Bentonite cat litter enhancer, dust reduction and odor removal agent and its application

Abstract

The present application provides a bentonite cat litter reinforcing, dust-reducing and deodorizing agent and its application. The bentonite cat litter reinforcing, dust-reducing and deodorizing agent comprises coconut monoethanolamide and sodium laurate. The bentonite cat litter comprises bentonite and the above-mentioned bentonite cat litter reinforcing, dust-reducing and deodorizing agent distributed in and on the bentonite particles. In the present application, the coconut monoethanolamide and sodium laurate play the role of reinforcement in dry cat litter, and after hygroscopic dissolution, they play the role of deodorization and enhancement of the clumping strength; the sodium laurate also plays the role of assisting the dissolution of the coconut monoethanolamide and the precipitation of the denatured protein and nucleotide and the generation of larger molecular nitrogen-containing compounds in the present application. Therefore, the bentonite cat litter particles obtained by using the above-mentioned bentonite cat litter reinforcing, dust-reducing and deodorizing agent have the characteristics of high strength, no dust, strong deodorizing ability, high water absorption rate and high clumping strength, and are suitable for popularization and application.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of bentonite processing, specifically relating to a bentonite cat litter enhancer, dust reducer and deodorizer and its application. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, there are many types of cat litter on the market, including five main categories: bentonite cat litter, clumping cat litter, crystal cat litter, wood powder cat litter, and paper litter. Among them, bentonite clumping cat litter is the most commonly used. It has strong moisture absorption, good clumping properties, and is the cheapest. It can quickly absorb moisture and urine from feces and clump together, making it easy to clean. However, bentonite cat litter granules have poor strength and are easily broken into small particles during production and use, which adhere to cat fur and paws. Moreover, these small bentonite cat litter particles can generate a lot of dust, causing dust accumulation on indoor furniture and air pollution.

[0003] The simplest way to solve the problems of bentonite cat litter strength and dust is to produce larger granules in strip or ball shapes. However, large granules can cause pet urine to not be fully absorbed and flow to the bottom of the litter box due to the larger gaps between the granules.

[0004] The issues of bentonite cat litter strength and dust can also be addressed by adding binders. Patent CN111937757A provides a small-particle bentonite cat litter that uses water glass as a binder to prevent dust generation. Patent CN112400709A involves pulverizing and premixing sodium bentonite and modified zeolite together, then adding water glass for binding and granulation; the added water glass also serves as a binder and dust preventer. However, this method of dust removal using external binders often significantly reduces the water absorption and adsorption properties of bentonite, thus deteriorating the cat litter's performance. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the weaknesses of bentonite cat litter in the prior art, this application provides a bentonite cat litter enhancer, dust reducer, and deodorizer, and its application. The enhancer comprises a mixture of cocoyl monoethanolamide and sodium laurate. The sodium laurate accounts for 8-12% of the mass of cocoyl monoethanolamide. The adhesive effect of this mixture after hot melting increases the strength of the bentonite cat litter particles, thereby reducing litter dust. The hydrophobic association of this mixture with pet excrement forms an associative compound, and its precipitation effect on degenerated proteins eliminates the odor of pet excrement. The water-absorbing, thickening, and binding properties of this mixture improve the clumping strength of the cat litter.

[0006] A bentonite cat litter comprises bentonite and a hard waxy solid distributed within and on the surface of the bentonite particles. The hard waxy solid is a bentonite cat litter enhancer, dust suppressant, and deodorizer (including a mixture of cocoyl monoethanolamide and sodium laurylate). The particle strength of the cat litter is 17-26 N.

[0007] The bentonite is sodium-based bentonite.

[0008] The mass of cocoyl monoethanolamide in cat litter is 3.0%-7.0% of the mass of bentonite, preferably 5.0%.

[0009] The preparation method of the bentonite cat litter includes the following steps:

[0010] (1) Take cocoacid monoethanolamide and sodium laurate, prepare an aqueous solution to obtain cocoacid monoethanolamide / sodium laurate aqueous solution;

[0011] (2) The above-mentioned coconut oil monoethanolamide / sodium laurate aqueous solution is sprayed into the natural calcium-based bentonite during the sodiumization process. During the extrusion process of the roller extruder, the mixture of coconut oil monoethanolamide and sodium laurate is evenly introduced into the calcium-based bentonite.

[0012] (3) Bentonite cat litter is obtained by stacking, drying, baking and cooling.

[0013] The amount of coconut oil monoethanolamide used is 3.0%-7.0% of the mass of calcium-based bentonite. A preferred amount is 5.0%.

[0014] The concentration of cocoyl monoethanolamide in the aqueous solution of cocoyl monoethanolamide / sodium lauryl laurate is 4-6%, and the concentration of sodium lauryl laurate is 0.4-0.6%.

[0015] The stacking time is 3 days or more.

[0016] The drying temperature is 110-120℃.

