, native starch, and pregelatinized starch; the mass ratio of the outer shell to the core is 1:(4-5); the moisture content of the cat litter is 5%-10%; the cat litter passes through a 10-mesh filter sieve; the bulk density of the cat litter is 280-400 g / L; the cat litter is rod-shaped, the core is rod-shaped, and the diameter of the rod is 2-3.5 mm; the length-to-diameter ratio of the rod is (1-3):1; the outer shell thickness is 0.5 mm-3 mm. The dust content of the cat litter is ≤0.05%; the flowability index of the cat litter is 85-95; the cohesion weight of the cat litter is 25-30 grams per 20 grams of water; the cohesion strength of the cat litter is 90%-98%; the water absorption rate of the cat litter is 220%-250%; and the initial mold growth period of the cat litter is greater than 30 days.

[0090] As an example, a picture of the actual appearance of cat litter is shown below. Figure 1 As shown.

[0091] In some alternative embodiments, the non-grain plant fiber includes one or more of sugarcane bagasse fiber, bamboo fiber, corn cob fiber, eucalyptus fiber, giant reed fiber, straw fiber, dragon's beard grass fiber, and bamboo shoot shell fiber.

[0092] According to the embodiments of this application, bamboo fiber, corn cob powder, eucalyptus powder, and other such fibers, which are hard, elastic, strong, and dense plant fiber powders, are used as the main raw materials for the core support part of cat litter molding. This can provide the cat litter with high body hardness and excellent shape support, which is conducive to further control of the shape and size of cat litter particles, as well as the implementation of post-processing steps such as coating the core with a shell layer and polishing and shaping. This improves the uniformity of the shape and size of cat litter particles, increases the flowability index and sphericity of cat litter particles, improves the high flowability of unclumped clean cat litter, and increases the pass rate in the hollowed-out holes of the smart cat litter grid plate.

[0093] According to the embodiments of this application, the non-grain plant fiber uses the above-mentioned natural plant fiber derived from agricultural and forestry operations, which is a non-grain renewable resource and is environmentally friendly and sustainable; the source of raw materials is not limited, and the supply of natural renewable non-grain plant fiber resources is sufficient.

[0094] In some alternative implementations, the non-grain plant fibers in the cat litter are sieved through an 80-100 mesh screen.

[0095] According to the embodiments of this application, by controlling the particle size of non-grain plant fibers in cat litter within the above-mentioned range, it is beneficial to improve the water solubility of cat litter, making it easier for it to be discharged from indoor toilets and other sewers, thus providing convenience for pet owners.

[0096] In some alternative embodiments, the clumping factor includes one or more of whey protein, sodium alginate, corn protein, montmorillonite, carboxymethyl cellulose and its derivatives, guar gum, native starch, pregelatinized starch, and gelatin.

[0097] According to embodiments of this application, the aforementioned clumping factor can improve the cohesion between non-grain plant fibers and between non-grain plant fibers and other components. This clumping factor can also improve the clumping properties between cat litter pieces, between cat litter and cat feces, and between cat litter and other feces, facilitating the containment of cat feces and reducing contamination of other cat litter.

[0098] In some alternative embodiments, the water-absorbing factor includes one or more of polyacrylate, starch acrylate polymer, starch-acrylonitrile graft copolymer, acrylamide-acrylonitrile-acrylic acid terpolymer, polyacrylamide and its derivatives, and polyvinyl alcohol.

[0099] According to the embodiments of this application, the water-absorbing factor and non-grain plant fiber work together to absorb moisture in cat feces, reducing contamination of other cat litters. On the other hand, the non-grain plant fiber and the water-absorbing factor work together to absorb and retain water, reducing the seepage of moisture from the absorbed cat feces and reducing contamination of other cat litters.

[0100] In some alternative implementations, the aquaculture improvement factors include one or more of attapulgite, polyacrylamide-attapulgite composite adsorbent, high-purity nano-modified montmorillonite, plant essential oils, hydrated sodium aluminosilicate, diatomaceous earth, and zeolite.

