Deodorizing functional cat litter and preparation method thereof

Abstract

The application belongs to the field of pet cleaning supplies, and discloses a modified plant fiber for cat litter, which takes plant fiber as raw material, is modified by a modifier and is puffed; the modifier is composed of sodium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, potassium aluminum sulfate and sodium citrate; the weight ratio of the sodium hydroxide, the sodium bicarbonate, the potassium aluminum sulfate and the sodium citrate is 1-5:1-5:1-5:0.2-0.5. The modified plant fiber is modified by sodium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, potassium aluminum sulfate and sodium citrate, so that the deodorization effect of the plant fiber can be effectively improved. Meanwhile, the application also provides cat litter adopting the modified plant fiber and a preparation method thereof.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of pet cleaning products, and more particularly to a deodorizing functional cat litter and its preparation method. Background Technology

[0002] Cat litter is a high-consumption pet product, a common necessity for most cat-owning households. When cat litter comes into contact with cat feces and urine, the portion that comes into contact will solidify into clumps, while the litter not touched by feces and urine remains uncontaminated. To use, pour cat litter into a litter box, laying a 7-10cm layer, and it's ready for your cat. When cleaning the litter box, use a litter scoop to remove the solidified clumps and dispose of them in the trash, thus removing cat feces and urine. The remaining litter in the litter box remains clean and can be reused. When the litter usage decreases, add more litter. Therefore, using cat litter provides a convenient, quick, clean, and hygienic way to remove cat feces. Most existing cat litters only absorb urine and clump together for easy cleaning. However, no matter how frequently the litter is changed, an unpleasant odor always lingers in the air.

[0003] Cat urine smells bad because it contains a substance called feline uric acid. This feline uric acid is excreted in the urine and, upon contact with air, transforms into thiols, which then emit a distinctive odor. Bacteria in cat feces convert uric acid into ammonia, giving the urine an ammonia-like smell.

[0004] Chinese patent application 202110075515.8 discloses a hydrophilic modified plant fiber cat litter material and its preparation method. The cat litter material comprises the following raw materials in parts by weight: 100-200 parts hydrophilic modified plant fiber, 50-80 parts corn flour, 10-30 parts guar gum, 20-40 parts activated carbon, 10-50 parts diatomaceous earth, 50-100 parts superabsorbent resin, and 50-100 parts purified water. The cat litter has good water absorption and absorption rate, deodorization and comfort properties.

[0005] This cat litter improves its absorbency, absorption rate, and deodorization by adding plant fibers modified with lime water, dihydroxymethyldihydroxyethylene urea, and ammonium persulfate.

[0006] Therefore, it is evident that modifying cat litter with plant fibers is an effective method to improve its performance.

[0007] The problem this solution aims to solve is: how to develop a cat litter with good odor control performance. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to provide a modified plant fiber for cat litter. This modified plant fiber is modified with sodium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, potassium aluminum sulfate, and sodium citrate, which can effectively improve the deodorizing effect of the plant fiber.

[0009] In addition, the present invention also provides cat litter using the modified plant fiber and a method for preparing the same.

[0010] A modified plant fiber for cat litter, wherein the modified plant fiber is made from plant fiber as raw material, modified and expanded by a modifier;

[0011] The modifier is composed of sodium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, potassium aluminum sulfate, and sodium citrate.

[0012] The weight ratio of sodium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, potassium aluminum sulfate, and sodium citrate is 1-5:1-5:1-5:0.2-0.5.

[0013] In this invention, by modifying plant fibers with sodium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, potassium aluminum sulfate, and sodium citrate, the deodorizing effect of cat litter can be effectively improved.

[0014] Sodium hydroxide: It creates a basic alkaline environment and, during the modification process, disperses and softens the fibers, which is beneficial for subsequent expansion operations and improves fiber bulkiness. While softening the fibers, it also increases the hydrophilicity of the fibers, allowing sodium bicarbonate, potassium aluminum sulfate, and sodium citrate to penetrate deep into the fibers and bind tightly to them.

