Excrement treatment material and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

The present invention provides an excrement treatment material that does not easily leave urine residue on the surface of granular material, and a method for manufacturing the same. [Solution] The waste treatment material 1 comprises granular material 10. The granular material 10 contains granulated material 12. The granulated material 12 is hydrophobic. The granulated material 12 contains resin-coated paper material and porous material.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an excrement treatment material and a method for manufacturing the same.

Background Art

[0002] As a conventional excrement treatment material, for example, there is one described in Patent Document 1. The excrement treatment material described in this document is composed of a plurality of granular bodies having hydrophobicity (water repellency) and is laid on a toilet for pets. This pet toilet is partitioned into an upper space and a lower space by a mesh-like sheet that allows urine to pass through. The hydrophobic granular bodies are disposed in the upper space. In the lower space, a liquid absorption sheet is disposed. When a pet urinates, the urine passes through the gaps between the hydrophobic granular bodies and reaches the lower space through the mesh-like sheet. The urine that reaches the lower space is absorbed by the liquid absorption sheet.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] As a material for the granulated product constituting the granular body, a resin-coated paper material (for example, vinyl wallpaper) made of paper with resin attached may be used. By using a resin-coated paper material, urine is less likely to be absorbed by the granulated product compared to the case of using a normal paper material. This is advantageous for enhancing the hydrophobicity of the granular body, but has the drawback that urine is likely to remain on the surface of the granular body. The urine remaining on the surface of the granular body causes the bad odor generated from the urine to waft around the toilet.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an excrement treatment material in which urine is unlikely to remain on the surface of the granular body, and a method for manufacturing the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The waste treatment material according to the present invention is a waste treatment material comprising granular material, wherein the granular material includes hydrophobic granules, and the granules contain resin-coated paper material and porous material.

[0007] This waste treatment material contains hydrophobic granules. The granules include a resin-coated paper material as well as a porous material. Therefore, urine adhering to the surface of the granules can be absorbed by the porous material. This reduces the likelihood of urine remaining on the surface of the granules.

[0008] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for producing an excrement treatment material comprising granular material, comprising a granulation forming step in which a hydrophobic granule constituting the granular material is formed, characterized in that the granulation forming step in which a resin-adhered paper material and a porous material are formed.

[0009] In this manufacturing method, hydrophobic granules are formed. The granules contain a porous material in addition to the resin-coated paper material. Therefore, in the excrement treatment material after manufacturing, urine adhering to the surface of the granules can be absorbed by the porous material. As a result, urine is less likely to remain on the surface of the granules. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, an excrement treatment material in which urine is less likely to remain on the surface of the granular material, and a method for manufacturing the same are realized. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment of the waste treatment material according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram showing a second embodiment of the waste treatment material according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted. (First Embodiment)

[0013] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment of the excrement treatment material according to the present invention. The excrement treatment material 1 is used for treating excrement (mainly urine). The excrement treatment material 1 may be an animal excrement treatment material used for treating the excrement of animals such as cats and dogs, or it may be a human excrement treatment material used for treating human excrement. The excrement treatment material 1 comprises granular material 10 for treating excrement. The excrement treatment material 1 is used, for example, in a system toilet that comprises a box-shaped main body for receiving excremented urine and a partition that divides the internal space of the main body into an upper space and a lower space. The partition has through holes for urine to pass through. In this case, the excrement treatment material 1 is used in a state in which a plurality of granular material 10 are laid directly on the partition.

[0014] The granular material 10 is granular in shape. Examples of such granular shapes include spheres, cylinders, or ellipsoids. The particle size of the granular material 10 is, for example, 3 mm or more and 30 mm or less. Here, the particle size of the granular material 10 is defined as the diameter of the smallest sphere that can contain the granular material 10.

[0015] The granular material 10 is hydrophobic. That is, the granular material 10 does not absorb any liquids such as urine, or absorbs very little of them. For the granular material 10 to be hydrophobic, the liquid permeability measured by the following test must be 60% or more. First, place 50g of the granular material 10 (sample) into a sieve with an inner diameter of 10cm and a mesh size of 1mm. Place an empty beaker below the sieve. Then, using a syringe with an outer cylinder inner diameter of 3cm and a tip inner diameter of 4mm (Terumo 60ml syringe), dropwise add 30ml of water to the sample over 10 seconds. After standing for 1 minute, measure the amount of water in the beaker. The liquid permeability is calculated as the ratio of the measured amount of water to the amount of water added (30ml). That is, if the amount of water in the beaker is 18ml or more, the liquid permeability will be 60% or more, and therefore the granular material 10 can be said to be hydrophobic.