[0101] According to the embodiments of this application, the core layer of plant fiber cat litter was modified by using breeding improvement factors to increase its weight. The cat litter after weight modification has an improved flowability index, making it easier to pass through the litter box grid and preventing cat litter waste.

[0102] In some alternative implementations, the deodorizing agent includes one or more of the following: alumina, hydrophilic modified ultrafine silica, baking soda, nano zinc oxide, and nano titanium dioxide.

[0103] In some alternative embodiments, the antifungal agent includes one or more of the following: esterified dextromannan, hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate, silver-loaded zirconium phosphate antibacterial powder, copper-loaded phosphate antibacterial powder, organic zinc ion antibacterial powder, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, 4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-3-isothiazolinone, 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, and N-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one.

[0104] Cat litter preparation method

[0105] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a method for preparing cat litter according to the first aspect, the method comprising:

[0106] The first raw material for providing the core comprises the following components by mass parts: non-grain plant fiber: 100 parts, water: 20-100 parts, clumping factor: 0.6-12 parts, water-absorbing factor: 0.6-12 parts, aquaculture improvement factor: 0.13-2.23 parts, deodorizing factor: 0.13-2.23 parts, and anti-mold factor: 0.13-2.23 parts;

[0107] The second raw material for the outer shell layer comprises the following components by mass parts: non-grain plant fiber: 100 parts, water: 133-1000 parts, clumping factor: 99.5-600 parts, water-absorbing factor: 3.33-100 parts, aquaculture improvement factor: 33.3-300 parts, deodorizing factor: 3.33-100 parts, and anti-mildew factor: 0.66-20 parts;

[0108] The first raw material is mixed and stirred to obtain a first mixture.

[0109] The first mixture is granulated and first sieved to obtain the core intermediate product;

[0110] The second raw material is mixed and stirred to obtain a surface layer mixture.

[0111] The core intermediate product is moistened, and then the moistened core intermediate product is wrapped with a shell mixture to prepare a coating mixture;

[0112] The mixture was subjected to a second sieve, dried, and a third sieve in sequence to obtain cat litter.

[0113] According to the embodiments of this application, a two-step method of granulation molding and mixing of outer coating materials is adopted to reduce the problems of loose appearance, low integrity and many debris in the molded cat litter. Based on the core-molded granules, a special coating and planting equipment is used to spray water to wet the core-molded granules and to coat and plant them, and to solidify the outer shell layer. The cat litter produced by this process has a compact appearance, high integrity and few debris, which improves the uniformity of the shape and size of the cat litter granules and helps to improve the flowability index of the cat litter granules.

[0114] In some alternative embodiments, the first stirring speed is 5 to 850 r / min, and the first stirring time is 0.5 to 5 minutes.

[0115] In some optional embodiments, the granulation rotation speed is 800–1000 r / min;

[0116] In some optional embodiments, the second stirring speed is 0-1500 r / min, and the second stirring time is 0.5-3 minutes; optionally, it is 5-1000 r / min.

[0117] In some alternative embodiments, before providing the first raw material for the core or the second raw material for the shell layer, the process includes: pulverizing the non-grain plant fiber raw materials of the cat litter granule core to a fineness of 200-400 mesh using a plant fiber pulverizing device.

[0118] In some alternative embodiments, the first raw material is mixed and stirred to obtain a first mixture, comprising:

[0119] The non-grain plant fibers in the first raw material are mixed evenly using a mixing device with a stirring speed of 0-850 r / min and a stirring time of 0.5-3 minutes.

[0120] Add water to the non-grain plant fiber according to the mass ratio, while stirring. After the water is added, continue stirring at a speed of 0-850 r / min for a total stirring time of 0.5-3 minutes. After mixing, set aside for later use to obtain the first raw material mixture.

[0121] The agglomeration factor, water-absorbing factor, aquaculture improvement factor, deodorizing factor, and anti-mildew factor are mixed evenly according to the above mass ratio using a mixing equipment. The mixing speed is 0-1500 r / min and the mixing time is 0.5-3 minutes to obtain the second raw material mixture.

