Microcapsules for deodorization, concentrated granular cat litter, and methods of making and using the same

Abstract

This invention provides a microcapsule-based deodorizing cat litter, a concentrated granular cat litter, its preparation method, and its application, belonging to the field of cat litter preparation technology. The invention uses a complex of modified starch, gum arabic, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and sorbitol as the wall material to encapsulate fragrances and / or enzymes, resulting in microcapsules. The cat litter prepared from these microcapsules achieves intelligent targeted deodorization. The wall material ruptures upon contact with moisture in urine or feces, precisely releasing the active ingredients, allowing for a slow and continuous release of the deodorizing components. The cat litter provided by this invention exhibits excellent deodorization, as well as good water absorption, dust control, and clumping properties. This cat litter successfully balances superior functionality, production feasibility, and cost control, making it a high-end cat litter with significant market potential.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of cat litter preparation technology, specifically relating to a microcapsule for deodorization, concentrated granular cat litter, its preparation method and application. Background Technology

[0002] Compared to dogs, cats are better suited for apartment living and are more independent, catering to the needs of modern urban dwellers, especially young professionals and those living alone. Cat litter is an absolute necessity for cat owners, a high-frequency, high-consumption item. As long as you own a cat, you'll need to continuously purchase it. Cat litter products have undergone significant technological evolution around core needs such as odor control, clumping, and dust reduction. Odor control is paramount in cat litter product evaluation. Odor control principles in cat litter products include physical adsorption, chemical neutralization, bio-enzymatic deodorization, and fragrance masking. Fragrance masking, along with the other three methods, offers fast odor removal, while bio-enzymatic deodorization achieves thorough odor removal from the source. Biological deodorization suffers from poor stability and easy deactivation, while fragrance masking is highly irritating and the fragrance evaporates quickly, potentially leading to cats refusing to use it. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a microcapsule for deodorization that can not only maintain the deodorizing effect for a long time, but also rupture rapidly upon contact with water to achieve precise release of deodorizing ingredients.

[0004] The present invention provides a microcapsule for deodorization, comprising a core material and a wall material encapsulating the core material; the core material comprises a deodorizing active ingredient; The wall material is a composite of modified starch, gum arabic, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and sorbitol; The mass ratio of the modified starch, gum arabic, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and sorbitol is 80~90:6~9:4~6:0.5~2.

[0005] Preferably, the mass ratio of the core material to the wall material is 1:2.5~3.5.

[0006] Preferably, the deodorizing active ingredients include fragrances and / or enzymes.

[0007] Preferably, when the deodorizing active ingredient is an enzyme, the wall material further includes a protective agent; the protective agent accounts for 1% to 3% of the total mass of the wall material.

[0008] The present invention provides a cat litter, including tofu cat litter containing the microcapsules.

[0009] Preferably, the microcapsules include aromatic microcapsules containing fragrances and enzyme microcapsules containing enzymes.

[0010] Preferably, the microcapsule-containing tofu cat litter comprises the following components in parts by weight: 35-45 parts corn starch, 25-35 parts pea fiber, 8-12 parts corn flour, 2-4 parts guar gum, 3-4 parts pregelatinized corn starch, 0.1-0.3 parts aromatic microcapsules, 0.5-1 parts enzyme microcapsules, and 10-15 parts yucca extract.

[0011] Preferably, the microcapsule-containing tofu cat litter comprises the following components in parts by weight: 40 parts corn starch, 30 parts pea fiber, 10 parts corn flour, 3 parts guar gum, 3.5 parts pregelatinized corn starch, 0.2 parts aromatic microcapsules, 0.8 parts enzyme microcapsules, and 12 parts yucca extract.

[0012] This invention provides the application of the cat litter in cat breeding.

[0013] Preferably, the cat litter enhances at least one of the following environmental indicators: odor removal, absorbency, anti-caking, and antibacterial properties.

[0014] This invention provides a microcapsule for deodorization, comprising a core material and a wall material encapsulating the core material; the core material includes deodorizing active ingredients; the wall material is a complex of modified starch, gum arabic, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and sorbitol; the mass ratio of the modified starch, gum arabic, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and sorbitol is 80-90:6-9:4-6:0.5-2. The wall material encapsulates the deodorizing active ingredients, allowing for rapid release of these ingredients upon contact with water. When the cat litter dries, the encapsulated fragrance maintains a light scent to cater to the cat's sensitive sense of smell, while precisely releasing the fragrance when the cat excretes to effectively neutralize the source of odor. Alternatively, when encapsulating bio-enzymes, the microcapsule precisely releases the bio-enzymes after the cat excretes, allowing the bio-enzymes to rapidly and precisely decompose odor components, thoroughly breaking down odor substances at their source. This significantly improves the targeting and longevity of deodorization while avoiding the irritation to cats caused by traditional continuous fragrance dispersal and enhancing the user's olfactory experience. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 The test results are for the cat litter prepared according to this invention. Detailed Implementation

[0016] The present invention provides a microcapsule for deodorization, comprising a core material and a wall material encapsulating the core material; the core material comprises a deodorizing active ingredient; The wall material is a composite of modified starch, gum arabic, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and sorbitol; The mass ratio of the modified starch, gum arabic, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and sorbitol is 80~90:6~9:4~6:0.5~2.