[0016] The granular body 10 contains granules 12. In this embodiment, the granular body 10 consists only of granules 12. The surface of the granules 12 is uncoated. Therefore, the granules 12 themselves are hydrophobic. The granules 12 contain resin-coated paper material, a porous material, and additives. The resin-coated paper material is a material made of paper to which resin is attached. Preferably, the resin-coated paper material is paper to which the resin is inseparably attached. Here, "inseparable" means that, with the technology available at the time of this application, it is difficult to completely separate the paper and the resin. Examples of resin-coated paper material include resin-coated paper, resin-laminated paper, or resin-impregnated paper. Examples of resin-coated paper include vinyl chloride wallpaper or release paper. Preferably, the resin-coated paper material is waste material. The resin-coated paper material may be classified (a portion of the resin has been removed from the paper by classification) or unclassified (not classified). The porous material is preferably one that does not swell when it absorbs water. Examples of such porous materials include zeolite, diatomaceous earth, silica gel, or activated carbon.

[0017] Resin-coated paper material and porous material are the two main materials of the granules 12. Here, the two main materials refer to the materials that make up the granules 12 and have the top two weight percentages of the granules 12. The main material of the granules 12 may be either the resin-coated paper material or the porous material, or both. Here, the main material of the granules 12 refers to the material that makes up the granules 12 and has the largest weight percentage of the granules 12. The weight percentage of resin-coated paper material in the granules 12 is preferably 40% to 95%, and more preferably 50% to 70%. The weight percentage of porous material in the granules 12 is preferably 5% to 60%, and more preferably 30% to 50%. Furthermore, the total weight percentage of resin-coated paper material and porous material in the granules 12 is preferably 95% or more, and more preferably 99% or more. Examples of additives include lubricants, resin stabilizers, or deodorizers. For example, paraffin (paraffin wax) can be used as a lubricant. For example, calcium-based stabilizers can be used as resin stabilizers. The weight percentage of additives in the granules 12 is preferably 5% or less, and more preferably 1% or less.

[0018] The granules 12 do not contain water-curable materials. Examples of water-curable materials include gypsum, cement, or water-curable resins. Furthermore, the granules 12 do not contain thermoplastic resins, except for the resins that make up the resin-adhered paper material. Examples of thermoplastic resins include EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin).

[0019] Next, as a first embodiment of the method for manufacturing the excrement treatment material according to the present invention, an example of a method for manufacturing the excrement treatment material 1 will be described. This manufacturing method includes a granule formation step.

[0020] The granule formation process is a process of forming granules 12 that constitute the granular material 10. In this process, a plurality of granules 12 are formed by granulating a granulation material (the material constituting the granules 12) using a granulation device. As the granulation device, for example, an extrusion granulator can be used. Prior to granulation, pretreatment such as pulverization, kneading, and water addition is performed on the granulation material as necessary. After granulation, post-treatment such as sieving (classifying) and drying is performed as necessary. Thus, the excrement treatment material 1 composed of a plurality of granular materials 10 is obtained.

[0021] The effects of this embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, granules 12 having hydrophobicity are formed. The granules 12 contain a porous material in addition to the resin-coated paper material. Therefore, urine adhering to the surface of the granular material 10 can be absorbed by the porous material. As a result, it becomes difficult for urine to remain on the surface of the granular material 10. Therefore, an excrement treatment material 1 in which urine hardly remains on the surface of the granular material 10, and a manufacturing method thereof are realized.

[0022] When the resin-coated paper material is one in which the resin is inseparably adhered to the paper, such a resin-coated paper material is not suitable for recycling, and therefore, the waste material thereof must be disposed of originally. In this regard, by using it as a material for the granules 12, the waste material can be effectively utilized. Moreover, since waste materials that are not suitable for recycling are easily available at a low cost, the manufacturing cost of the excrement treatment material 1 can be reduced.

[0023] When the resin-coated paper material is resin-coated paper or resin-laminated paper, in such a resin-coated paper material, since the resin exists on the surface of the paper, it is advantageous for enhancing the hydrophobicity of the granular material 10 compared to the case where the resin exists inside the paper.