[0122] The first raw material mixture and the second raw material mixture are mixed and stirred at a stirring speed of 0-850 r / min for a total stirring time of 0.5-5 minutes to obtain the first mixture.

[0123] In some alternative embodiments, the first mixture is granulated and first sieved to obtain a core intermediate product, comprising:

[0124] The first mixture is granulated using a granulation device. The die orifice diameter of the granulation device is 2mm to 3.5mm, the die orifice length is 8mm to 20mm, the die compression ratio is 1.5 to 9, the two ends of the die orifice are flared release ports with a vertical depth of 1mm, and the tangent of the flared release port arc surface forms a 60° angle with the die plane. The cutter of the granulation device is set to be horizontal, and the distance between the blade and the die plane is 0.1 to 0.5mm, so that the diameter of the extruded cat litter granule core is controlled at 2 to 3.5mm, and the length-to-diameter ratio is controlled at (1 to 3): 1. The working speed of the granulation device is 800 to 1000 r / min. After the first screening, the core intermediate product is obtained.

[0125] In some embodiments, the first screening includes screening the mixture of the core intermediate product obtained from core pressing and the debris and powder generated from core pressing using an 8-mesh sieve. The screened particles will then proceed to the wetting and coating process; debris and powder that can be removed by screening will not waste coating material and will not result in a large number of debris particles being generated during the coating process.

[0126] In some optional embodiments, the core intermediate product is rod-shaped, the diameter of the core intermediate product is controlled at 2-3.5 mm, and the length to diameter ratio of the core intermediate product is (1-3):1.

[0127] In some alternative implementations, the device rotates at a speed of 30–60 r / min during wrapping, and the wrapping time is 2–6 minutes.

[0128] In some alternative implementations, the water content of the kernel intermediate is less than 45%.

[0129] In some alternative embodiments, the moisture content of the outer shell mixture is less than 50%. In some alternative embodiments, the moisture content of the coating mixture is less than 45%.

[0130] According to the embodiments of this application, the moisture content is strictly controlled within a suitable range at each stage of cat litter forming. This ensures the formation of cat litter while improving its hardness, reducing the mutual attraction and adhesion between particles caused by static electricity during drying in the preparation and use of cat litter, and improving the fluidity index.

[0131] The moisture content control of all semi-finished and finished products includes controlling the moisture content of the pressed cat litter core to below 45%, the moisture content of the wet cat litter after the outer shell is completed to below 45%, and the moisture content of the cat litter after the outer shell is completed and dried to between 5% and 10%.

[0132] In some optional embodiments, a 5-mesh filter screen is used to encapsulate the mixture for a second sieving. The encapsulation mixture can be understood as the large particles formed by particle agglomeration due to the wet encapsulation process during the core encapsulation stage. After the encapsulation is completed, all encapsulated particles are sieved using a 5-mesh filter screen. Particles larger than 5 mesh are all retained and dried after encapsulation, while particles smaller than 5 mesh are screened out and conveyed to the core pressing and granulation stage.

[0133] In some alternative implementations, polishing and shaping are followed by multiple sieving processes.

[0134] According to the embodiments of this application, after drying and polishing, there is a problem that a large amount of powder will fall off after the particles are wrapped with a mesh size greater than 5. After polishing, all the particles after polishing are screened multiple times using an 8-12 mesh filter screen. All polished particles smaller than the target particle size are stored in the warehouse, while powder particles larger than 1 and smaller than the target particle size are screened out and transported to the core pressing and granulation process, and their dust content is controlled within 0.05%.

[0135] Furthermore, the multiple screening processes in this application can be multi-stage screening with different particle sizes, or multiple screenings containing the same particle size. The multiple screening process strictly controls the content of large particles and dust in the finished cat litter, eliminates the stickiness caused by fine dust during the flow of cat litter, and thus improves the flowability index of cat litter particles.

