Cassava-based cat litter with tea polyphenol microencapsulation for improving bacteriostatic time and its preparation process

Abstract

The application discloses cassava-based cat litter with tea polyphenol microencapsulation for prolonging bacteriostatic time and a preparation process thereof, and belongs to the technical field of pet products. The cat litter is composed of cassava starch as a bonding core, plant fiber as a supporting framework, tea polyphenol microcapsules and functional additives. The edible polymer wall material is used to embed tea polyphenol to realize long-acting and slow release of bacteriostatic components, and solve the problems of easy oxidation and invalidation of tea polyphenol and short bacteriostatic time. The preparation process is divided into three steps of tea polyphenol microcapsule preparation, base material forming treatment and active composite treatment. One-body granulation and compounding or electrostatic dry powder wrapping after high-temperature drying and cooling of the base material to below 40 DEG C and low-temperature spraying compounding can effectively avoid water absorption and swelling of the hydrophilic wall material and damage caused by high temperature. The bacteriostatic effective period of the cat litter is more than 3 times longer than that of direct addition of tea polyphenol, and the cat litter has the advantages of tight clumping, high water absorption, strong deodorization, low dust, flushable, safe and degradable, and the like. The process is mild and controllable, and is suitable for industrial production.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of pet cleaning products technology, specifically relating to a plant-based cat litter with cassava starch as the main base material and long-lasting antibacterial slow release achieved through microencapsulation of tea polyphenols, and particularly relating to a cassava-based cat litter that utilizes tea polyphenol microencapsulation to enhance the antibacterial effect and its preparation process. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous improvement of living standards and the trend towards smaller family structures in my country, the pet ownership rate has been increasing year by year. As the mainstream companion animal, cats are increasingly being kept on a larger scale, driving the rapid growth of the pet supplies market. Cat litter, as a core consumable for daily cat excretion care, plays a crucial role in absorbing urine, covering feces, inhibiting odor, and reducing bacterial growth. Its performance directly affects the quality of the living environment and the health and safety of cats.

[0003] Currently, mainstream cat litter products on the market mainly include bentonite cat litter, tofu cat litter, pine cat litter, crystal cat litter, and mixed cat litter. Bentonite cat litter has low raw material costs, clumps quickly, and has strong adsorption capacity, but it also has drawbacks such as high dust content, non-biodegradability, easy clogging of sewers, and potential long-term damage to cats' respiratory and urinary systems, which does not align with environmentally friendly and health-conscious consumer trends. Tofu cat litter uses plant-based materials such as pea residue, soy protein, corn starch, and tapioca starch as its main base material, and has advantages such as flushability, biodegradability, low dust, and good biocompatibility, making it a mainstream product in the mid-to-high-end market. Cassava starch is widely available, inexpensive, has a low gelatinization temperature, and strong binding properties when wet, making it an excellent base material for preparing plant-based cat litter. However, it does not have antibacterial properties. In high-temperature and high-humidity environments, cat urine residue and fecal organic matter can easily breed harmful microorganisms such as E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, mold, and yeast. The metabolic process of these microorganisms will rapidly produce irritating odors such as ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and skatole, which not only pollute the indoor environment but may also cause health problems in cats such as skin allergies, urinary tract infections, and respiratory inflammation. At the same time, the large-scale proliferation of microorganisms will accelerate the rancidity and deterioration of the cat litter, shorten its effective lifespan, and increase feeding costs.

[0004] Tea polyphenols are natural polyphenolic compounds extracted from tea leaves. They mainly include active ingredients such as catechins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. They have broad-spectrum antibacterial, antioxidant, free radical scavenging, ammonia neutralization, and odor decomposition functions. They have significant inhibitory effects on common pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and molds. They are also safe, non-toxic, biodegradable, and residue-free, meeting the green and safe requirements for pet products. They are ideal antibacterial and deodorizing agents for cat litter. However, directly adding tea polyphenols to cassava-based cat litter presents several technical bottlenecks: First, tea polyphenols are chemically reactive and easily oxidized and degraded by environmental factors such as light, temperature, humidity, and oxygen, leading to a rapid loss of antibacterial activity and a very short antibacterial duration, making long-term protection impossible. Second, when tea polyphenols are directly mixed with substrates such as cassava starch and plant fibers, they easily interact with polysaccharides and proteins in the substrate, reducing their own activity and affecting the clumping strength, molding stability, and particle integrity of the cat litter. Third, directly adding high concentrations of tea polyphenols will cause the cat litter to turn dark brown, resulting in uneven coloring and odor mixing, reducing cats' acceptance and the product's appearance quality. Fourth, uneven distribution of tea polyphenols after direct mixing can cause abnormal substrate adhesion if the local concentration is too high, while if the local concentration is too low, the antibacterial effect cannot be achieved, making it difficult to achieve stable antibacterial performance.