[0024] When the resin-coated paper material is vinyl chloride wallpaper, the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) that makes up the vinyl chloride wallpaper is a resin with a relatively low softening temperature. Therefore, PVC is easily softened by the heat generated by friction and other factors inside the granulator during the granulation of the granulated material 12. By softening the resin during granulation in this way, the resin can be distributed over a wide area of ​​the granulated material 12. This contributes to improving the hydrophobicity of the granulated material 12 and, consequently, the granular material 10. Moreover, since vinyl chloride wallpaper waste is generated in large quantities, it is readily available at a low cost. This contributes to reducing the manufacturing cost of the waste treatment material 1.

[0025] If the porous material is one that does not swell when it absorbs water, the granular material 10 can be made less likely to disintegrate even when the porous material absorbs urine. In other words, the shape retention (water resistance) of the granular material 10 can be improved compared to when a material that swells when it absorbs water is used. Improving the shape retention of the granular material 10 is advantageous for maintaining its hydrophobicity over a long period of time.

[0026] When the porous material is zeolite, zeolite has ion exchange capabilities, which has the advantage that odor-causing substances in urine that are adsorbed onto the porous material (zeolite) are less likely to be re-released.

[0027] The granules 12 do not contain water-curable materials. Water-curable materials require a long time (generally 24 hours or more) to fully harden, which leads to a decrease in the productivity of the granules 12 and, consequently, an increase in the manufacturing cost of the waste treatment material 1. Therefore, not using water-curable materials is advantageous in reducing the manufacturing cost of the waste treatment material 1.

[0028] The granulated material 12 does not contain thermoplastic resin, except for the resin that constitutes the resin-adhered paper material. Since thermoplastic resin is an expensive material, it would lead to an increase in the manufacturing cost of the waste treatment material 1. Therefore, not using thermoplastic resin is advantageous in reducing the manufacturing cost of the waste treatment material 1.

[0029] Resin-coated paper and porous material are the two main materials of the granulated product 12. This is advantageous for fully enjoying both the effect of increasing the hydrophobicity of the granular material 10 with the resin-coated paper and the effect of making it difficult for urine to remain on the surface of the granular material 10 with the porous material.

[0030] Increasing the content of resin-coated paper material is advantageous for improving the hydrophobicity of the granular material 10. From this viewpoint, the weight ratio of resin-coated paper material to the granules 12 is preferably 40% or more, and more preferably 50% or more. On the other hand, if the content of resin-coated paper material is too high, the content of porous material may become insufficient. From this viewpoint, the above weight ratio is preferably 95% or less, and more preferably 70% or less.

[0031] Increasing the content of porous material is advantageous in preventing urine from remaining on the surface of the granular material 10. From this viewpoint, the weight ratio of porous material in the granules 12 is preferably 5% or more, and more preferably 30% or more. On the other hand, if the content of porous material is too high, the content of resin-adhered paper material may become insufficient. From this viewpoint, the above weight ratio is preferably 60% or less, and more preferably 50% or less.

[0032] The granulated material 12 contains additives. This makes it possible to improve the quality and productivity of the granulated material 12. If the additive is a lubricant, it is possible to prevent excessive frictional heat from being generated in the granulator during the granulation of the granulated material 12. In particular, if the lubricant is paraffin, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the waste treatment material 1 because paraffin is inexpensive and readily available. If the additive is a resin stabilizer, it is possible to suppress the deterioration and discoloration of the resin that makes up the resin-coated paper material. (Second Embodiment)

[0033] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing a second embodiment of the waste treatment material according to the present invention. The waste treatment material 2 comprises granular material 10. In this embodiment, the granular material 10 includes granules 12 and a coating 14. The composition of the granules 12 is as described in the first embodiment.

[0034] The coating 14 is formed on the surface of the granules 12. The coating 14 may cover the entire surface of the granules 12, or it may cover only a portion of the surface of the granules 12. The weight of the coating 14 is preferably 0.5% to 5% of the weight of the granules 12, and more preferably 1% to 3%.

[0035] The coating 14 contains a deodorant, cellulose nanofibers (CNF), and a water-soluble adhesive. It is preferable that the deodorant is contained in the coating 14 in a state supported on CNF. Here, "supported on CNF" means that the deodorant is fixed to the CNF by chemical or physical bonding. While well-known deodorants can be used, it is preferable to use a metal with deodorizing properties. Examples of such metals include copper, silver, zinc, or titanium. In this embodiment, the deodorant is copper. In this invention, "metal" also includes metal ions. When the deodorant is contained not only in the coating 14 but also as an additive in the granules 12, the deodorant contained in the granules 12 may be the same as or different from the deodorant contained in the coating 14. As the water-soluble adhesive, for example, PVA (polyvinyl alcohol), CMC (carboxymethylcellulose), or dextrin can be used. The other components of the waste disposal material 2 are the same as those of the waste disposal material 1.