[0017] In this invention, the mass ratio of modified starch, gum arabic, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and sorbitol in the wall material is 82-88:7-8:4.5-5.5:0.8-1.5, and can be 85:7.5:5:1. The modified starch includes at least one of the following: sodium octenyl succinate starch, hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate, and starch acetate. The preferred mass ratio of sodium octenyl succinate starch, hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate, and starch acetate is 4-6:1-3:1-3, and can be 5:2:2. Sodium octenyl succinate starch exhibits excellent emulsification, encapsulation, and stability; hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate provides good thickening, processing resistance, water retention, and freeze-thaw resistance; and starch acetate imparts high transparency, anti-settling properties, and freeze-thaw stability. Modified starches formed through pairwise blending (mass ratio can be 1~3:1~3) or ternary blending can achieve synergistic effects, simultaneously meeting multiple requirements such as emulsification, thickening, high-temperature shear resistance, anti-aging, freeze-thaw stability, and improved sensory quality in a single product. The modified starch serves as the main wall material, providing skeletal structure, mechanical strength, water resistance, and thermal stability, while also being low-cost and exhibiting good film-forming properties. Gum arabic, a natural polysaccharide, enhances emulsification, dispersibility, encapsulation efficiency, and wall material density. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), acting as an adhesive and film-forming aid, improves bonding strength, film flexibility, and structural integrity, reducing cracking. Sorbitol, as a plasticizer, reduces wall material brittleness, improves toughness, extensibility, and formability, and prevents microcapsule breakage. The composition and ratio of the wall material embed the core material to achieve intelligent release that is "triggered by water". It is precisely released only when the cat defecates to effectively neutralize the source of odor. This significantly improves the targeting and longevity of deodorization, while avoiding the stimulation of cats caused by traditional continuous fragrance and improving the user's olfactory experience.

[0018] In this invention, the deodorizing active ingredient includes fragrance and / or enzyme. The fragrance preferably includes the following types of stock solutions: soy milk fragrance, green tea fragrance, corn fragrance, and cherry blossom fragrance. The fragrance serves as an active ingredient for deodorization by masking odors, and the prepared microcapsules are aromatic microcapsules. The enzyme is preferably an eco-enzyme, a brown liquid produced by fermenting fresh kitchen waste (such as fruit peels and vegetable leaves), sugar, and water. The eco-enzyme is essentially a complex mixture composed of various probiotics and enzymes, containing organic acids, alcohol, and other components. In this embodiment, the eco-enzyme was purchased from Lesukun Hebei Biotechnology Co., Ltd. The eco-enzyme is used as the core material, and the prepared microcapsules are enzyme microcapsules. When the deodorizing active ingredient is an enzyme, the wall material also includes a protective agent; the protective agent accounts for 1% to 3% of the total mass of the wall material, which can be 1.5% to 2.5%, or even 2%. The protective agent preferably includes sugars. The sugars are preferably at least one of the following: monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, and sugar alcohols. The monosaccharides preferably include glucose, fructose, galactose, and mannose. The disaccharides preferably include at least one of the following: trehalose, sucrose, maltose, and lactose. The oligosaccharides preferably include at least one of the following: fructooligosaccharides, maltodextrin, and galactooligosaccharides. The polysaccharides and sugar alcohols preferably include at least one of the following: dextran, chitosan, starch, dextrin, sorbitol, mannitol, and xylitol.

[0019] In this invention, the mass ratio of the core material to the wall material is 1:2.5~3.5, and can be 1:3.

[0020] In this invention, the method for preparing the microcapsules preferably includes the following steps: The raw materials for the wall material are dissolved in water to obtain a wall material solution; The deodorizing active ingredients are dispersed into the wall material solution to form an oil-in-water emulsion; The oil-in-water emulsion was instantaneously dried to obtain spherical microcapsules.

[0021] In this invention, the mass concentration of the wall material solution is 10%~30%, and can be 15%. The dispersion method preferably involves adding the deodorizing active ingredient to the wall material solution under high-speed shear at 5000~6000 rpm. The instantaneous drying method is preferably spray drying. The inlet temperature of the spray dryer is preferably 150℃~200℃, and can be 170℃; the outlet temperature is preferably 60℃~90℃, and can be 75℃.