[0136] In some alternative embodiments, the second raw material is mixed and then stirred to obtain a shell layer mixture, comprising:

[0137] The non-grain plant fiber raw materials in the second raw material are crushed to a fineness of 80-100 mesh;

[0138] The non-grain plant fiber, agglomeration factor, water-absorbing factor, aquaculture improvement factor, deodorizing factor, and anti-mildew factor in the second raw material are mixed evenly according to the above-mentioned mass ratio using a stirring and mixing device. The stirring speed is 0-1500 r / min and the stirring time is 0.5-3 minutes to obtain the outer shell mixture.

[0139] In some alternative embodiments, the encapsulated mixture is prepared by encapsulating the moistened kernel intermediate with a shell mixture, comprising:

[0140] The outer shell mixture is added to the wetted kernel intermediate product using a coating and planting device. Optionally, the mixture is added while rotating, with the device rotating at a speed of 30-60 r / min and the coating time being 2-6 minutes. The thickness of the wet outer shell layer after coating and planting is greater than 0.5 mm.

[0141] In some alternative embodiments, wetting the kernel intermediate product includes: wetting the kernel intermediate product in a rotating device by spraying, wherein the device rotates at a speed of 30 to 60 r / min.

[0142] In some alternative embodiments, the encapsulated mixture is prepared by encapsulating the moistened core intermediate with a shell mixture;

[0143] The mixture was subjected to a second sieve, dried, and a third sieve in sequence to obtain cat litter.

[0144] In some optional embodiments, the particle size m of the product after the second sieving is: 5 mesh < n < 8 mesh.

[0145] In some optional embodiments, the particle size n of the product after the third sieving is: 8 mesh < n < 12 mesh, and can be 10 mesh.

[0146] In some alternative implementations, the drying temperature is 65–75°C.

[0147] In some optional embodiments, after drying, the dried product is further polished and shaped at a speed of 30-60 r / min for 15-30 min.

[0148] According to the embodiments of this application, the polished and shaped plant fiber cat litter granules enter the screening and dust removal process. To address the issue that a large amount of powder will fall off after drying and polishing granules that are smaller than 8 mesh and larger than 5 mesh, a 10-mesh filter screen is used to screen all the polished and shaped granules multiple times after polishing and shaping. All polished and shaped granules smaller than 10 mesh are stored in the warehouse, while powder particles larger than 10 mesh are screened out and then transported to the core pressing and granulation stage. The dust content of the polished and shaped granules smaller than 10 mesh is controlled to be less than 0.05%, resulting in a non-grain plant fiber cat litter product that is universally applicable to smart cat litter grids.

[0149] To address the issue of cat litter bridging and clogging on the grid due to granular particles, polishing and reshaping are performed on the cat litter granules after the outer shell is completed and dried. This reduces friction between cat litter granules, lowers their adhesion, improves the sphericity and surface smoothness of the granules, and increases their flowability. This reduces the probability of cat litter bridging to zero, allowing clean, unclumped cat litter to pass through the perforated spaces of the smart cat litter grid.

[0150] Example

[0151] The following embodiments describe the disclosure of this application in more detail. These embodiments are merely illustrative, as various modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art within the scope of the disclosure of this application. Unless otherwise stated, all parts, percentages, and ratios reported in the following embodiments are based on weight, and all reagents used in the embodiments are commercially available or synthesized by conventional methods and can be used directly without further processing, and the instruments used in the embodiments are commercially available.

[0152] Examples 1-3

[0153] This embodiment provides a cat litter, comprising: a core, and by weight, the following components: non-grain plant fiber: 100 parts; clumping agent: 0.6-12 parts; absorbent agent: 0.6-12 parts; animal husbandry improvement agent: 0.13-2.23 parts; deodorizing agent: 0.13-2.23 parts; and anti-mold agent: 0.13-2.23 parts; and

[0154] The outer shell, covering the core, comprises the following components by mass: non-grain plant fiber: 100 parts, clumping factor: 99.5–600 parts, water-absorbing factor: 3.33–100 parts, aquaculture improvement factor: 33.3–300 parts, deodorizing factor: 3.33–100 parts, and anti-mildew factor: 0.66–20 parts;

[0155] The mass ratio of the shell to the core is 1:(4-5). Examples 1-3, with their specific raw materials and mass ratios, are shown in Table 1.