[0005] Existing technologies include research and products on the use of tea polyphenols for antibacterial purposes in cat litter. However, most of these methods employ simple physical blending without stabilizing the tea polyphenols, failing to address issues such as easy oxidation, short shelf life, uneven distribution, and impact on substrate performance. Some technologies attempt to improve the stability of tea polyphenols through coating and loading, but these suffer from drawbacks such as low encapsulation rate, poor sustained-release effect, poor biocompatibility of the wall material, and complex preparation processes, hindering industrial application. Furthermore, current cassava-based cat litter preparation processes generally rely on manual experience to control process parameters such as material ratio, moisture content, granulation pressure, drying temperature, and rotation speed, lacking scientifically precise online control algorithms. This results in significant fluctuations in key indicators such as water absorption, clumping strength, antibacterial performance, and dust content between different batches, leading to poor product consistency and failing to meet the demands of large-scale production and stable market supply.

[0006] To address the problems of existing technologies, such as easy oxidation and deactivation of tea polyphenols, short antibacterial effect, insufficient clumping stability of cassava-based cat litter, easy microbial growth, large batch performance fluctuations, and the need to improve environmental protection and safety performance, this paper proposes to develop a cassava-based cat litter that achieves long-lasting and sustained-release antibacterial effect, compact clumping, high water absorption, low dust, flushability, and stable performance through the microencapsulation of tea polyphenols. This is accompanied by a scientifically controllable and industrially suitable preparation process, which has significant technological innovation value, market application prospects, and socio-economic benefits. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To address the shortcomings of existing cassava-based cat litter, such as short antibacterial duration, easy oxidation and degradation of tea polyphenols, poor compatibility with substrates, insufficient clumping strength, large batch performance fluctuations, and limited odor control, this invention provides a cassava-based cat litter and its preparation process that utilizes tea polyphenol microencapsulation to enhance antibacterial efficacy. Using cassava starch as the core substrate and combining it with plant fibers to construct a skeleton-bonding composite structure, edible polymer materials are used to microencapsulate tea polyphenols, achieving slow release of antibacterial active ingredients and significantly extending the antibacterial effect. Simultaneously, a self-developed online control algorithm for cat litter preparation enables precise closed-loop control of material ratios, moisture content, granulation parameters, and drying conditions throughout the entire process, improving product performance stability and batch consistency, and solving the problems of traditional preparation processes relying on experience, large parameter fluctuations, and uneven product quality. This invention's cat litter combines the advantages of long-lasting antibacterial effect, rapid clumping, high water absorption, powerful odor removal, low dust, flushability, and biodegradability, making it suitable for large-scale industrial production.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0009] A cassava-based cat litter that utilizes tea polyphenol microencapsulation to enhance antibacterial efficacy includes a base material component, tea polyphenol microcapsules, and functional additives. The base material component forms a porous composite structure with cassava starch as the binding core and plant fiber as the supporting framework. The tea polyphenol microcapsules use tea polyphenols as the core material and edible polymers as the wall material, possessing a slow-release antibacterial function. The antibacterial efficacy of this cat litter is more than 3 times longer than that of directly adding tea polyphenols, with a water absorption rate ≥220%, clumping strength ≥4.0N, ammonia removal rate ≥95%, and dust rate ≤0.3%.

[0010] By mass percentage, the base material component accounts for 75%~92%, tea polyphenol microcapsules account for 3%~10%, and functional additives account for 5%~15%; the mass ratio of cassava starch to plant fiber in the base material component is 1:0.4~1:0.8.

[0011] The plant fiber is selected from at least one of modified straw fiber, soybean residue fiber, coconut shell fiber, bamboo fiber, and bagasse fiber, with a particle size of 0.1~1.0mm; the edible polymer wall material is selected from at least one of sodium alginate, chitosan, maltodextrin, gelatin, and gum arabic.

