CA2045105A1 - Animal dross absorbent and method - Google Patents
Animal dross absorbent and methodInfo
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- CA2045105A1 CA2045105A1 CA 2045105 CA2045105A CA2045105A1 CA 2045105 A1 CA2045105 A1 CA 2045105A1 CA 2045105 CA2045105 CA 2045105 CA 2045105 A CA2045105 A CA 2045105A CA 2045105 A1 CA2045105 A1 CA 2045105A1
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- litter box
- water
- bentonite
- clay
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Abstract
ANIMAL DROSS ABSORBENT AND METHOD
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A composition and method of absorbing animal dross. In one embodiment, the composition comprises discrete particles (about 50 microns to about 3350 microns, preferably about 600 microns to about 3350 microns in size) of a water-swellable bentonite clay that effectively absorbs animal dross and simultaneously agglomerates into a sufficiently large and stable mass, thereby permitting physical separation of the soiled and weted water-swellable bentonite clay particles from discrete particles of the unsoiled and unwetted water-swellable bentonite clay even after partial drying of about 1 to 24 hours at room temperture, without substantial sticking to animal paws and fur. In another embodiment, the composition comprises discrete particles of a combination of water-swellable sodium bentonite clay and calcium bentonite clay that effectively absorbs animal dross and simultaneously agglomerates into a water-dispersible but physically stable mass, thereby permitting physical separtion of the soiled and wetted bentonite clay particles from discrete particles of the unsoiled and unwetted water-swellable bentonite clay, and has sufficient water-dispersibility for disposal through a household plumbing or sewer conduit without clogging. Beat results are achieved when the bentonite clay is non-compacted.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A composition and method of absorbing animal dross. In one embodiment, the composition comprises discrete particles (about 50 microns to about 3350 microns, preferably about 600 microns to about 3350 microns in size) of a water-swellable bentonite clay that effectively absorbs animal dross and simultaneously agglomerates into a sufficiently large and stable mass, thereby permitting physical separation of the soiled and weted water-swellable bentonite clay particles from discrete particles of the unsoiled and unwetted water-swellable bentonite clay even after partial drying of about 1 to 24 hours at room temperture, without substantial sticking to animal paws and fur. In another embodiment, the composition comprises discrete particles of a combination of water-swellable sodium bentonite clay and calcium bentonite clay that effectively absorbs animal dross and simultaneously agglomerates into a water-dispersible but physically stable mass, thereby permitting physical separtion of the soiled and wetted bentonite clay particles from discrete particles of the unsoiled and unwetted water-swellable bentonite clay, and has sufficient water-dispersibility for disposal through a household plumbing or sewer conduit without clogging. Beat results are achieved when the bentonite clay is non-compacted.
Description
20~5~5 AN~ . DROSS ABSORBENT AND METEIOD
FIEr,D OF TEIE INVENTION
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The present invention relates to an absorbent composition for animal dross and its method of use More particularly, the present invention relates to a composition comprising a water-swellable bentonite clay, such as sodium bentonite and/or calcium bentonite Discrete particle~ of the water-swellable bentonite clay effectively absorb animal dross and simultaneously agglomerate into a sufficiently large and stable mass, such that the wetted mass of ab~orbent composition can be separated from unwetted particles of the composition i15 and removed from a litter box, even after partial or - complete drying of the clay, without sticking to the aminal'~ paws or ~ur In another embodiment of the present invention, the composition includes a combination of sodium bentonite, in an amount of about 1% to about 50~ by weight, based on the total clay content, dry ba~is; and about 50S to about 99~ calcium bentonite by weight, ba~ed on the total clay content, dry ba~is Di~crete particles of the combination of bentonite clay~ effectively absorb animal dross and simultaneously agglomerate into a sufficiently large and 3~
~table ma~, such that the wetted mass of ab~orbent comyo~ition can be separated from unwetted particle~ of the compo~ition and removed from a litter box, without ~ticking to the amimal's paws or fur Further, the combination of sodium bentonite and calcium b-ntonite enable~ the dro~ oaked agglomerates to readily and unexpectedly di~per~e in water so that the agglomerate~
can be di~persed in toilet water without mixing or other mechanical separation stepa, or disposed of through a household plumbing line without clogging the toil-t or ~il i , , 2Q~5~0~
other household plumbing lines. Consequently, odors emanatin~ from the litter box are reduced or eliminated, and cost savings are achieved because the unsoiled content3 of the litter box do not have to be discarded together with the soiled portion of the litter on a periodic basis.