[0036] Next, as a second embodiment of the method for manufacturing the waste treatment material according to the present invention, an example of a method for manufacturing the waste treatment material 2 will be described. This manufacturing method includes a granulation process and a coating process. The contents of the granulation process are as described in the first embodiment. However, if post-treatment is performed, the post-treatment is performed after the coating 14 is formed in the coating process.

[0037] The coating formation step is a step of forming a coating 14 on the surface of the granules 12. In this step, the coating 14 is formed by adhering the coating material to the surface of each granule 12 using means such as spraying. The coating material can be prepared, for example, by mixing a deodorant (copper ion water) and a water-soluble adhesive with a sol-like or slurry-like CNF (CNF aqueous solution). The concentration of the CNF aqueous solution is, for example, 2% to 7%. As the copper ion water, for example, a copper sulfate aqueous solution with a concentration of 2% to 5% can be used. The weight ratios of the CNF aqueous solution, copper ion water, and water-soluble adhesive in the coating material are, for example, 50% to 80%, 10% to 40%, and 10% to 40%, respectively. When adhering the coating material to the surface of the granules 12 by spraying, it is preferable to apply external force to the coating material using a pressurized tank or the like. This is because the thixotropy of CNF temporarily reduces its viscosity, thereby facilitating the spraying of the coating material. As a result, a waste treatment material 2 consisting of multiple granular bodies 10 is obtained.

[0038] The effects of this embodiment will now be explained. In this embodiment, a coating 14 containing a deodorant and CNF is formed on the surface of the granules 12. By incorporating CNF into the coating 14 together with the deodorant in this way, the strength of the coating 14 can be improved. As a result, even if the granular material 10 is exposed to urine, the coating 14 is less likely to be washed away by the urine. Therefore, the deodorant is less likely to fall off the surface of the granules 12. In the excrement treatment material 2, since the deodorant is fixed to the surface of the granules 12, its deodorizing effect can be sustained for a long period of time. In addition, when the deodorant is present on the surface of the granules 12, urine is more likely to come into contact with the deodorant compared to when it is present inside the granules 12, so its deodorizing effect is exerted more efficiently.

[0039] When the deodorant contained in the coating 14 is a metal with deodorizing properties, the metal is a highly durable material, which is advantageous in enhancing the duration of the deodorizing effect. In particular, in this embodiment, copper is used as the deodorant. This is advantageous not only in terms of the duration of the deodorizing effect but also in terms of safety and low cost.

[0040] The coating 14 contains a water-soluble adhesive. This allows the coating 14 to adhere more firmly to the surface of the granules 12. As a result, the deodorant is less likely to fall off the surface of the granules 12. However, it is not essential that the coating 14 contains a water-soluble adhesive. The coating 14 may contain only the deodorant and CNF.

[0041] A larger proportion of the coating 14 on the granular material 10 is advantageous for enhancing the deodorizing effect of the deodorant. From this viewpoint, the weight of the coating 14 is preferably 0.5% or more of the weight of the granules 12, and more preferably 1% or more. On the other hand, if the proportion of the coating 14 is too large, the hydrophobicity of the entire granular material 10 may be inhibited. From this viewpoint, the weight of the coating 14 is preferably 5% or less of the weight of the granules 12, and more preferably 3% or less. The other effects of the excrement treatment material 2 are the same as those of the excrement treatment material 1.

[0042] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible. In the embodiments described above, the case in which the granules 12 contain additives is illustrated. However, it is not essential that the granules 12 contain additives. The granules 12 may contain only resin-coated paper material and porous material. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1. Waste disposal material 2. Waste disposal materials 10 Granules 12 Granules 14 Coating

Claims

1. A waste treatment material comprising granular material, The granular material comprises hydrophobic granules, The aforementioned granules are characterized by containing resin-coated paper material and porous material, and are used as an excrement treatment material.

2. In the waste treatment material according to claim 1, The aforementioned resin-coated paper material is a waste treatment material in which resin is inseparably attached to paper.

3. In the waste treatment material according to claim 1, The aforementioned resin-coated paper material is a waste treatment material that is resin-coated paper or resin-laminated paper.

4. In the waste treatment material according to claim 1, The aforementioned resin-coated paper material is a PVC wallpaper used for waste disposal.

5. In the waste treatment material according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The aforementioned porous material is a waste treatment material that does not swell even when it absorbs water.