[0015] Sodium bicarbonate is alkaline and soluble in water, forming an alkaline solution.

[0016] In modified deodorization applications, sodium bicarbonate may function in several ways: it combines with plant fibers to enhance their reactivity when in contact with acidic gases such as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia; it reacts with acidic gases through bicarbonate ions to release carbon dioxide, effectively fixing the acidic gases; at the same time, it can work with sodium hydroxide to improve the fiber softening and subsequent expansion effects, increase the bonding force between other additives and fibers, and improve the fiber porosity.

[0017] Citric acid is an organic acid, and the application of organic salts in deodorization, which exist in the form of citrate ions, is mainly due to their chemical properties and functions.

[0018] Neutralizing odors: Citric acid is a weak acid. In aqueous solution, it can combine with some alkaline odorous substances to form stable organic salts, which helps reduce or eliminate unpleasant odors.

[0019] Bactericidal effect: Citric acid has a certain bactericidal ability, which can inhibit bacterial growth and thus reduce the odor caused by bacteria.

[0020] Adsorption: Citric acid can adsorb some odor molecules, helping to remove odors through physical adsorption.

[0021] Potassium aluminum sulfate is a common clumping agent used in cat litter. It helps the litter granules clump together quickly after absorbing urine, making them easier to clean. Potassium aluminum sulfate improves the absorbency and clumping properties of cat litter, while also helping to control odor.

[0022] When the above four modifiers are used to modify plant fibers, the deodorizing effect of the plant fibers can be improved. This is because: sodium hydroxide modification softens the plant fibers, improves their hydrophilicity, and enhances the binding degree between the other modifiers and the fibers; during the deodorizing process, sodium bicarbonate and citric acid achieve synergistic adsorption and deodorization, while potassium aluminum sulfate improves the rapid aggregation ability of the fibers after water absorption, fixing the odor in cat urine. Through modification with these four substances, the plant fibers achieve a highly efficient odor absorption and fixation effect.

[0023] In the above-mentioned modified plant fiber, the modifier reacts with the plant fiber in the form of a modifier solution; the mass ratio of the plant fiber to the modifier solution is 85-95:5-15;

[0024] The modifier solution contains 1-5 wt% sodium hydroxide, 1-5 wt% sodium bicarbonate, 1-5 wt% potassium aluminum sulfate, and 0.2-0.5 wt% sodium citrate.

[0025] In the above-mentioned modified plant fibers, the plant fibers are one or more combinations of sugarcane bagasse, soybean residue, and sawdust.

[0026] In the above-mentioned modified plant fiber, the plant fiber is composed of sugarcane bagasse, soybean residue, sawdust and other fibers; the mass ratio of sugarcane bagasse, soybean residue, sawdust and other fibers is 10-40:10-40:10-40:1-10.

[0027] The other fibers are at least one of the following: coconut fiber, Chinese medicine residue, moss, tea stems, bamboo powder, lotus leaf powder, mulberry leaves, vegetable stems, plant vines, and pomelo peel.

[0028] Coconut fiber has excellent water absorption capabilities and can quickly wrap up pet urine and feces;

[0029] The residue from traditional Chinese medicine contains medicinal properties that can penetrate the skin through the active ingredients in cat litter, exerting an antibacterial effect. Its unique odor also effectively reduces unpleasant smells in the litter. This method is not only environmentally friendly but also effectively improves the hygiene of the pet toilet, benefiting both pets and their owners.

[0030] As a master of scavenging in nature, moss can utilize the surrounding organic matter through its individual structure. At the same time, its dense structure is quite stable, making it an excellent filtration system.

[0031] Tea stems are rich in tea polyphenols and have the unique aroma of tea, which can better mask the odor of cat excrement;

[0032] Bamboo powder: Green bamboo has a strong antibacterial and antiseptic effect as well as a strong deodorizing effect. It is a natural antibacterial and deodorizing material given by nature, giving the cat litter a natural green bamboo fragrance.