[0156] This embodiment provides a method for preparing cat litter, including the following steps:

[0157] (1) Use a special plant fiber crushing equipment to crush the non-grain plant fiber raw materials of cat litter granules to a fineness of 200-400 mesh;

[0158] (2) Use a dedicated mixing equipment to mix the non-grain plant fibers evenly according to the proportion, with a mixing speed of 0-850 r / min and a mixing time of 0.5-3 minutes;

[0159] (3) Add water to the non-grain plant fiber in (2) according to the above mass ratio. Add water while stirring. Continue stirring after the water is added. Stir at a speed of 0-850 r / min for a total stirring time of 0.5-3 minutes. Set aside for later use after mixing.

[0160] (4) Use a dedicated mixing equipment to mix the agglomeration factor, water absorption factor, aquaculture improvement factor, deodorization factor and anti-mold factor evenly according to the above mass ratio. The mixing speed is 0-1500 r / min and the mixing time is 0.5-3 minutes.

[0161] (5) Add the mixture of (4) to the mixture of non-grain plant fiber and water in (3), adding while stirring. Continue stirring after the material in (4) has been added. The stirring speed is 0-850 r / min, and the total stirring time is 0.5-5 minutes.

[0162] (6) The mixture of (5) is fed into a special granulation equipment for continuous granulation. The mold hole diameter of the granulation equipment is 2mm to 3.5mm, the mold hole length is 8mm to 20mm, the mold compression ratio is 1.5 to 9, the two ends of the mold hole are horn-shaped release ports, the vertical depth of the horn-shaped release port is 1mm, the tangent of the arc surface of the horn-shaped release port is at a 60° angle with the mold plane, the cutter of the granulation equipment is set to be horizontal, the distance between the blade and the mold plane is 0.1 to 0.5mm, so that the diameter of the extruded cat litter granules is controlled at 2 to 3.5mm, the length to diameter ratio is controlled at (1 to 3): 1, and the working speed of the granulation equipment is 800 to 1000r / min;

[0163] (7) After the cat litter core granulation is completed, the granules obtained by pressing the core and the debris and powder generated by pressing the core are screened with an 8-mesh sieve. The screened granules will enter the wetting and coating process.

[0164] (8) Use a special plant fiber crushing equipment to crush the non-grain plant fiber raw materials required for the outer shell layer of cat litter granules to a fineness of 80-100 mesh.

[0165] (9) Using a dedicated mixing equipment, mix the non-grain plant fiber and agglomeration factor, water absorption factor, aquaculture improvement factor, deodorizing factor and anti-mildew factor of (8) according to the above mass ratio, with a mixing speed of 0 to 1500 r / min and a mixing time of 0.5 to 3 minutes.

[0166] (10) The intact particles obtained by screening in (7) are wetted. The amount of water used in this wetting process is calculated as the amount of water in the cat litter shell layer component of claim 4. The intermediate product of the cat litter core in the rotating equipment is wetted by spraying. The equipment rotation speed is 30-60 r / min.

[0167] (11) The intermediate cat litter core product after wetting treatment is coated and planted. (10) The intermediate cat litter core product after wetting treatment is transferred to a special coating and planting equipment. The coating and planting equipment is turned on to rotate. The cat litter shell material prepared by stirring and mixing according to claim 4 in (9) is quickly added to the intermediate core product after wetting treatment. The material is added while rotating. The equipment rotation speed is 30-60 r / min. The total coating time is 2-6 minutes. The thickness of the coated cat litter shell layer should reach more than 0.5 mm.

[0168] (12) For the large particles formed by particle adhesion due to the wet coating process in (11), after the coating and planting are completed, a 5-mesh filter screen is used to screen all the coated particles. Particles smaller than 5 mesh are screened out and transported to the core pressing and granulation stage. Particles larger than 5 mesh are screened out and transported to the core pressing and granulation stage. Particles smaller than 8 mesh and larger than 5 mesh are screened out and transported to the core pressing and granulation stage.