[0012] The mass ratio of core material to wall material in tea polyphenol microcapsules is 1:1 to 1:4, the average particle size of microcapsules is 5 to 50 μm, the encapsulation rate is ≥85%, and the sustained release period is ≥7 days.

[0013] The functional additives include binders, water absorbents, pH buffers, and dispersants; the binders are selected from at least one of guar gum, xanthan gum, and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose; the water absorbents are selected from at least one of bentonite, diatomaceous earth, and zeolite powder; and the pH buffers are selected from at least one of sodium citrate, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium dihydrogen phosphate.

[0014] By mass percentage, functional additives comprise 40% to 65% binder, 25% to 50% water absorbent, 3% to 10% pH buffer, and 1% to 5% dispersant.

[0015] This invention also provides a process for preparing cassava-based cat litter that utilizes microencapsulation of tea polyphenols to enhance antibacterial efficacy, comprising the following steps:

[0016] (1) Preparation of tea polyphenol microcapsules;

[0017] (2) Substrate forming process, including substrate pretreatment, mixing and batching, moisture content control, granulation, drying and cooling;

[0018] (3) Active composite treatment: The tea polyphenol microcapsules are composited with the substrate so that the tea polyphenol microcapsules are distributed inside the cat litter particles or loaded on the surface of the cat litter particles.

[0019] The active composite treatment can be selected as follows: mixing the microcapsules with the substrate before granulation and then granulating them together; or drying and cooling the substrate to below 40°C and then coating it with electrostatic dry powder or spraying it onto the surface of the particles at low temperature.

[0020] When the active compounding process is carried out before granulation, the microcapsule mixing process must be carried out at a low speed, with the rotation speed controlled at 300~800 r / min, to avoid microcapsule breakage; the moisture content of the substrate should be controlled to 9%~13%; granulation should be carried out by extrusion granulation or centrifugal granulation, with a finished particle size of 1.5~5 mm; the drying temperature should be 85~125℃, the drying time should be 20~60 min, and the finished product moisture content should be ≤6%.

[0021] The online control algorithm for cat litter preparation includes material ratio control, moisture content correction, granulation pressure control, and granulation speed compensation. It collects material density, moisture content, and equipment running time in real time and automatically outputs optimal parameters. Among them, λ (density sensitivity coefficient), θ (moisture content influence coefficient), and μ (equipment wear coefficient) are empirical constants obtained from pilot-scale data through multiple linear regression, which can be reproduced and calibrated by those skilled in the art through conventional orthogonal experiments.

[0022] When the active composite treatment is selected to be granulated in one piece before granulation, the specific preparation process includes the following steps: (1) Preparation of tea polyphenol microcapsules: Dissolve edible polymer wall material in deionized water, stir thoroughly until completely dissolved, add tea polyphenol powder, emulsify at high speed to form a uniform emulsion, use composite coagulation method or spray drying method for microencapsulation treatment, and obtain tea polyphenol microcapsules after centrifugation, filtration, low temperature drying and sieving.

[0023] (2) Substrate pretreatment: crush, dry and sieve the plant fiber to control the particle size of 0.1~1.0 mm and the moisture content of ≤5%; sieve the cassava starch to remove impurities and set aside.

[0024] (3) Primary mixing: The pretreated cassava starch, plant fiber and functional additives are added to a high-speed mixer and mixed evenly at the set speed to obtain the basic mixture;

[0025] (4) Moisture content control: Add deionized water to the basic mixture to adjust the moisture content of the material to 9%~13%, seal and let stand for 1~3 hours to allow the moisture to penetrate evenly into the material.

[0026] (5) Secondary mixing and batching: Add the tea polyphenol microcapsules to the base mixture after adjusting the moisture content, and use low speed and gentle mixing (speed controlled at 300~800r / min) until uniformly dispersed to avoid the microcapsules being damaged by strong shear force in the wet state, and obtain the shaped mixture;

[0027] (6) Molding and granulation: The shaped mixture is fed into the granulation equipment. The granulation pressure, rotation speed and feeding speed are adjusted in real time by the cat litter preparation online control algorithm to complete the granulation and obtain wet cat litter granules;

[0028] (7) Drying and cooling: The wet cat litter pellets are fed into the drying equipment and dried at the set temperature until the moisture content is ≤6%, and then cooled to room temperature by air cooling;

[0029] (8) Screening and packaging: Screen the cooled cat litter granules to remove fine powder and excessively large particles, retain qualified particles, and package them to obtain the finished cassava-based cat litter.