[0033] Lotus leaf powder: It has excellent hygroscopic and absorbent properties, quickly absorbing moisture from urine and feces, keeping the cat litter dry and clean. The addition of lotus leaf powder also enhances the clumping ability of the litter, allowing it to clump together better during use, making it easier to clean and preventing litter from scattering and polluting the environment. Furthermore, lotus leaf powder also has a certain deodorizing effect, neutralizing the odor in urine, reducing the smell of the litter, and improving the quality of the cat's living environment.

[0034] Paper mulberry leaves: As a traditional Chinese medicine, paper mulberry leaves have medicinal properties such as clearing heat and detoxifying, stopping bleeding, and reducing swelling. They can help treat inflammation and swelling caused by skin problems such as interdigital dermatitis in cats, thus providing a natural treatment method.

[0035] Vegetable stalks: Vegetable stalks are used as a raw material for cat litter, as they can more effectively absorb urine and solid excrement, thereby reducing the amount of cat litter used.

[0036] Plant vines: They have good hygroscopic and antibacterial properties, and can quickly absorb and lock in cat urine and feces;

[0037] Grapefruit peel: Grapefruit peel extract contains naringin, which has the effect of inhibiting Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae and Salmonella typhi. It also acts as a bittering agent to prevent pets from accidentally ingesting it.

[0038] In addition, the present invention also provides a method for preparing modified plant fibers as described above, wherein the plant fibers are crushed and sieved through a 40-60 mesh to obtain a plant fiber substrate; a modifier is added to the plant fiber substrate, and the mixture is stirred and heated to 60-90°C for 2-4 hours, and then expanded at 105-135°C to obtain modified plant fibers.

[0039] Meanwhile, the present invention also provides a deodorizing functional cat litter containing the modified plant fibers as described above.

[0040] In the aforementioned deodorizing functional cat litter, the content of the modified plant fiber is 60-80 wt%.

[0041] The aforementioned deodorizing functional cat litter also includes starch, adhesive, and superabsorbent resin; the weight ratio of the modified plant fiber, starch, adhesive, and superabsorbent resin is 60-80:15-30:2-5:1-3.

[0042] The aforementioned deodorizing functional cat litter also includes an antibacterial agent, which is selected from at least one of sodium diacetate, Artemisia argyi extract, Camellia japonica extract, Ginkgo biloba extract, and thyme extract.

[0043] The starch is selected from at least one of α-starch, gluten, tapioca starch and corn starch; the binder is selected from at least one of guar gum, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium alginate and xanthan gum.

[0044] Finally, the present invention also provides a method for preparing the deodorizing functional cat litter as described above, wherein the composite modified plant fiber, starch, adhesive, superabsorbent resin and antibacterial agent are mixed and stirred to obtain a mixture; the mixture is granulated, dried and sieved to obtain cat litter.

[0045] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0046] This invention modifies plant fibers with sodium hydroxide, softening the fibers, improving their hydrophilicity, and enhancing the binding degree between other modifiers and the fibers. During the deodorization process, sodium bicarbonate and citric acid achieve synergistic adsorption and deodorization, while potassium aluminum sulfate enhances the fibers' rapid aggregation ability after water absorption, fixing the odor in cat urine. Through these four modifications, ultra-efficient deodorization and odor fixation effects are achieved using plant fibers. Detailed Implementation

[0047] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that unless specific conditions are specified in the examples, conventional conditions or conditions recommended by the manufacturer shall apply. Reagents or instruments whose manufacturers are not specified are all commercially available products.

[0048] Part 1: Preparation of Modified Plant Fibers

[0049] Example 1

[0050] A modified plant fiber for cat litter, the preparation method of which is as follows:

[0051] Step 1: Mix sugarcane bagasse, soybean residue, and sawdust that have passed through a 40-60 mesh sieve in a weight ratio of 1:1:1 to obtain mixed fiber;

[0052] Step 2: Spray 10 kg of modifier solution onto 90 kg of mixed fibers from Step 1, stir, and heat to 80°C for 3 hours; the modifier solution contains 3 wt% sodium hydroxide, 3 wt% sodium bicarbonate, 3 wt% potassium aluminum sulfate, and 0.35 wt% sodium citrate, and the solvent is water;

[0053] Step 3: The mixed fibers obtained in Step 2, which have absorbed sufficient liquid, are expanded at a temperature of 120°C to obtain expanded fibers, namely modified plant fiber 1.