~ACRGRO~ND OF T~ INVENTION UND PRIOR ART
House-broken animals, such as cats, are trained into the habit of urinating and defecating in a specially provided litter box. Similarly, untrained and caged animals, such as guinea pigs, urinate and defecate on the floor of their cage, often in approximately the same floor area of the cage. Consequently, pet owners, homeowners, veterinarians and laboratory personnel have added absorbent materials to the litter box or cage to collect the urine and faces. After a relatively short period of time, the dross ~oiled absorbent emits objectionable odors because of the presence of the urine ;~ and fecal matter.
In order to reduce or eliminate these objectionable odors, homeowners pcriodically remove the fecal matter from the litter ab~orbent physically. However, physical removal of the feces does not reduce or eliminate odors cau~-d by the urine absorbed into the absorbent.
~.3; Th-re~ore, when the odors caused by the absorbed urine j become intolerable, the homeowner discards the litter box absorbent material entirely. The homeowner then washe~ the litter box and refills the litter box with frenh litter box absorbent material. These activities are unpleasant, time-con~uming and expenqive.
Con~equently, the litter box ab~orbent material usually is a relatively inexpen~ive solid absorbent material, such that an individual cleaning of the litter box i~
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20~ 5 not particularly economically burdensome. However, repeated litter box cleanings over a period of time accounts for relatively large expenditures.
The most commonly used litter box absorbent materials are inexpensive clays, such as calcined clays, that are safe and non-irritating to the animalc, and that absorb relatively subqtantial amounts of liquids.
Other porous, solid litter box absorbent materials, that ~, are used alone or in combination, include straw, ~awdust, wood chips, wood ~having~, porous polymeric i beads, shredded paper, ~and, bark, cloth, ground corn husks, cellulose, and water-insoluble inorganic salts, ~, such a~ calcium sulfate. Each of the~e absorbent materials has the advantage of low co~t, but each ; 15 suffers from the disadvantage of merely absorbing a liquid wa~te product and holding the product within its porous matrices, or, in the case of sand, absorbing the liguid dross on its surface. ~or each absorbent material, offensive odors are eventually caused by the absorbed urine, and the entire contents of the litter box, including soiled absorbent material and un~oiled absorbent material, ha~ to be discarded.
One such litter box absorbent material is deacribed in Lohman U.S. Patent No. 4,570,573. The Lohman patent i~ directed to an animal litter composition comprising about 60-94% by weight paper, about 1-35% calcium sulfate and about 3-12% water. Such an absorbent i~
effective in collecting animal dross, but it does not reduce or eliminate the generation of objectionable odora and doe~ not eliminate the disadvantage of p-riodically replacing the entire contents of thc litter box. Larson et al in U.S. Patent No. 4,315,761 describes the use of aerated or foaming concrete, of `~ 35 relatively large size, for example, up to 10 mm (millimeters), to absorb animal dross and facilitate . ~
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FIEr,D OF TEIE INVENTION
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The present invention relates to an absorbent composition for animal dross and its method of use More particularly, the present invention relates to a composition comprising a water-swellable bentonite clay, such as sodium bentonite and/or calcium bentonite Discrete particle~ of the water-swellable bentonite clay effectively absorb animal dross and simultaneously agglomerate into a sufficiently large and stable mass, such that the wetted mass of ab~orbent composition can be separated from unwetted particles of the composition i15 and removed from a litter box, even after partial or - complete drying of the clay, without sticking to the aminal'~ paws or ~ur In another embodiment of the present invention, the composition includes a combination of sodium bentonite, in an amount of about 1% to about 50~ by weight, based on the total clay content, dry ba~is; and about 50S to about 99~ calcium bentonite by weight, ba~ed on the total clay content, dry ba~is Di~crete particles of the combination of bentonite clay~ effectively absorb animal dross and simultaneously agglomerate into a sufficiently large and 3~
~table ma~, such that the wetted mass of ab~orbent comyo~ition can be separated from unwetted particle~ of the compo~ition and removed from a litter box, without ~ticking to the amimal's paws or fur Further, the combination of sodium bentonite and calcium b-ntonite enable~ the dro~ oaked agglomerates to readily and unexpectedly di~per~e in water so that the agglomerate~
can be di~persed in toilet water without mixing or other mechanical separation stepa, or disposed of through a household plumbing line without clogging the toil-t or ~il i , , 2Q~5~0~
other household plumbing lines. Consequently, odors emanatin~ from the litter box are reduced or eliminated, and cost savings are achieved because the unsoiled content3 of the litter box do not have to be discarded together with the soiled portion of the litter on a periodic basis.