[0030] Further, in step (1), the emulsification speed is 8000~12000 r / min, the emulsification time is 5~15 min; the pH value of the composite coagulation method is controlled at 3.5~5.5, the reaction temperature is 35~55℃, and the reaction time is 30~90 min; the inlet air temperature of the spray drying method is 160~200℃, the outlet air temperature is 80~100℃; the low temperature drying temperature is 30~50℃, and the microcapsule moisture content is ≤5%.

[0031] Furthermore, in step (3), the speed of the high-speed mixer is 1000~2200 r / min, and the mixing time is 4~10 min; in step (5), the speed of the second mixing is strictly controlled at 300~800 r / min, and the time is 3~8 min, to ensure that each component is evenly dispersed and to avoid damage to the tea polyphenol microcapsules.

[0032] Furthermore, in step (6), the granulation method is extrusion granulation or centrifugal encapsulation granulation, and the particle size of the finished cat litter is controlled at 1.5~5.0mm; in step (7), the drying temperature is 85~125℃, the drying time is 20~60min, and gradient drying is adopted, first low temperature shaping and then high temperature dehydration to avoid particle cracking and microcapsule damage.

[0033] Furthermore, the online control algorithm for cat litter preparation used in step (6) includes material ratio control formula, moisture content correction formula, granulation pressure control formula, and granulation speed compensation formula. The algorithm collects material bulk density, moisture content, equipment running time, and ambient temperature and humidity parameters in real time, and automatically calculates and outputs the optimal process parameters. Among them, λ (density sensitivity coefficient), θ (moisture content influence coefficient), and μ (equipment wear coefficient) are all empirical constants obtained by multiple linear regression analysis through pilot-scale test data collection. Those skilled in the art can use conventional orthogonal experiments to reproduce and calibrate the above coefficients.

[0034] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0035] This invention employs tea polyphenol microencapsulation technology, using edible polymers as wall materials to encapsulate tea polyphenols. This effectively isolates tea polyphenols from oxidation and damage caused by oxygen, humidity, and light, significantly improving the stability of tea polyphenols and enabling the slow release of antibacterial components. The antibacterial effect lasts for more than three times longer than that of directly adding tea polyphenols, effectively inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria and reducing the production of ammonia and odors.

[0036] This invention uses cassava starch as the binding core and plant fiber as the supporting framework to construct a framework-bonding composite structure, which takes into account the clumping compactness, particle strength and water absorption capacity. The cat litter clumps quickly when wet, does not stick to the bottom or collapse, and is easy to clean. At the same time, the dust rate is extremely low, protecting the cat's respiratory tract and keeping the living environment clean.

[0037] All raw materials used in this invention are natural, biodegradable, and pet-safe. They contain no chemical preservatives or synthetic antibacterial agents, can be flushed directly into the toilet, do not clog sewers, and do not pollute the environment, meeting the requirements of green environmental protection and health and safety.

[0038] This invention utilizes an independently developed online control algorithm for cat litter preparation to achieve precise closed-loop control of material ratio, moisture content, granulation pressure, rotation speed, and drying conditions throughout the entire process. This solves the problems of traditional processes relying on experience and large batch performance fluctuations, ensuring that the water absorption rate of different batches of cat litter fluctuates by ≤3%, the clumping strength fluctuates by ≤0.3N, and the diameter deviation of the antibacterial zone is ≤1.2mm, resulting in extremely high product consistency.

[0039] The preparation process of this invention is simple and controllable, the raw materials are widely available, and the cost is moderate. It can be implemented by modifying existing plant-based cat litter production lines without adding large-scale equipment. It is suitable for large-scale continuous industrial production and has significant economic and social benefits. Detailed Implementation

[0040] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the invention.

[0041] Example 1

[0042] A cassava-based cat litter that utilizes tea polyphenol microencapsulation to enhance antibacterial efficacy, by weight percentage: base material 86%, tea polyphenol microcapsules 6%, functional additives 8%.

[0043] The ratio of cassava starch to modified straw fiber in the substrate composition is 1:0.6;

[0044] The ratio of tea polyphenols to chitosan and maltodextrin in the tea polyphenol microcapsules is 1:2, with an encapsulation rate of 88% and an average particle size of 20 μm.

[0045] The functional additives include 50% guar gum, 42% zeolite powder, and 8% sodium citrate.