[0017] At room temperature, cocoyl oleate monoethanolamide (1:1) is a hard waxy solid. When mixed with an aqueous solution of sodium laurate, it is dehydrated and dried in bentonite. The two components are then distributed as a molten mixture within the bentonite. After natural cooling, they re-solidify into a hard waxy solid. These hard waxy solids, distributed within and on the surface of the bentonite cat litter granules, provide a certain bonding strength to the granules, significantly reducing their brittleness and greatly minimizing breakage and wear during transportation and use, thus achieving the goal of reducing dust in bentonite cat litter.

[0018] Bentonite cat litter, which is compounded with cocoyl monoethanolamide / sodium laurylate, absorbs pet excrement fluids while retaining low-molecular-weight organic amines, indoles, organic sulfur, etc. in pet excrement in the cat litter by utilizing the hydrophobic association and solubilization effect of surfactants. This reduces the volatility of these volatile odor-causing low-molecular-weight substances, thereby reducing the odor of pet excrement.

[0019] The use of small amounts of sodium laurate can increase the dissolution rate of cocoyl monoethanolamide in pet excrement. Another function is to coagulate large odor molecules such as degenerated proteins and their degradation products in pet excrement. Besides the aforementioned low-molecular-weight compounds containing nitrogen, degenerated and denatured proteins are another major source of fecal odor. Under the pH conditions of pet excrement, degenerated proteins carry a net positive charge. When combined with the anionic surfactant sodium laurate, they denature and precipitate, thus being fixed in the litter granules and reducing the odor of pet excrement.

[0020] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0021] In this invention, cocoyl monoethanolamide and sodium laurate play a reinforcing role in dry cat litter. After absorbing moisture and dissolving, they deodorize and enhance the clumping strength. Sodium laurate in this application also acts as a solubilizer for cocoyl monoethanolamide and as a precipitant for degenerated and denatured proteins and nucleotides, as well as the resulting larger molecular weight nitrogen-containing compounds.

[0022] The technical innovations of this invention are as follows:

[0023] 1. The bentonite cat litter strengthening, dust reducing and deodorizing agent of the present invention condenses inside and on the surface of bentonite cat litter particles, which can increase the strength of bentonite cat litter particles, reduce brittleness and increase toughness, effectively solving the defects of bentonite cat litter being brittle and having a large amount of dust.

[0024] 2. The use of bentonite cat litter enhancers, dust suppressants, and deodorizers in this invention does not fundamentally change the original production process of bentonite cat litter. It only adds a dust suppression agent spraying device to the original process, which does not require a large investment in equipment.

[0025] 3. The bentonite cat litter enhancer, dust suppressant, and deodorizer of this invention can retain low-odor molecules such as organic amines and indole in the cat litter by utilizing its hydrophobic association and hydrogen bonding between polar groups, thereby reducing the volatility of these low-odor molecules. The sodium laurate in the cat litter enhancer, dust suppressant, and deodorizer can bind to positively charged degenerated proteins, causing them to denature and precipitate, thus eliminating the odor and further reducing the odor of pet excrement. At the same time, sodium laurate also has the effect of solubilizing coconut oil monoethanolamide, allowing it to fully exert its deodorizing effect.

[0026] 4. The coconut oil monoethanolamide in the bentonite cat litter dust suppressant of this invention has excellent water retention, thickening and viscous properties, which is beneficial to improving the water absorption efficiency and clumping strength of cat litter. Detailed Implementation

[0027] Example

[0028] A mixed aqueous solution of cocoyl monoethanolamide and sodium laurate: wherein cocoyl monoethanolamide is 5% and sodium laurate is 0.5%.

[0029] Natural calcium-based bentonite was extruded and sodium-treated by adding industrial soda ash at a mass ratio of 2%. Simultaneously, a mixed solution of cocoyl monoethanolamide / sodium laurylate was sprayed into the mixture, with the mass of cocoyl monoethanolamide in the sprayed solution being 3.0%, 5.0%, and 7.0% of the calcium-based bentonite, respectively. The mixture was covered and sealed with plastic film for 3 days, then dried at 115℃ until the moisture content was ≤12%. The samples were sieved, and 1-3 mm particles were collected, yielding three bentonite cat litter samples A, B, and C with different mass fractions of cocoyl monoethanolamide / sodium laurylate.

[0030] Comparative Example

[0031] (1) Add industrial soda ash to natural calcium-based bentonite at a mass ratio of 2% and perform three extrusion sodium treatment. Cover and seal with plastic film for 3 days, dry at 115℃ until the moisture content is ≤12%, sieve, collect 1-3 mm particles, and obtain bentonite cat litter comparison sample.

[0032] The methods for testing the quality of cat litter in the examples and comparative cases are as follows:

[0033] 1. Water Absorption Rate: According to GB / T20973-2007 "New Water Absorption Rate Test Method Provided by Porous Plate Method", the specific test steps are as follows: Place the porous ceramic plate in a glass container and immerse it in distilled water until the porous ceramic plate is fully soaked. During the test, always keep the upper surface of the porous ceramic plate 6±1mm above the water surface, and keep the temperature of the glass container and water stable at 20±2℃.