~ACRGRO~ND OF T~ INVENTION UND PRIOR ART
House-broken animals, such as cats, are trained into the habit of urinating and defecating in a specially provided litter box. Similarly, untrained and caged animals, such as guinea pigs, urinate and defecate on the floor of their cage, often in approximately the same floor area of the cage. Consequently, pet owners, homeowners, veterinarians and laboratory personnel have added absorbent materials to the litter box or cage to collect the urine and faces. After a relatively short period of time, the dross ~oiled absorbent emits objectionable odors because of the presence of the urine ;~ and fecal matter.
In order to reduce or eliminate these objectionable odors, homeowners pcriodically remove the fecal matter from the litter ab~orbent physically. However, physical removal of the feces does not reduce or eliminate odors cau~-d by the urine absorbed into the absorbent.
~.3; Th-re~ore, when the odors caused by the absorbed urine j become intolerable, the homeowner discards the litter box absorbent material entirely. The homeowner then washe~ the litter box and refills the litter box with frenh litter box absorbent material. These activities are unpleasant, time-con~uming and expenqive.
Con~equently, the litter box ab~orbent material usually is a relatively inexpen~ive solid absorbent material, such that an individual cleaning of the litter box i~
\
20~ 5 not particularly economically burdensome. However, repeated litter box cleanings over a period of time accounts for relatively large expenditures.
The most commonly used litter box absorbent materials are inexpensive clays, such as calcined clays, that are safe and non-irritating to the animalc, and that absorb relatively subqtantial amounts of liquids.
Other porous, solid litter box absorbent materials, that ~, are used alone or in combination, include straw, ~awdust, wood chips, wood ~having~, porous polymeric i beads, shredded paper, ~and, bark, cloth, ground corn husks, cellulose, and water-insoluble inorganic salts, ~, such a~ calcium sulfate. Each of the~e absorbent materials has the advantage of low co~t, but each ; 15 suffers from the disadvantage of merely absorbing a liquid wa~te product and holding the product within its porous matrices, or, in the case of sand, absorbing the liguid dross on its surface. ~or each absorbent material, offensive odors are eventually caused by the absorbed urine, and the entire contents of the litter box, including soiled absorbent material and un~oiled absorbent material, ha~ to be discarded.
One such litter box absorbent material is deacribed in Lohman U.S. Patent No. 4,570,573. The Lohman patent i~ directed to an animal litter composition comprising about 60-94% by weight paper, about 1-35% calcium sulfate and about 3-12% water. Such an absorbent i~
effective in collecting animal dross, but it does not reduce or eliminate the generation of objectionable odora and doe~ not eliminate the disadvantage of p-riodically replacing the entire contents of thc litter box. Larson et al in U.S. Patent No. 4,315,761 describes the use of aerated or foaming concrete, of `~ 35 relatively large size, for example, up to 10 mm (millimeters), to absorb animal dross and facilitate . ~
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2~45~)5 removal of the excrement from a litter box. The aerated concrete merely absorbs the animal dross, and therefore suffers from the identical drawback of present day animal litter box compoundq, i.e., an inability to S easily separate the soiled absorbent particles from the unsoiled absorbent particles without having to clear and clean the entire litter box.
Stuart, in U.S. Patent No. 4,685,420, discloses an improved littér box absorbent composition comprising 10 from 0.01% to 5.0~ by weight of a water-absorbing polyacrylate in combination with a common litter box absorbent material. According to the method and composition of Stuart, the polyacrylate and ab~orbent material absorb the urine or similar waste material, and the polyacrylates act to gel the soiled litter box i absorbent material into a gelled product. Stuart teaches that the gelled absorbent material then can be physically removed from the litter box to reduce the generation of offensive odors, and to avoid discarding the unsoiled portion of the absorbent material.
However, the method and compo~ition of Stuart suffer3 i from the di~advantage of relative cost ineffectiveness. The commonly used litter box absorbent material~ are very inexpen~ive materials, whereas the water-absorbent polymers of Stuart are relatively exp-n~ive products that can raise the initial cost of th- litt-r box absorbent material to an unacceptable level in a very cost competitive market.
Other litter box absorbent materials are disclosed by Fi~her in U.S. Patent No. 3,765,371 describing a foamed plastic for absorbing and/or ab~orbing animal dros~; by Kramer et al in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,275,684 and ; 4,395,357 deqcribing calcium silicate a~ an animal litter box absorbent material and specifically teaching against the use of mineral products, such as clay-type .
20~ )5 minerals, because of the ~ineral product's tendency to swell upon liquid absorption; by Rodrig~ez et al in U.S.
Patent No, 4,494,481 de~cribing the addition of a ~ Ulo~iU~on metal of Group Ib or IIb of the periodic 5 table to present-day litter box absorbent materials to prevent the development of urine odor~ and by Greenberg in U.S. Patent No. 4,638,763 describing the addition of sodium sulfate to a litter box absorbent material to facilitate removal of soiled absorbent from the litter 10 box.