[0169] (13) After being wrapped, the particles smaller than 8 mesh and larger than 5 mesh are dried at a temperature of 65-75℃. The overall moisture content of the dried cat litter particles is controlled between 5 and 10%.

[0170] (14) After drying, the dried cat litter granules are put into a special rotary polishing equipment for polishing and shaping. The speed of the polishing equipment is 30-60 r / min and the polishing time is 15-30 min.

[0171] (15) After polishing and shaping, the plant fiber cat litter particles are screened and dusted. To address the issue that a large amount of powder will fall off after drying and polishing the particles that are smaller than 8 mesh and larger than 5 mesh, a 10 mesh filter screen is used to screen all the polished and shaped particles multiple times after polishing and shaping. All the polished and shaped particles smaller than 10 mesh are stored in the warehouse, and the powder particles larger than 10 mesh are screened out and then transported to the core pressing and granulation stage. The dust content of the polished and shaped particles smaller than 10 mesh is controlled within 0.05%, resulting in cat litter that is universally applicable to smart cat toilet grids.

[0172] The parameters for preparation in Examples 1-3 are shown in Table 2.

[0173] Comparative Examples 1-2

[0174] The differences between this comparative example cat litter and Example 1 are as follows: the composition and preparation process of the cat litter are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

[0175] Comparative Example 3

[0176] This comparative example provides a commercially available tofu cat litter, the composition of which includes 90% soybean residue by weight of the total mass of the tofu cat litter, with the remainder being a flocculant and a mold inhibitor.

[0177] Comparative Example 4

[0178] The cat litter in this comparison sample contains bentonite clay. Bentonite clay is very heavy, making it very difficult to move when stocking and changing litter; secondly, bentonite cat litter produces a lot of dust, which can harm a cat's respiratory and urinary systems.

[0179] Table 1 is shown below.

[0180]

[0181] Table 2

[0182]

[0183] Test section

[0184] 1) Bulk density test: Weigh the mass of the sample flowing into a standard volume through a funnel of a specific size and calculate the result.

[0185] Instruments and equipment: Bulk density measuring device.

[0186] Analysis steps: Pour the cat litter sample into the funnel above the closed partition, ensuring the sample level is flush with the funnel opening. Remove the partition, allowing the cat litter sample to flow naturally into the container below. Scrape off the cone-shaped part above the container along the rim and weigh the sample in the container.

[0187] Result Calculation: Bulk density ρ, expressed in g / L, is calculated using the following formula:

[0188] ρ = m / v × 100%

[0189] Where: m—the numerical value of the sample mass, in grams (g);

[0190] v — The numerical value of the tank volume, in milliliters (mL).

[0191] 1) Cat litter bulk density test:

[0192] 2) Moisture content detection: The instrument uses a program-controlled heating method to heat the sample with a halogen lamp / infrared lamp, and continuously and automatically weighs it until a constant mass is reached before reporting the result.

[0193] Instrumentation: Rapid moisture analyzer: halogen / infrared lamp heating type, sensitivity specification 0.001g.

[0194] Analysis Procedure: Spread approximately 2g of cat litter sample evenly on the drying tray of the rapid moisture analyzer, and set the drying temperature to 105℃. Start the measurement program, measure for 10 minutes, and then stop the instrument to obtain the results.

[0195] 3) Detection of liquidity index Fw: The liquidity index shall be measured in accordance with Part 3 of GB / T 31057.3—2018 standard: liquidity index.

[0196] 4) Dust content test: Screen a certain amount of cat litter sample and observe the proportion of material passing through the 30-mesh sieve.

[0197] Instruments and equipment: The metal wire woven mesh test sieves shall be in accordance with the series of test sieves and standard sieve vibrators specified in GB / T6003.1-2012.

[0198] Note 1: The test sieve has a mesh size of 30 mesh (500 μm) and a frame diameter of 200 mm.