[0054] Example 2

[0055] A modified plant fiber for cat litter, the preparation method of which is as follows:

[0056] Step 1: Mix sugarcane bagasse, soybean residue, and sawdust that have passed through a 40-60 mesh sieve in a weight ratio of 1:4:1 to obtain mixed fiber;

[0057] Step 2: Spray 5 kg of modifier solution onto 90 kg of mixed fibers from Step 1, stir, and heat to 70°C for 3 hours; the modifier solution contains 5 wt% sodium hydroxide, 5 wt% sodium bicarbonate, 5 wt% potassium aluminum sulfate, and 0.5 wt% sodium citrate, and the solvent is water;

[0058] Step 3: The mixed fibers obtained in Step 2, which have absorbed sufficient liquid, are expanded at a temperature of 120°C to obtain expanded fibers, namely modified plant fibers 2.

[0059] Example 3

[0060] A modified plant fiber for cat litter, the preparation method of which is as follows:

[0061] Step 1: Mix sugarcane bagasse, soybean residue, and sawdust that have passed through a 40-60 mesh sieve in a weight ratio of 4:1:4 to obtain mixed fiber;

[0062] Step 2: Spray 15 kg of modifier solution onto 90 kg of mixed fibers from Step 1, stir, and heat to 90°C for 3 hours; the modifier solution contains 1 wt% sodium hydroxide, 1 wt% sodium bicarbonate, 1 wt% potassium aluminum sulfate, and 0.2 wt% sodium citrate, and the solvent is water;

[0063] Step 3: The mixed fibers obtained in Step 2, which have absorbed sufficient liquid, are expanded at a temperature of 120°C to obtain expanded fibers, namely modified plant fibers 3.

[0064] Example 4

[0065] The method is largely the same as in Example 1, except that the plant fibers are sugarcane bagasse, soybean residue, sawdust, coconut fiber, Chinese medicine residue, moss, tea stems, and bamboo powder; and their weight ratio is 30:30:30:2:2:2:2:2.

[0066] The modified plant fiber obtained through this embodiment is namely modified plant fiber 4.

[0067] Comparative Example 1

[0068] The results are largely the same as in Example 1, except that the modifier solution contains 3 wt% sodium hydroxide, 3.35 wt% sodium bicarbonate, and 3 wt% potassium aluminum sulfate, and the solvent is water.

[0069] The modified plant fiber obtained through this comparative example is namely modified plant fiber 5.

[0070] Comparative Example 2

[0071] The results are largely the same as in Example 1, except that the modifier solution contains 4.5 wt% sodium hydroxide, 4.5 wt% potassium aluminum sulfate, and 0.35 wt% sodium citrate, and the solvent is water.

[0072] The modified plant fiber obtained through this comparative example is namely modified plant fiber 6.

[0073] Comparative Example 3

[0074] A modified plant fiber for cat litter, the preparation method of which is as follows:

[0075] Step 1: Mix sugarcane bagasse, soybean residue, and sawdust that have passed through a 40-60 mesh sieve in a weight ratio of 1:1:1 to obtain mixed fiber;

[0076] Step 2: Spray 10 kg of aqueous solution onto 90 kg of the mixed fibers from Step 1, stir, and heat to 80°C for 3 hours;

[0077] Step 3: Expand the mixed fibers obtained in Step 2 after sufficient liquid absorption at a temperature of 120°C to obtain expanded fibers;

[0078] Step 4: Spray 10 kg of modifier solution (same as in Example 1) onto the surface of the expanded fiber from Step 3, and dry it at 110°C for 2 hours to allow the moisture to evaporate fully; thus obtaining modified plant fiber 7.