Unicharm KK Japanese application J63044-822-A
discloses a clay pet litter containing an organic acid and its salt as a deodorant. The clay litter of the ~ present invention i9 natural clay, as mined and ground, 15 that functions to agglomerate liquid animal dross for 3 effective removal of the used liquid-soaked litter without organic acid or other chemical treatment~.
Xenkyu Japanese application J6 1119-127-A discloses 20 ~praying a cyanoacrylic acid alkyl ester film on the surface of pet feces for removal of the feces separately from the litter.
Crampton et al U.S. Patent No. 4,657,881 teaches a pet litter formed from compacted fine~ of bentonite clay ~ 25 or other clays such that after compaction, the clay 1 particle- have a size of 710 microns to 4 millimeters.
~, Such compacted clays have been found to be very adherent to an animal's paw~ and fur after wetting.
-~ In accordance with the present invention, it has 30 been found that the compaction of fine particles into larger particles within applicant's preferred particle i size range of about 600 micron~ to about 3350 microns producés a pet litter that is muddy when wetted, apparently due to particle size breakdown upon wetting, ~ . 35 and incapable of quick absorption of liguid to form - coh--lve, non--ticky m~ v-n ft-r partial drying, ,'.,1 ~.g. 12-24 hour at room temperature, so that the wetted animal dross-soaked litter when compacted, is often ; removed from the litter box by the animal's paws and fur necessitating frequent and irritating household cleaning. To achieve the full advantage of the present invention, the water-swellable clay used a3 a pet litter material in accordance with the present invention should have a particle size within the range of about 50 , ,,, ~,. ,. ,. ..................... _.
microns to about 33sO microns, and preferably 600 micron~ to about 3350 and should not be compacted from finer particles.
Therefore, a need exists for a l~tter box absorbent material that effectively collects the urine or other dross material of house-broken pets and caged animals;
that agglomerates when wetted to allow physical removal of the wetted litter box absorbent material from unwetted litter box absorbent material in order to reduce or eliminate dross-based odors and to reduce -costs associated with animal litter box absorbent material ; that will be relatively non sticky when wetted by animal dross to form a cohesive mass that will not stick ~ubstantially to the animal ~o that it can be retained within the litter box a~ a cohe~ive non-muddy mass until removed by the animal' 5 caretaker; that will be relatively non sticky when wetted by animal dross to for~ a cohesive mass that will not stick substantially to the animal so that it can be retained within the litter box as a cohesive non-muddy mass until removed by the animal's caretaker; that is capable of spontaneous - 30 dispersion in water after agglomeration so that the matérial can be discarded to a household waste or storm sewer line, for example, by flushing the dross-soaked, dispersed agglomerates down a household toilet , without clogging plumbing lines; and that i9 gufficiently ; 35 economical for practical use in a highly competitive and icost conscious market. Sur,ri~ingly and unexpectedly, .
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Z04S1~5 it has been found that non-compacted water-swellable bentonite clay3 having a particle size in the range of about S0 microns to about 3350 microns, and preferably ! about 600 microns to about 33so microns effectively absorb animal dross, and during absorption of the animal ~ dross, agglomerate into a sufficiently large, stable and - non-sticky mass for physical separation of the liquid dros~-soiled portion of the litter box absorbent material from the unused portion of the litter box absorbent material even after partial drying e.g. 1 to 24 hours at room temperature, and remains cohesive and non-adherent to the animal even after a 24 hour drying period at room temperature. The water-swellable bentonite clays, and their absorbent and agglomerating properties, effectively reduce or eliminate odors associated with animal dross reduce costs associated with litter box absorbent material replacement; and are sufficiently economical to compete effectively in a highly competitive and cost conscious industry.
In another embodiment, it has been found that a combination of non-compacted sodium bentonite, in an amount of about 1% to about 50% by weight, and calcium bentonite, either compacted or non-compacted, in an amount of about 50% to about 99~, by weight, based on the total weight of clay in the composition, ef~ectively absorbs animal dross, and during absorption of the animal dross, agglomerates into a sufficiently large and stable mass for physical separation of the soiled portion of the litter box absorbent material from the unused portion of the litter box absorbent material, such that the agglomerates readily and spontaneously disperse in water for disposal through a household sewer conduit. To achieve the full advantage of this clay mixture embodiment of the present invention, the combination of sodium bentonite and calcium bentonite .
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clays should have a particle size in the range of about 50 microns to about 3350 mi~rons, and preferably about 600 microns to about 3350 microns.