[0199] Note 2: The standard screen vibrator specification is a vibration frequency of 1440 times / minute.

[0200] Analysis steps: Randomly sample 500g (m2) of finished cat litter, divide it into 5 portions of 100g each, pour it into a 30-mesh standard sieve, place it in a vibrating screen, cover it with a sealed lid, start the vibrating screen, vibrate for 15 seconds, collect the powder passing through the sieves from the 5 portions, and weigh the total amount (m2). p .

[0201] The formula for calculating the starch content is as follows: F = m p / m2×100%

[0202] Where: F—starch content (%);

[0203] m2—total weight of the sample, in grams (g);

[0204] m p —Total weight of sieved powder, in grams (g).

[0205] 5) Clump weight test: The weight of the cat litter clumps after absorbing water and forming clumps.

[0206] 6) Clump strength test: Drop the clump of plant fiber cat litter naturally from a certain height onto a marble or other non-elastic tabletop, pick up the largest clump of plant fiber cat litter that has not broken apart and weigh it. The ratio of the mass of the largest clump of plant fiber cat litter that has not broken apart to the mass of the cat litter before the drop is the clump strength.

[0207] 7) Water absorption rate test: After the sample absorbs water and clumps together, its weight is measured.

[0208] The instruments and equipment include:

[0209] a) Balance with a sensitivity specification of 0.01g;

[0210] b) Acid burette, 25mL;

[0211] c) Pipettes, 20mL in size.

[0212] Analysis Procedure: Spread the sampled cat litter evenly in the sample container to a thickness of approximately 8-10 cm. Use a pipette to draw 20 mL of 1% sodium chloride solution (36-40°C) and transfer it to an acid burette. Adjust the burette to approximately 3 cm from the sample surface. Open the burette; allow the solution to flow completely into the sample within 30 seconds and then completely flow out within 60 seconds. Remove the clumped sample and weigh it (m) on a balance with a sensitivity of 0.01 g. Perform this method on three sets of samples simultaneously and calculate the average value. The formula for calculating the water absorption rate is as follows:

[0213] X = 20 / (m - 20) × 100%

[0214] In the formula: X—water absorption rate (%); m—clump weight, in grams (g).

[0215] 8) Clumping and mold detection: Coliform bacteria content is determined according to GB / T18869, Salmonella content is determined according to GB / T13091, total mold content is determined according to GB / T13092, and aflatoxin B1 content is determined according to GB / T17480.

[0216] 9) Methods for testing sphericity:

[0217] By processing the image, the measurement software automatically counts the number of particles, then calculates the number of pixels contained in each particle, obtaining parameters such as particle area, equivalent diameter, equivalent perimeter, actual perimeter, and roundness. This yields the particle shape. The morphological parameters of the particles measured by the image analyzer mainly include the aspect ratio and roundness coefficient. The aspect ratio refers to the ratio of the length to the diameter of a cylindrical object. The roundness coefficient is calculated between 0 and 1; the smaller the value, the more irregular the particle shape.

[0218] The test results are shown in Table 3.

[0219] Table 3

[0220]

[0221] In summary, through comparison of the embodiments and comparative examples, the cat litter of this application has better fluidity, is less prone to mold, has better water absorption, and lower dust content, making it more suitable for cats.