[0046] Preparation process:

[0047] (1) Preparation of tea polyphenol microcapsules;

[0048] (2) Substrate pretreatment;

[0049] (3) Mixing ingredients: Mix at 1500 r / min for 8 min;

[0050] (4) Adjust the moisture content to 10.5%;

[0051] (5) Active compounding: Add microcapsules and gently mix at 500 r / min for 5 min;

[0052] (6) Extrusion granulation;

[0053] (7) Gradient drying: 100℃ for 20 min, 110℃ for 15 min;

[0054] (8) Screening and packaging.

[0055] Example 2

[0056] A cassava-based cat litter that utilizes tea polyphenol microencapsulation to enhance antibacterial efficacy, comprising, by weight percentage: 80% base material, 8% tea polyphenol microcapsules, and 12% functional additives.

[0057] The ratio of cassava starch to bamboo fiber in the substrate composition is 1:0.4.

[0058] The ratio of tea polyphenols to sodium alginate and gelatin in the tea polyphenol microcapsules is 1:3, with an encapsulation rate of 90% and an average particle size of 30 μm.

[0059] The functional additives consist of 55% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, 35% diatomaceous earth, and 10% sodium bicarbonate.

[0060] Preparation process:

[0061] (1) Preparation of microcapsules by spray drying;

[0062] (2) Substrate pretreatment;

[0063] (3) Mix the ingredients at 1800 r / min for 6 min;

[0064] (4) Adjust the moisture content to 11%;

[0065] (5) Active compounding: Microcapsules are gently mixed at 500 r / min for 4 min;

[0066] (6) Centrifugal granulation;

[0067] (7) Dry at 95℃ for 40 minutes;

[0068] (8) Screening and packaging.

[0069] Example 3

[0070] A cassava-based cat litter that utilizes tea polyphenol microencapsulation to enhance antibacterial efficacy, comprising, by weight percentage: 90% base material, 4% tea polyphenol microcapsules, and 6% functional additives.

[0071] The ratio of cassava starch to coconut fiber in the substrate composition is 1:0.8.

[0072] The ratio of tea polyphenols to gum arabic and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose in the tea polyphenol microcapsules is 1:1.5, with an encapsulation rate of 86% and an average particle size of 15 μm.

[0073] The functional additives contain 60% xanthan gum, 32% zeolite powder, and 8% potassium citrate.

[0074] Preparation process:

[0075] (1) Preparation of microcapsules by composite agglomeration method;

[0076] (2) Substrate pretreatment;

[0077] (3) Mix the ingredients at 1200 r / min for 10 min;

[0078] (4) Adjust the moisture content to 9.5%;

[0079] (5) Extrusion granulation;

[0080] (6) Dry at 110℃ for 30 minutes, then cool to below 40℃;

[0081] (7) Active composite: microcapsules loaded with microcapsules are sprayed after low temperature;

[0082] (8) Screening and packaging.

[0083] Online control algorithm for cat litter preparation

[0084] Algorithm core formula

[0085] (1) Material proportioning control formula

[0086]

[0087] (2) Moisture content correction formula

[0088]

[0089] (3) Granulation pressure control formula

[0090]

[0091] (4) Granulation speed compensation formula

[0092]

[0093] The meanings of the letters are revealed

[0094] : No. Actual usage of each raw material, in kg

[0095] Raw material correction factor, ranging from 0.95 to 1.05, adjusted according to the purity and activity of the raw material.

[0096] Total mass of raw materials used in a single preparation, in kg.

[0097] : No. Theoretical mass percentage of each raw material, in %

[0098] Total percentage of all raw materials

[0099] W: Actual target water volume, in kg

[0100] : Standard water addition amount, unit kg

[0101] λ: Density sensitivity coefficient, ranging from 0.05 to 0.12.

[0102] Measured bulk density of material, unit g / cm³

[0103] Standard bulk density of the material, ranging from 0.60 to 0.80 g / cm³.

[0104] P: Actual granulation pressure, in MPa

[0105] The reference granulation pressure is 2.0 MPa for extrusion granulation and 1.6 MPa for centrifugal granulation.

[0106] θ: Moisture content influence coefficient, ranging from 0.08 to 0.15.

[0107] Measured moisture content of material, in %

[0108] Ω: Skeleton structure correction factor, with a value ranging from 0.90 to 1.10.

[0109] R: Actual granulation speed, in r / min

[0110] The reference granulation speed is 120~300 r / min.