SUMHARY OF T~E INVENTION
In brief, the present invention is directed to a composition and method of absorbing animal dross. In one embodiment, the composition comprises discrete particles (about 50 microns to about 3350 microns, preferably about 600 microns to about 3350 microns in size) Oe a non-compacted water-swellable bentonite clay -1 that effectively absorbs animal dross and simultaneously aqglomerates into a sufficiently large, stable mass that is essentially non-adherent to pet animal's body particularly a cat, thereby permitting physical separation of the soiled and wetted water-swellable bentonite clay particles from discrete particles of the ~` unsoiled and unwetted water-swellable bentonite clay, ; 20 even after partial drying of about l to about 24 hours at room temperature. The cohesive masses formed after wetting the clay particles with liquid animal dross are relatively dry feeling on the outer surfaces so that they do not adhere to animal paws or fur. In another embodiment, the composition comprises discrete particles of a combination of non-compacted water-swellable s dium bentonlte clay and calcium bentonite clay that effectively ab~orbs animal dross and simultaneously agglomerates into a water-dispersible but physically stable mass, thereby permitting physical separation of the soiled and wetted bentonite clay particles from discrete particles of the unsoiled and unwetted water-swellable bentonite clay, and has sufficient water-dispersibility for disposal through a household plumbing or sewer conduit without clogging.
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r ZO~S~L05 ~ Therefore, one aspect of the present invention is to provide an improved absorbent composition for animal waste products and related waste products.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a composition that effectively absorbs liquid animal dross and simultaneously agglomerates into a mass of sufficient size and cohesive strength for physical removal from unwetted litter box absorbent composition.
Ano~her aspect of the present invention is to provide a composition that effectively absorbs liquid while having a relatively dry, non-adherent surface so that the cohesive masses formed eliminate or reduce odors associated with animal dross deposited in a litter box.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a composition that economically eliminates or reduces odors associated with animal dross deposited in a litter box.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a composition that facilitates and reduces ~i cleaning and maintenance of animal litter boxes and ~r ' animal cage~. -Still another aspect of the present invention i3 to ~!~ provide a composition that overcomes the disadvantages of prior art animal litter box absorbent compositLons and that i~ economically competitive with prior art litter box ab~orbents.
Another aspect of the present invention is to , provide a composition for absorbing animal dros9 such that the physical removal of urine from an animal litter box is achieved without forming animal-adherent masses.
~3~ Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of effectively absorbing animal dross with a composition compri~ing a non-compacted water-., .;
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2~L5~1~5 s~ellable bentonite clay having a particle size of about ~ 50 microns to about 33so microns, preferably about 600 ; microns to about 3350 microns that simultaneou~ly agglomerates into a sufficiently large, non-adherent mass of suf~icient strength upon absorbing the animal dross to permit physical separation of soiled and wetted bentonite clay particles from the unsoiled and unwetted bentonite clay particles, even after partial drying.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an animal dross-absorbent composition capable of agglomeration upon contact with animal dross, particularly animal urine, such that the agglomerates are capable of easy and spontaneous dispersion in water for disposal through a household plumbing conduit.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of effectively absorbing animal dross with a composition comprising a combination of a non-compacted water-swellable sodium bentonite clay and calcium bentonite clay that simultaneously agglomerate into a sufficiently large, essentially non-adherent mass of sufficient strength upon absorbing the animal dross to permit physical separation of soiled and wetted ` bentonite clay particles from the unsoiled and unwetted bentonite clay particles, such that the agglomerates are capable of being dispersed in water for periodic dispo~al through a hou~ehold plumbing line without clogging.
The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention.
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2045~)5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The drawing is a perspective view of a receptacle including the absorbent composition of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF r~ INVENTION
In accordance with the method and composition of the present invention, water- wellable bentonite clays have been found useful as animal dross absorbents. The water-swellable bentonite clays of the present invention provide advantages over prior art animal litter box absorbent compositions in that the water-swellable lS bentonite clays are capable of absorbing several times their weight in liquid dross` material and also are capable of simultaneously agglomeratinq to form a wetting mass of sufficient size and cohesive strength such that the soiled and wetted mass can be physically ` 20 separated from the remaining unwetted water-swellable bentonite clay ab~orbent without adhering to animal paw~
~: and fur.
~,: In accordance with another embodiment of the . present invention, a combination of non-compacted water-i 25 swellable sodium bentonite clay and calcium bentonite .~ clay, either compacted or non-compacted, have been found `~. us-ful as animal dross absorb-nts. The combination of bentonite clays of the present invention provide advantages over prior art animal~litter box absorbent compositions in that the bentonite clays are capable of ab~orbing several times their weight in liquid dross material and also are capable of simultaneously agglomerating and di~persing in water to form a wetted mass of ~ufficient size and cohesive strength such that , 35 the soiled and wetted mass can be phy~ically separated from the remaining unwetted water-swellable bentonite . .