[0022] In this invention, the aromatic microcapsules and enzyme microcapsules prepared using the method of this invention are micron-sized spherical particles. The aromatic microcapsules encapsulate fragrance in their wall material to avoid overly pungent scents and improve cats' acceptability; when the cat defecates, the fragrance is released upon contact with water, precisely neutralizing the odor. The enzyme microcapsules encapsulate enzymes, and through intelligent targeted release, the enzyme activity is precisely applied to the source of excretion, achieving highly efficient biocatalytic decomposition of odors: the wall material of the microcapsules effectively protects enzyme activity from the influence of the storage environment, ensuring long-term stability; when the cat litter comes into contact with water (excretion), the capsules dissolve rapidly, and the enzymes are released in a concentrated manner, directly decomposing odor-causing organic matter (such as ammonia and sulfides), eliminating odors at their source, making it more natural and safer for both cats and users.

[0023] The present invention provides a cat litter, including tofu cat litter containing the microcapsules.

[0024] In this invention, the microcapsules are preferably aromatic microcapsules containing fragrance. The tofu cat litter containing microcapsules preferably comprises the following components in parts by weight: 35-45 parts corn starch, 25-35 parts pea fiber, 8-12 parts corn flour, 2-4 parts guar gum, 3-4 parts pregelatinized corn starch, 0.1-0.3 parts microcapsules, and 10-15 parts yucca extract; alternatively, it can be 38-42 parts corn starch, 28-32 parts pea fiber, 9-11 parts corn flour, 2.5-3.5 parts guar gum, 3.2-3.8 parts pregelatinized corn starch, 0.15-0.25 parts microcapsules, and 11-14 parts yucca extract; or it can be 40 parts corn starch, 30 parts pea fiber, 10 parts corn flour, 3 parts guar gum, 3.5 parts pregelatinized corn starch, 0.2 parts microcapsules, and 12 parts yucca extract. In this embodiment, the yucca extract was purchased from Shandong Huachang Animal Health Products Co., Ltd.

[0025] In this invention, the preferred method for preparing the cat litter involves mixing the raw material components with a small amount of water until they clump together, extruding and granulating them, and then drying them to obtain cat litter granules. This invention does not impose any particular limitation on the granulation method; any granulation method well-known in the art can be used. The drying temperature is preferably 100-120°C, but can be 100°C. The drying process continues until the cat litter granule content is below 12%. The cat litter granules possess good strength and are also resistant to mold growth.

[0026] This cat litter not only boasts lightweight, excellent clumping properties, and complete biodegradability, but also utilizes unique microencapsulation technology to encapsulate effective deodorizing ingredients. This allows for intelligent, targeted odor control; the capsule walls rupture upon contact with moisture in urine or feces, precisely releasing the active ingredients. It also provides long-lasting protection, with the microcapsules stably storing the active ingredients for slow, continuous release. This cat litter is safe and gentle; the encapsulated active ingredients do not volatilize when dry and do not come into direct contact with pets. Successfully balancing superior functionality, production feasibility, and cost control, it is a high-end cat litter with significant market potential.

[0027] The following detailed description, in conjunction with embodiments, illustrates a microcapsule for deodorization, concentrated granular cat litter, its preparation method, and its application provided by the present invention. However, these descriptions should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0028] Example 1 A method for preparing aromatic microcapsules for deodorization Prepare the core material by mixing the milk and bean flavoring in a 1:3 ratio of core material to wall material. Prepare the wall material, wherein the modified starch, gum arabic, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and sorbitol are in a mass ratio of 85:8:5:1. The modified starch comprises sodium octenyl succinate starch, hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate, and starch acetate in a mass ratio of 5:2:2.

[0029] 300 g of the wall material raw material was dissolved in 1 L of water to obtain a wall material solution. Milk and soybean flavoring was dispersed into the wall material solution under high-speed shearing at 6000 rpm for 30 min to form a stable oil-in-water emulsion. The emulsion was sprayed into a high-temperature drying tower through an atomizer, where the droplets evaporated instantly (within fractions of a second). The wall material (starch) dissolved in the water rapidly dried and solidified, tightly encapsulating the core material to form tiny, dry, spherical capsules, thus obtaining aromatic microcapsules.

[0030] Example 2 A method for preparing enzyme microcapsules for deodorization Prepare the core material, and prepare the milk and bean flavoring according to the mass ratio of the environmental enzyme to the wall material of 1:3. The wall material is prepared in a mass ratio of modified starch, gum arabic, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and sorbitol of 80:6:6:0.5. The modified starch comprises sodium octenyl succinate starch, hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate, and starch acetate in a mass ratio of 5:2:2. Additionally, 2% glucose is added based on the total mass of the wall material.