[0079] Comparative Example 4

[0080] A modified plant fiber for cat litter, the preparation method of which is as follows:

[0081] Step 1: Mix sugarcane bagasse, soybean residue, and sawdust that have passed through a 40-60 mesh sieve in a weight ratio of 1:1:1 to obtain mixed fiber;

[0082] Step 2: Spray 10 kg of modifier solution onto 90 kg of mixed fibers from Step 1, stir, and heat to 80°C for 3 hours; the modifier solution contains 3 wt% sodium hydroxide, 3 wt% sodium bicarbonate, and 0.35 wt% sodium citrate, and the solvent is water;

[0083] Step 3: Expand the mixed fibers obtained in Step 2 after sufficient liquid absorption at a temperature of 120°C to obtain expanded fibers;

[0084] Step 4: Spray 10 kg of potassium aluminum sulfate alkaline solution (containing 3 wt% sodium hydroxide and 3 wt% potassium aluminum sulfate) onto the surface of the expanded fiber from Step 3, and dry it at 110°C for 2 hours to allow the moisture to evaporate completely; thus obtaining modified plant fiber 8.

[0085] Part Two: Cat Litter Preparation

[0086] Modified plant fiber, starch, adhesive, superabsorbent resin, and antibacterial agent are mixed and stirred according to the formula ratio to obtain a mixture; the mixture is then granulated, dried, and sieved to obtain cat litter.

[0087] The weight ratio of modified plant fiber, starch, adhesive, superabsorbent resin, and antibacterial agent is 70:22:4:2:2;

[0088] The antibacterial agent is a mixture of sodium diacetate, Artemisia argyi extract, Camellia japonica extract, Ginkgo biloba extract, and thyme extract, wherein the sodium diacetate, Artemisia argyi extract, Camellia japonica extract, Ginkgo biloba extract, and thyme extract are of equal mass.

[0089] The modified plant fibers are modified plant fibers 1 to 8 from the first part, and the cat litter numbers correspond one-to-one with these, namely cat litter 1 to cat litter 8.

[0090] Part Three: Performance Testing

[0091] Test method:

[0092] Dust content: Randomly select one bag of finished cat litter and use a 60-mesh sieve. Pour the cat litter into a vibrating sieve in 5 portions. The standard test sieve diameter is 200mm. Vibrate for 10 seconds at a frequency of 1440 times / minute. Weigh the total dust passing through the 5 sieves and record it as m1.

[0093] The dust rate is calculated using the formula F = m1 / m × 100%, where m is the total weight of the cat litter.

[0094] Saturated water absorption: This is an assessment of the water absorption rate of cat litter by measuring its ability to absorb moisture during the expansion process.

[0095] Ammonia removal rate: Add odorous substances such as ammonia to the cat litter, test the difference in ammonia volatilization concentration compared with the control treatment, and calculate the deodorization efficiency.

[0096] Antibacterial activity: Refer to WS / T 650-2019 for the evaluation method of antibacterial and antimicrobial effects.

[0097] The test results are shown in Table 1:

[0098] Table 1

[0099]

[0100] Results analysis:

[0101] 1. As can be seen from cat litter 1 to cat litter 4, when plant fibers are modified with four types of modifiers, the resulting cat litter can effectively absorb odors.

[0102] From cat litter 1 to cat litter 7, it can be seen that the water absorption rate is quite good. Although there are differences, they can meet the basic water absorption needs under the condition of super absorbent resin.

[0103] 2. A comparison of cat litter 1, cat litter 5, and cat litter 6 shows that the simultaneous use of sodium bicarbonate and sodium citrate is a necessary condition for achieving full odor absorption. The reason is that the two have different deodorizing mechanisms. The former removes acidic gases by reacting with its bicarbonate ions; the latter combines with alkaline gases to form stable organic salts. At the same time, sodium bicarbonate can also assist sodium hydroxide in softening the fibers and improving the subsequent swelling effect. Therefore, cat litter 6 not only showed a decrease in deodorizing ability but also a decrease in water absorption.