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204~05 clay absorbent and later dispersed in water for disposal through a household plumbing conduit. These properties of the water-swellable bentonite clays serve to reduce or eliminate odors resulting from urine-saturated litter box absorbents; to reduce the cost of using a litter box absorbent material because only soiled absorbent material is discarded; to reduce the number of times the : litter box or animal cage must be completely cleaned;
enable periodic disposal of the formed agglomerates through a household sewer conduit and the cohesive ; agglomerates are not sticky on their outer surfaces so that the clay does not substantially adhere to an animal's paws or fur. ~urthermore, the water-swellable bentonite clays of the present invention provide these cost saving and work saving benefits without adding expensive supplementary compounds, such as water-absorbent polymers, acid or other organic compound additives that can prohibitively increase the cost of a ~-~ product competing in a very cost-conscious market.
In accordance with an important feature of the i present invention, non-compacted water-swellable bentonite clay provides an improved animal litter box - absorbent composition. The water-swellable bentonite clays of the present invention absorb several times their own weight of an aqueous fluid, ~uch as urine, and consequently swell. The wetted, swelled bentonite particles then interact with nearby wetted ant swelled .: bentonite particles and agglomerate through physical and chemical interactions, such as hydrogen bonding and entanglement, to form a wetted mass of sufficient stability and size such that the mass can be removed from the unwetted particles of the water-swellable ;~ bentonite clay, even after partial drying at room temperature for periods of about 1 to about 24 hours, as . 35 normally would occur before removal of the soiled pet ., litter material. The cohesive masses formed after G, :, . . ~
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,, ;, 2 ~ 4 5~ 05 wetting the clay particles with liquid animal dross are relatively dry feeling on the outer surfaces so that ~hey do not adhere to animal paws or ~ur. Unexpectedly, agglomerates that include both sodium bentonite and calcium bentonite then spontaneously disperse when contacted with water, such as in a toilet bowl, for disposal into a waste or storm sewer. The chemical and physical interactions that cause the wetted bentonite ~,clay particles to agglomerate are not present when the bentonite clay particles are dry, hence separation o the wetted, swelled bentonite clay particles from the unwetted and unswelled bentonite clay particles are facilitated.
In practice, when an animal urinates on the litter ;'15 box absorbent of the present invention, the urine is .~absorbed by the water-swellable bentonite to form an agqlomerated mass of water-swellable bentonite and urine having a non-sticky dry feeling surface (non-muddy).
This agqlomerated mass has sufficient physical integrity ,'^!20 to be removed from a litter box, or an animal cage, by using the implements and methods normally used to remove `~feces from a litter box and does not readily adhere to an animal's paws or fur. Therefore, the litter box absorbent composition of the present invention permits the animal owner or caretaker to employ the same removal ~techniques used to remove feces from the litter box to `$remove urine from the litter box. 3efore the method and composition of the present inventlon, it was not possible to mechanically remove urine from a litter box utilizing only one or more swellable clays as the absorbent because the urine soaked particles could not be differentiated from the unsoiled absorbent in the litter box.
In accordance with an important feature of the present invention, the water-swellable bentonite clay ~, .
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2045~05 absorbent remaining in the litter box after removal of the urine-soaked and agglomerated bentonite clay still is available for future use. This portion of the litter box absorbent composition is still clean and useful, and does not contribute to the generation of noxious odors. In contrast, when using prior art litter box absorbents, such clean and useful absorbent material because no means existed to effectively separate the soiled absorbent from the fresh absorbent.
~or example, the drawing shows a litter box 10 comprising a water-impermeable floor member 12 having integral, water-impermeable upstanding walls 14. The unsoiled absorbent composition 16, comprising a non-compacted water swellable bentonite clay in one ^ 15 embodiment, or a combination of sodium bentonite and calcium bentonite in a second embodiment, is placed in the litter box 10. In the second embodiment, the combination of water-swellable clays includes sodium ; bentonite clay, preferably non-compacted, in an amount of about 1% to about 50~ based on the total dry clay weight in the absorbent composition, and calcium bentonite, either compacted or non-compacted, in an ~; amount of about 50% to about 99% based on the total dry clay weight in the absorbent composition. Solid animal dross 18, such as fecal matter, is of sufficient mass and of sufficient cohesive strength to be physically removed from the litter box for ultimate disposal.
