Composite absorbent particles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017339914-A1
Application number	US-201715634850-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 27, 2017
Priority date	Jul 11, 2003
Publication date	Nov 30, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Composite particles and methods for making the same. An absorbent material is formed into a particle. An optional performance-enhancing active is coupled to the absorbent material before, during, or after the particle-forming process, homogeneously and/or in layers. Additionally, the composite absorbent particle may include a core material. Preferred methods for creating the absorbent particles include a pan agglomeration process, a high shear agglomeration process, a low shear agglomeration process, a high pressure agglomeration process, a low pressure agglomeration process, a rotary drum agglomeration process, a mix muller process, a roll press compaction process, a pin mixer process, a batch tumble blending mixer process, an extrusion process, and a fluid bed process.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An animal litter comprising:
a plurality of composite particles formed using at least (a) particles of sodium bentonite having a mean particle diameter of 3000 μm or less and (b) carbon particles having a mean particle diameter of less than 500 μm, wherein the carbon particles and sodium bentonite particles are bound together to form the composite particles; and optionally, an absorbent material.

2 . The animal litter recited in claim 1 , wherein said absorbent material is crushed or extruded bentonite.

3 . The animal litter recited in claim 1 , wherein the carbon particles and sodium bentonite particles were bound together using an agglomeration process to form the composite particles.

4 . The animal litter recited in claim 1 , wherein the mean particle diameter of the sodium bentonite is 25-150 μm.

5 . The animal litter recited in claim 1 , wherein the carbon particles comprise powdered activated carbon (PAC).

6 . The animal litter recited in claim 5 , wherein the mean particle diameter of the PAC is 25-150 μm.

7 . The animal litter recited in claim 5 , wherein the mean particle diameter of the sodium bentonite is 25-150 μm and the mean particle diameter of the PAC is 25-150 μm.

8 . The animal litter recited in claim 5 , wherein the mean particle diameter of the sodium bentonite is 25-150 μm, the mean particle diameter of the PAC is 25-150 μm, and the composite particles have a mean particle diameter of 2.5 mm or less.

9 . The animal litter recited in claim 5 , wherein the mean particle diameter of the sodium bentonite is 25-150 μm, the mean particle diameter of the PAC is 25-150 μm, and the composite particles have a mean particle diameter of 400-1650 μm.

10 . The animal litter recited in claim 1 , wherein the carbon particles are present in an amount of 5% or less based on the weight of the animal litter.

11 . The animal litter recited in claim 1 , wherein the carbon particles are present in an amount from 0.3% to 1% based on the weight of the animal litter.

12 . The animal litter recited in claim 1 , wherein the carbon particles are present in an amount less than 1% based on the weight of the animal litter.

13 . The animal litter recited in claim 5 , wherein the PAC is present in an amount of 5% or less based on the weight of the animal litter.

14 . The animal litter recited in claim 5 , wherein the PAC is present in an amount from 0.3% to 1% based on the weight of the animal litter.

15 . The animal litter recited in claim 5 , wherein the PAC is present in an amount less than 1% based on the weight of the animal litter.

16 . The animal litter recited in claim 9 , wherein the PAC is present in an amount from 0.3% to 1% based on the weight of the animal litter.

17 . The animal litter recited in claim 9 , wherein the PAC is present in an amount less than 1% based on the weight of the animal litter.

18 . The animal litter recited in claim 3 , wherein the agglomeration process is a tumble/growth agglomeration process.

19 . The animal litter recited in claim 1 , further comprising other types of particles dry mixed with the composite particles and wherein the ratio of the composite particles to the other particles is between 75/25 and 25/75.

20 . The animal litter recited in claim 1 , wherein the optional absorbent material comprises crushed or extruded bentonite.

Assignees

• Clorox Co

Inventors

• Fritter Charles F
• Shenoy Ananth N
• Wallis Kevin P
• Blondeau Sarah P
• Ochylski Ryan M
• Jenkins Dennis B

Classifications

• A01K1/0152

  Litter · CPC title

• B01J20/20

  comprising free carbon; comprising carbon obtained by carbonising processes · CPC title

• B01J2220/42

  Materials comprising a mixture of inorganic materials (materials coated or impregnated on a carrier B01J20/32) · CPC title

• B01J20/205

  Carbon nanostructures, e.g. nanotubes, nanohorns, nanocones, nanoballs (carbon nanotubes per se C01B32/15) · CPC title

• A01K1/0154 Primary

  comprising inorganic material · CPC title