[0034] Soak two sheets of filter paper in distilled water for 30 seconds to saturate them with water, then place them on a porous ceramic plate to equilibrate the water for 60 minutes, and weigh the filter paper separately.

[0035] Weigh out two cat litter samples, each 5 ± 0.01 g, that have been dried to constant weight at 105 ± 3℃. Spread them evenly on two sheets of wet filter paper, with the litter spread in a diameter of approximately 9 cm.

[0036] Place the filter paper and cat litter symmetrically on a porous ceramic plate (be careful not to overlap), and cover with a glass container lid. After standing for 2 hours, carefully remove the wet filter paper and cat litter samples with tweezers and a spatula, and weigh them on a balance.

[0037] The water absorption rate of cat litter is calculated using formula (1):

[0038]

[0039] Where: Wa—water absorption rate, %; W—mass of wet filter paper and wet cat litter, g; W0—mass of wet filter paper, g; m—mass of dry cat litter sample, g.

[0040] Water absorption rate (%) ≥ 200 in 2 hours is acceptable.

[0041] 2. Leakage test at the bottom: Spread the cat litter evenly in the cat litter box with a fixed thickness of 5 cm. Pour 50 mL of an aqueous solution containing 1% NaCl into a 100 mL separatory funnel. At a height of 30 cm above the cat litter, let it drip evenly and drop at a fixed point within 30 s. After 120 s, check whether the cat litter leaks at the bottom. If there is no leakage at the bottom, it is considered qualified.

[0042] 3. Clumping strength: Clumping shape and clumping strength

[0043] Spread the cat litter evenly in a container with dimensions of 25 cm × 12 cm × 8 cm (length × width × height); from a height of 2.5 cm, add 10 mL of 1% NaCl solution to the cat litter within 4 - 5 s; after 10 s, pour out the clumped test block, observe the clumping shape and record it. Let the test block fall freely from a height of 75 cm, and record whether the test block breaks. If the test block does not break, it is considered qualified.

[0044] 4. Odor removal effect test

[0045] Prepare 100 mL of a mixed solution of 0.01% dimethylamine and 1% sodium chloride for later use.

[0046] Weigh 2000 g of cat litter and put it into the cat litter box. Use a quantitative syringe to suck 20 mL of the above solution and inject it into the cat litter at a speed of 1.5 mL / s. After 30 min, 5 people respectively conduct odor rating tests, and the rating test and judgment results are shown in Table 1.

[0047] Table 1 Odor rating test and judgment results

[0048]

[0049] The experimental results of the examples and comparative examples are shown in Table 2.

[0050] Table 2 Comparative experimental results

[0051]

[0052] As can be seen from Table 2, the cat litter particles made from the bentonite cat litter enhancer, dust suppressant, and odor remover of this application in the examples have significantly better performance in terms of particle strength, dust, odor, water absorption, leakage at the bottom, and clumping strength than pure bentonite cat litter.

Claims

1. A bentonite cat litter, characterized in that: The product includes bentonite and a hard waxy solid distributed within and on the surface of the bentonite particles. The hard waxy solid is a bentonite cat litter enhancer, dust suppressant, and deodorizer. The particle strength of the cat litter is 17-26N. The bentonite cat litter enhancer, dust suppressant, and deodorizer includes cocoyl monoethanolamide and sodium laurylate.

2. The bentonite cat litter as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The mass of sodium laurate is 8-12% of the mass of cocoyl monoethanolamide.

3. The bentonite cat litter as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The bentonite is sodium-based bentonite.

4. The bentonite cat litter as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The mass of cocoyl monoethanolamide in cat litter is 3.0%-7.0% of the mass of bentonite.

5. A method for preparing bentonite cat litter according to claim 1, characterized in that: Includes the following steps: (1) Take cocoacid monoethanolamide and sodium laurate, prepare an aqueous solution to obtain an aqueous solution of cocoacid monoethanolamide and sodium laurate; (2) The above-mentioned coconut oil monoethanolamide and sodium lauryl acid aqueous solution is sprayed into the natural calcium-based bentonite during the sodiumization process. During the extrusion process of the roller extruder, the mixture of coconut oil monoethanolamide and sodium lauryl acid is evenly introduced into the calcium-based bentonite. (3) Bentonite cat litter is obtained by stacking, drying, baking and cooling.

6. The method for preparing bentonite cat litter as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The amount of coconut oil monoethanolamide used is 3.0%-7.0% of the mass of calcium-based bentonite.

7. The method for preparing bentonite cat litter as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The concentration of cocoyl monoethanolamide in the aqueous solution of cocoyl monoethanolamide and sodium lauryl laurate is 4-6%.

8. The method for preparing bentonite cat litter as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The stacking time is 3 days or more; the drying temperature is 110-120℃.

Images