[0104] 3. A comparison between cat litter 1 and cat litter 7 shows that spraying the modifier solution onto the fiber surface only modifies the surface of the fiber, resulting in a significant deterioration in deodorization and water absorption.

[0105] 4. A comparison of cat litter 1, cat litter 7, and cat litter 8 shows that cat litter 8 employs a two-step modification process. First, the internal fibers are modified using an alkaline solution, and then the external fibers are modified by spraying with an alkaline solution of potassium aluminum sulfate. As can be seen from cat litter 8, its performance is slightly improved compared to cat litter 7. This demonstrates that the penetration of potassium aluminum sulfate into the fiber interior is an effective means of enabling the fiber to quickly aggregate after absorbing water and fixing the odor adsorbed by other adsorbents to prevent subsequent escape.

[0106] Through the optimization of this invention, a cat litter with good water absorption and deodorization effects has been obtained.

[0107] The above embodiments are preferred embodiments of the present invention, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above embodiments. Any changes, modifications, substitutions, combinations, or simplifications made without departing from the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be considered equivalent substitutions and shall be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A modified plant fiber for cat litter, characterized in that, The modified plant fiber uses plant fiber as raw material, which is modified and expanded by a modifier; The modifier is composed of sodium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, potassium aluminum sulfate, and sodium citrate. The weight ratio of sodium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, potassium aluminum sulfate, and sodium citrate is 1-5:1-5:1-5:0.2-0.

5.

2. The modified plant fiber according to claim 1, characterized in that, The modifier reacts with the plant fiber in the form of a modifier solution; the mass ratio of the plant fiber to the modifier solution is 85-95:5-15. The modifier solution contains 1-5 wt% sodium hydroxide, 1-5 wt% sodium bicarbonate, 1-5 wt% potassium aluminum sulfate, and 0.2-0.5 wt% sodium citrate.

3. The modified plant fiber according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plant fiber is one or more of sugarcane bagasse, soybean residue, and sawdust.

4. The modified plant fiber according to claim 3, characterized in that, The plant fiber is composed of sugarcane bagasse, soybean residue, sawdust, and other fibers; the mass ratio of sugarcane bagasse, soybean residue, sawdust, and other fibers is 10-40:10-40:10-40:1-10. The other fibers are at least one of the following: coconut fiber, Chinese medicine residue, moss, tea stems, bamboo powder, lotus leaf powder, mulberry leaves, vegetable stems, plant vines, and pomelo peel.

5. A method for preparing modified plant fiber as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, Plant fibers are crushed and sieved through a 40-60 mesh to obtain plant fiber substrate. Modifiers are added to the plant fiber substrate, stirred, heated to 60-90℃ for 2-4 hours, and then expanded at 105-135℃ to obtain modified plant fibers.

6. A deodorizing functional cat litter, characterized in that, Contains the modified plant fiber as described in any one of claims 1 to 4.

7. The deodorizing functional cat litter according to claim 6, characterized in that, The content of the modified plant fiber is 60-80 wt%.

8. The deodorizing functional cat litter according to claim 6, characterized in that, It also includes starch, adhesive, and superabsorbent resin; the weight ratio of the modified plant fiber, starch, adhesive, and superabsorbent resin is 60-80:15-30:2-5:1-3.

9. The deodorizing functional cat litter according to claim 8, characterized in that, It also includes an antibacterial agent, which is selected from at least one of sodium diacetate, Artemisia argyi extract, Camellia japonica extract, Ginkgo biloba extract, and thyme extract; The starch is selected from at least one of α-starch, gluten, tapioca starch and corn starch; the binder is selected from at least one of guar gum, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium alginate and xanthan gum.

10. A method for preparing the deodorizing functional cat litter as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The composite modified plant fiber, starch, adhesive, superabsorbent resin and antibacterial agent are mixed and stirred to obtain a mixture; the mixture is then granulated, dried and sieved to obtain cat litter.

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