[0031] 300 g of the wall material raw material was dissolved in 1 L of water to obtain a wall material solution. Milk and soybean flavoring was dispersed into the wall material solution under high-speed shearing at 5000 rpm for 30 min to form a stable oil-in-water emulsion. The emulsion was sprayed into a high-temperature drying tower through an atomizer, where the droplets evaporated instantly (within fractions of a second). The wall material (starch) dissolved in the water rapidly dried and solidified, tightly encapsulating the core material to form tiny, dry, spherical capsules, thus obtaining enzyme microcapsules.

[0032] Example 3 Active ingredient release test of microcapsules The aromatic microcapsules prepared in Example 1 were added to a small amount of water and then baked in an oven at 55°C. The mass of the aromatic microcapsules was measured every hour, and the weight loss was calculated.

[0033] The experimental results are shown in Table 1. The results indicate that the active ingredients in the aromatic microcapsules are gradually released as the baking time increases.

[0034] Table 1 Results of sustained release of active ingredients

[0035] Example 4 Preparation method of tofu cat litter (concentrated granular cat litter) 1. Raw material preparation: Prepare the following components according to the following weights: 40 kg corn starch, 30 kg pea fiber, 10 kg corn flour, 3 kg guar gum, 3.5 kg pregelatinized corn starch, 0.2 kg aromatic microcapsules prepared in Example 1, 0.4 kg enzyme microcapsules prepared in Example 2, 12 kg yucca extract, and 25 kg water.

[0036] 2. Preparation steps The raw materials are mixed evenly at high speed, transferred to a granulator for extrusion granulation, the mixture is extruded and cut into granules, and finally dried at 100 ℃ to a moisture content of 10%, and cooled to obtain tofu cat litter.

[0037] Example 5 Finished product testing of cat litter The tofu cat litter prepared in Example 4 was subjected to product testing, which was specifically commissioned to Qingdao Huace Testing Technology Co., Ltd. (Report No.: A2260187825101001C). The testing items included sensory evaluation, aggregate weight, cohesion strength and cohesion, and deodorization rate.

[0038] Test results are shown Figure 1The test results show that the deodorization rate of the tofu cat litter prepared by this invention reaches over 99.3%, and the mold test results meet the requirements. Salmonella and aflatoxin B1 were not detected. The tofu cat litter's disintegration time is less than 42 seconds, meeting the requirements. The hardness reaches 40N, and the cohesion strength is 97.1%. The disintegration rate is 0.49%, and the dust content is 0.35%, indicating low dust generation. It has good water absorption, reaching 75%. The tofu cat litter does not contain formaldehyde or lead and arsenic heavy metal ions, demonstrating good safety.

[0039] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principle of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A microcapsule for deodorization, characterized in that, It includes a core material and a wall material encapsulating the core material; the core material includes deodorizing active ingredients; The wall material is a composite of modified starch, gum arabic, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and sorbitol; The mass ratio of the modified starch, gum arabic, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and sorbitol is 80~90:6~9:4~6:0.5~2.

2. The microcapsule for deodorization according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mass ratio of the core material to the wall material is 1:2.5~3.

5.

3. The microcapsule for deodorization according to claim 1, characterized in that, The deodorizing active ingredients include fragrances and / or enzymes.

4. The microcapsule for deodorization according to claim 3, characterized in that, When the deodorizing active ingredient is an enzyme, the wall material also includes a protective agent; the protective agent accounts for 1% to 3% of the total mass of the wall material.

5. A type of cat litter, characterized in that, This includes tofu cat litter containing the microcapsules described in any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The cat litter according to claim 5, characterized in that, The microcapsules include aromatic microcapsules containing fragrances and enzyme microcapsules containing enzymes.

7. The cat litter according to claim 6, characterized in that, The microcapsule-containing tofu cat litter comprises the following components in parts by weight: 35-45 parts corn starch, 25-35 parts pea fiber, 8-12 parts corn flour, 2-4 parts guar gum, 3-4 parts pregelatinized corn starch, 0.1-0.3 parts aromatic microcapsules, 0.5-1 parts enzyme microcapsules, and 10-15 parts yucca extract.

8. The cat litter according to claim 7, characterized in that, The microcapsule-containing tofu cat litter comprises the following components in parts by weight: 40 parts corn starch, 30 parts pea fiber, 10 parts corn flour, 3 parts guar gum, 3.5 parts pregelatinized corn starch, 0.2 parts aromatic microcapsules, 0.8 parts enzyme microcapsules, and 12 parts yucca extract.

9. The use of the cat litter according to any one of claims 5 to 8 in cat breeding.

10. The application according to claim 9, characterized in that, The cat breeding program includes improving at least one of the following environmental indicators: odor removal, liquid absorption, anti-caking, and antibacterial properties.

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