- Liquid animal dross, such as urine, vomit or blood, contacts the absorbent, water-swellable bentonite ~,~ 30 composition 16, causing the water-swellable bentonite to ~ agglomerate into a soiled solid mass 20 of sufficient ;~ size and sufficient cohesive strength to allow physical removal of the soiled solid mass 20 from the remaining ,!, unsoiled absorbent composition 16. The remaining . 35 unsoiled absorbent composition 16 does not contribute to ; the generation of noxious odors and can remain in the ,"
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2~45~5 litter box 10 for future use. Soiled solid mass 20 is discarded in an appropriate manner without the need of cleaning the entire litter box 10 and discarding its entire contents. In the second embodiment, the combination of sodium and calcium bentonites contained in the ag~lomerates unexpectedly disperse when contacted with water, so that the agglomerates can be disposed of down a household toilet or sink without clogging household plumbing conduits.
lOTherefore, and in accordance with another important feature of the present invention, the water-swellable bentonite clays provide a cost savings over the prior art litter box absorbents. First, cost savings are realized because unsoiled and unused absorbent composition is not discarded with the soiled absorbent composition. Secondly, surprisingly and unexpectedly, the water-swellable bentonite clays provide these cost-saving benefits without the addition of expensive polymeric or organic compounds that force the absorbent particles to gel into a removable physical mass.
Therefore, utilizing the water-swellable bentonite clays of the present invention minimizes the raw material cost of the litter box absorbent composition in a cost competitive market.
~3The litter box absorbent composition of the present invention comprises, in one embodiment, a non-compacted water-swellable bentonite clay; and in a second :jembodiment, a combination of sodium and calcium bentonite clayg. The use of bentonite clays in a variety of applications, such as a component in drilling muds, is well known. ~entonites are economical, readily available clays, with certain forms capable of hydrating and swelling in the presence of water. The swelling propertie~ of bentonite are related to the exchangeable cations present in a particular bentonite ore. The , ..
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20~5~05 water-swellable bentonite clays contain various exchangeable cations, including sodium, potassium, lithium, ammonium, calcium and magnesium. Although any of these cations can be the predominant exchangeable 5 cation of the bentonite clay of the present invention, bentonite clays often include a variety of exchangeable cations.
The non-compacted water-swellable bentonite clays useful in the animal dross absorbent compositions of the 10 first embodiment of the present invention include any water-swellable bentonite clay having a particle size within the range of about 50 microns to about 3350 s microns, preferably about~600 to about 3350 microns that has not been compacted (pressurized such that two or 15 more smaller particles are pressurized together to form 1 a cohesive larger particle) and will hydrate in the ; presenee of water, e.g., swell in the presence of water. The non-compacted bentonite clay can be any member of the dioctahedral or trioctahedral smectite 20 group, or a mixture thereof. Exampleci include ontmorillonite, Beidellite, Nontronite, Heetorite and Saponite; or eombinations thereof. The non-compacted bentonite elay of the present invention also can include Attapulgite or Sepiolite.
~; The clays useful in combination in accordance with the prineiples of the seeond embodiment of the present invention have sodium and ealeium as the predominant exehanqeable eations although thes-~elay~ often inelude 30 a variety of other exehangeable eations in a smaller amount. The remaining bentonite elays, eontaining predominantly other exehangeable eations, ean be added as well, so long as the sodium bentonite, preferably non-eompaeted, eomprises about 1% to about 50~ based on the total dry weight of bentonite elays in the eomposition and the ealeium bentonite eomprises about ,~ .
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- 17 - 2~45~05 ~o% to about 99~ based on the total dry weight of - bentonite clays in the composition. The combination of sodium bentonite and calcium bentonite clays have a particle size of about 50 microns to about 3350 microns, and preferably about 600 microns to about 3350 microns for best agglomeration and for most effective removal from the litter box. The bentonite ~lays can be any member of the dioctahedral or trioctahedral smectite group, or a mixture thereof. Examples include Montmorillonite, Beidellite, Nontronite, ~ectorite and Saponite: or combinations thereof. The bentonite clays of the present invention also can include Attàpulgite or Sepiolite.
In order to achieve the full advantage of the present invention, regardless of the water-swellable bentonite that is used in the litter box absorbent composition, of either embodiment of the present invention, it is preferred that the bentonite clay i5 not calcined. Calcination results a loss of a portion of the hydroxyl groups from the bentonite clay, and such hydroxyl groups are related to the water-absorption and water-swelling properties of the bentonite clay.
Consequently, a calcined bentonite clay, while still able to absorb many times its weight of a liquid, may not swell and agglomerate with nearby wetted and calcined bentonite particles as effectively as uncalcined bentonite particles.