[0222] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of various equivalent modifications or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in this application, and these modifications or substitutions should all be covered within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A type of cat litter, characterized in that, The cat litter has a core-shell structure, comprising: The core, by mass parts, comprises the following components: non-grain plant fiber: 100 parts; clumping factor: 0.6-12 parts; water-absorbing factor: 0.6-12 parts; aquaculture improvement factor: 0.13-2.23 parts; deodorizing factor: 0.13-2.23 parts; and anti-mildew factor: 0.13-2.23 parts; and The outer shell layer comprises the following components by mass parts: non-grain plant fiber: 100 parts, clumping factor: 99.5~600 parts, water-absorbing factor: 3.33~100 parts, aquaculture improvement factor: 33.3~300 parts, deodorizing factor: 3.33~100 parts, and anti-mildew factor: 0.66~20 parts. The non-grain plant fiber in the cat litter has a particle size that passes through an 80-100 mesh sieve, and the mass ratio of the outer shell to the core is 1:(4-5). The non-grain plant fibers include one or more of the following: sugarcane bagasse fiber, bamboo fiber, corn cob fiber, eucalyptus fiber, giant reed fiber, straw fiber, dragon's beard grass fiber, and bamboo shoot shell fiber. The clumping factor includes one or more of whey protein, sodium alginate, corn protein, montmorillonite, carboxymethyl cellulose and its derivatives, guar gum, native starch, pregelatinized starch, and gelatin. The water-absorbing agent includes one or more of the following: polyacrylate, starch acrylate polymer, starch-acrylonitrile graft copolymer, acrylamide-acrylonitrile-acrylic acid terpolymer, polyacrylamide and its derivatives, and polyvinyl alcohol. The aquaculture improvement factors include one or more of the following: attapulgite, polyacrylamide-attapulgite composite adsorbent, high-purity nano-modified montmorillonite, plant essential oils, hydrated sodium aluminosilicate, diatomaceous earth, and zeolite. The deodorizing agent includes one or more of the following: hydrated alumina, hydrophilic modified ultrafine silica, baking soda, nano zinc oxide, and nano titanium dioxide. The antifungal agent includes one or more of the following: esterified dextromannan, hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate, silver-loaded zirconium phosphate antibacterial powder, copper-loaded phosphate antibacterial powder, organic zinc ion antibacterial powder, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, 4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-3-isothiazolinone, 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, and N-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one.

2. The cat litter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cat litter meets at least one of the following conditions: The moisture content of the cat litter is 5% to 10%; The cat litter can pass through a 10-mesh filter screen; The dust content of the cat litter is ≤0.05%; The bulk density of cat litter is 280-400 g / L; The cat litter is rod-shaped, the core is rod-shaped, and the diameter of the rod is 2~3.5mm; the ratio of the length to the diameter of the rod is (1~3):1; The thickness of the outer shell layer is 0.5mm to 3mm.

3. A method for preparing cat litter, characterized in that, The method includes: The first raw material for providing the nucleus comprises, by mass parts, the following components: the components of the nucleus as described in any one of claims 1-2 and 120 to 100 parts of water; A second raw material for the outer shell layer is provided, the second raw material comprising, by mass parts: the components of the outer shell layer as described in any one of claims 1-2 and 133 to 1000 parts of water; The first raw material is mixed and stirred to obtain a first mixture. The first mixture is granulated and first sieved to obtain the core intermediate product; The second raw material is mixed and stirred to obtain a shell layer mixture. The core intermediate product is moistened, and then the moistened core intermediate product is wrapped with the outer shell mixture to prepare the coating mixture; The packaged mixture is subjected to a third sieving and drying to obtain the cat litter.

4. The method for preparing cat litter according to claim 3, characterized in that, in, At least one of the following conditions must be met: The first stirring speed is 5~850 r / min, and the first stirring time is 0.5~5 minutes; The rotation speed during granulation is 800~1000 r / min; The second stirring speed is 0~1500 r / min, and the second stirring time is 0.5~3 minutes; The water content of the kernel intermediate is less than 45%; The core intermediate product is rod-shaped, with a diameter of 2-5 mm, and the length-to-diameter ratio of the core intermediate product is (1-3):

1. The moisture content of the outer shell layer mixture is less than 50%; The rotation speed of the device during the wrapping process is 30~60 r / min, and the wrapping time is 2~6 minutes. The moisture content of the packaged mixture is less than 45%; The particle size m of the product after the second sieving is: 5 mesh < n < 8 mesh; The particle size n of the product after the third sieving is: 8 mesh < n < 12 mesh; The drying temperature is 65~75℃.

5. The method for preparing cat litter according to claim 3, characterized in that, After drying, the product is further polished and shaped, with a polishing speed of 30-60 r / min and a polishing time of 15-30 min.

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