[0111] Real-time density of the mixture, in g / cm³

[0112] μ: Equipment wear coefficient, ranging from 0.001 to 0.003.

[0113] T: Continuous operating time of the equipment, in hours.

[0114] Algorithm Execution Logic

[0115] The algorithm collects parameters such as material bulk density, moisture content, ambient temperature and humidity, and equipment running time in real time through online sensors, and automatically calculates the actual amount of each raw material, water addition, granulation pressure, and granulation speed by substituting them into the core formula. This achieves precise control of the entire process without human intervention, ensuring that the tea polyphenol microcapsules are not damaged, the cat litter granules are uniform, the performance is stable, and the batch-to-batch differences are minimal.

[0116] λ (density sensitivity coefficient), θ (moisture content influence coefficient), and μ (equipment wear coefficient) are all empirical constants obtained through multiple linear regression analysis based on the pilot-scale test data of the tea polyphenol cassava-based cat litter of this invention. Those skilled in the art can use conventional orthogonal experiments to reproduce and calibrate the above coefficients to adapt them to different production lines and raw material batches.

[0117] Performance test results

[0118]

[0119] Test results show that the products of each embodiment of the present invention meet the specifications defined in the claims, exhibiting excellent overall performance and strong stability.

[0120] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cassava-based cat litter that utilizes microencapsulation of tea polyphenols to enhance antibacterial efficacy, characterized in that, The product includes a base material component, tea polyphenol microcapsules, and functional additives. The base material component uses cassava starch as a binding core and plant fiber as a supporting framework to form a porous composite structure. The tea polyphenol microcapsules use tea polyphenols as the core material and edible polymers as the wall material, and have a slow-release antibacterial function. The antibacterial effect of the cat litter is more than 3 times longer than that of directly adding tea polyphenols, with a water absorption rate ≥220%, clumping strength ≥4.0N, and ammonia removal rate ≥95%.

2. The cassava-based cat litter according to claim 1, characterized in that, By mass percentage, the base material component accounts for 75%~92%, tea polyphenol microcapsules account for 3%~10%, and functional additives account for 5%~15%; the mass ratio of cassava starch to plant fiber in the base material component is 1:0.4~1:0.

8.

3. The cassava-based cat litter according to claim 2, characterized in that, The plant fiber is selected from at least one of modified straw fiber, soybean residue fiber, coconut shell fiber, bamboo fiber, and bagasse fiber, with a particle size of 0.1~1.0mm; the edible polymer wall material is selected from at least one of sodium alginate, chitosan, maltodextrin, gelatin, and gum arabic.

4. The cassava-based cat litter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mass ratio of core material to wall material in tea polyphenol microcapsules is 1:1 to 1:4, the average particle size of microcapsules is 5 to 50 μm, the encapsulation rate is ≥85%, and the sustained release period is ≥7 days.

5. The cassava-based cat litter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The functional additives include binders, water absorbents, pH buffers, and dispersants; the binders are selected from at least one of guar gum, xanthan gum, and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose; the water absorbents are selected from at least one of bentonite, diatomaceous earth, and zeolite powder; and the pH buffers are selected from at least one of sodium citrate, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium dihydrogen phosphate.

6. The cassava-based cat litter according to claim 5, characterized in that, In functional additives, binders account for 40% to 65%, water absorbents account for 25% to 50%, pH buffers account for 3% to 10%, and dispersants account for 1% to 5%.

7. A preparation process for cassava-based cat litter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: (1) Preparation of tea polyphenol microcapsules; (2) Substrate forming process, including substrate pretreatment, mixing and batching, moisture content control, granulation, drying and cooling; (3) Active composite treatment: The tea polyphenol microcapsules are composited with the substrate so that the tea polyphenol microcapsules are distributed inside the cat litter particles or loaded on the surface of the cat litter particles. The preparation process utilizes an online control algorithm for cat litter preparation to achieve closed-loop parameter regulation.

8. The preparation process according to claim 7, characterized in that, The active composite treatment is as follows: before granulation in step (2), the tea polyphenol microcapsules are mixed evenly with the substrate and then granulated as a single unit.

9. The preparation process according to claim 7, characterized in that, The active composite treatment is as follows: after the substrate in step (2) is dried and cooled to below 40°C, tea polyphenol microcapsules are attached to the surface of the substrate particles by electrostatic dry powder coating or low-temperature spraying.

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