6. In the waste treatment material according to claim 5, The aforementioned porous material is a zeolite used for treating excrement.

7. In the waste treatment material according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The aforementioned granules are a waste treatment material that does not contain a water-curing material.

8. In the waste treatment material according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The granular material is a waste treatment material that does not contain thermoplastic resin, except for the resin that constitutes the resin-adhered paper material.

9. In the waste treatment material according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The resin-coated paper material and the porous material are the two main materials of the granulated product, which are waste treatment materials.

10. In the waste treatment material according to any one of claims 1 to 4, An excrement treatment material wherein the weight ratio of the resin-adhered paper material to the granules is 40% or more and 95% or less.

11. In the waste treatment material according to claim 10, An excrement treatment material wherein the weight ratio of the resin-adhered paper material to the granules is 50% or more and 70% or less.

12. In the waste treatment material according to any one of claims 1 to 4, An excrement treatment material wherein the weight ratio of the porous material to the granules is 5% or more and 60% or less.

13. In the waste treatment material according to claim 12, An excrement treatment material wherein the weight ratio of the porous material to the granules is 30% or more and 50% or less.

14. In the waste treatment material according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The aforementioned granules are an excrement treatment material containing additives.

15. In the waste treatment material according to claim 14, The aforementioned additive is a waste treatment material that acts as a lubricant.

16. In the waste treatment material according to claim 15, The aforementioned lubricant is paraffin, which is used in waste treatment materials.

17. A method for producing an excrement treatment material comprising granular material, The process includes a granulation forming step that forms the granular material having hydrophobic properties, A method for producing an excrement treatment material, characterized in that the granule formation step involves forming granules containing resin-adhered paper material and porous material.

18. In the method for manufacturing an excrement treatment material according to claim 17, The method for manufacturing an excrement treatment material, wherein the resin-attached paper material is paper in which resin is inseparably attached.

19. In the method for manufacturing an excrement treatment material according to claim 17, A method for manufacturing an excrement treatment material, wherein the resin-coated paper material is resin-coated paper or resin-laminated paper.

20. In the method for manufacturing an excrement treatment material according to claim 17, The aforementioned resin-coated paper material is a PVC wallpaper, and the method is for manufacturing an excrement treatment material.

21. A method for manufacturing an excrement treatment material according to any one of claims 17 to 20, The porous material is a material that does not swell even when it absorbs water. A method for manufacturing an excrement treatment material.

22. In the method for producing an excrement treatment material according to claim 21, The aforementioned porous material is a zeolite, and the method is a method for producing an excrement treatment material.

23. A method for manufacturing an excrement treatment material according to any one of claims 17 to 20, A method for producing an excrement treatment material, wherein the granules formed in the granule formation step do not contain a water-curing material.

24. A method for manufacturing an excrement treatment material according to any one of claims 17 to 20, A method for producing an excrement treatment material, wherein in the granule formation step, the granules are formed without containing a thermoplastic resin, except for the resin constituting the resin-adhered paper material.

25. A method for manufacturing an excrement treatment material according to any one of claims 17 to 20, A method for producing an excrement treatment material, wherein in the granule formation step, the resin-adhered paper material and the porous material constitute the two main components of the granules.

26. A method for manufacturing an excrement treatment material according to any one of claims 17 to 20, A method for producing an excrement treatment material, wherein in the granule formation step, the weight ratio of the resin-adhered paper material to the granules is 40% or more and 95% or less.

27. In the method for producing an excrement treatment material according to claim 26, A method for producing an excrement treatment material, wherein in the granule formation step, the weight ratio of the resin-adhered paper material to the granules is 50% or more and 70% or less.

28. A method for manufacturing an excrement treatment material according to any one of claims 17 to 20, A method for producing an excrement treatment material, wherein in the granule formation step, the weight ratio of the porous material to the granules is 5% or more and 60% or less.

29. In the method for producing an excrement treatment material according to claim 28, A method for producing an excrement treatment material, wherein in the granule formation step, the weight ratio of the porous material to the granules is 30% or more and 50% or less.

30. A method for manufacturing an excrement treatment material according to any one of claims 17 to 20, A method for producing an excrement treatment material, wherein the granule formation step involves forming granules containing additives.

31. In the method for manufacturing an excrement treatment material according to claim 30, The aforementioned additive is a method for manufacturing an excrement treatment material that acts as a lubricant.

32. In the method for manufacturing an excrement treatment material according to claim 31, The method for producing an excrement treatment material, wherein the lubricant is paraffin.

Images