~' In accordance with another important feature of either embodiment of the present invention, a water-~, swellable ben~onite clay useful in a litter box i absorbent composition i9 present in a particle size ranging from about 50u (microns) to about 3350u in diameter, and more preferably in a par~icle size ranging from about 600u to about 3350u in diameter; or, in other ~ word~, in a particle size of from about 6 mesh to about ,:~
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2045~05 lQ0 mesh. It has been found that a significant percentage, e.g. 10% by weight or more, of waterswellable bentonite particles appreciably greater than about 3350u in diameter do not sufficiently 5 cohesively agglomerate to allow facile physical separation of the wetted, agglomerated mass ~rom the litter box. Furthermore, it has been found that a significant amount, e.g. 10% by weight or more, of water-swellable bentonite particles appreciably smaller lO than about 50u in diameter produce a litter box absorbent composition that is too dusty and forms a muddy, sticky wetted mass of insufficient cohesive strength after partial drying, e.g. about l to about 24 hours at room temperature. In order to achieve the full 15 advantage of the present invention, the water-swellable bentonite clay should be present in the composition in i~ particle sizes across the entire range of about 600u to 3 about 3350u because the smaller diameter water-swellable bentonite particles, e.g. 50~ to 600u upon being wetted, -~ 20 swell and serve as "bridges" between the larger wetted bentonite particles. The overall effect of a i,, predominance of particles within the 600~ to 3350~ range that have not been compacted from smaller particle~ is ; the production of a sufficiently large wetted mass with 25 excellent physical cohesive strength, even after partial ';'~! drying, that does not adhere to an animal's paws or i, fur.
The litter box absorbent composition of the present invention can consist only of a non-compacted water-30 swellable bentonite clay in the first embodiment; or ;J~ only of sodium and calcium benton~te clays in the second embodiment, thereby avoiding any extra compounding process steps. In addition, the litter box absorbent composition of the present invention optionally can include perfumes, deodorants, odor absorbents, anti-microbial agents, disinfectants, colorants and ~ :
ZO~ 5 pesticides, in an amount sufficient to perform their intended functions substantially without decreasing the water-swellability of the clay. The litter box absorbent composition also can include other typically S used litter box absorbents such as other clays, sand, or cellulose-based materials. ~owever, any optionally added ingredient cannot be present in an amount that materially and adversely affects the ability of the water-swellable bentonite clay to absorb liquid dross products and simultaneously agglomerate into a monolithic mass of sufficient size and cohesive strength for physical removal of the soiled and wetted mass from the litter box without a wet, sticky surface. Any optional ingredients and additional absorbents are dry-blended into the water-swellable bentonite clay of the present invention and the wate~-swellable clay is present in an amount of at least 65% by weight of the composition, and to achieve the full advantage of the present invention and water-swellable clay is present in an amount of at least 90~ by weight of the composition.
It should be noted that the animal dross absorbent of the pre~ent invention can be used in litter boxed or in caqes of animals including, among others, household pets such as cats, dogs, gerbils, guinea pigs, mice and ham~ters5 other pets such as rabbits, ferrets and skunk~5 or laboratory animals such as monkeys, mice, rat~, goats, horses, cows and sheep. The animal litter absorbent of the present invention is especially useful for smaller animals, such as cats. Furthermore, the water-swellable bentonite clay of the present invention is suitable for other uses in addition to absorbing ur~ne, such as absorbing vomit or absorbing waste liquidJ in appropriate areas of slaughter houses and meat packing plant~.
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2Q4s~s To demonstrate the new and unexpected results of the first embodiment of the present invention, 454 9.
(one pound) of a non-compacted water-swellable sodium bentonite clay having a particle size of 600 microns to 3350 microns was placed in a plastic litter box. The ; litter box then was used in a house that included 2 cats as household pets. The cats urinated in the litter box at regular intervals, causing the water-swellable bentonite of the present invention to agglomerate into sufficiently large and stable masse~ for at least daily ~ physical removal, depending upon the quantity of urine - and feces deposited in the litter box. The unsoiled water-swellable bentonite was allowed to remain in the litter box for subsequent use, and it was found that the lS litter box was free of offending odors for 14 days.
After this time, the litter box was recharged with more of the non-compacted water-swellable sodium bentonite clay of the present invention.
In comparison, the above-described non-compacted sodium bentonite clay of the precent invention was compared to a compacted clay having a particle size of 110~ to 4000~ - like that of the Crampton et al. U.S.
~' Pat. No. 4,657,881. The compacted clay was prepared by . compressing sodium bentonite into ~ inch tablets by compression in a tablet machine to compact the clay (as disclosed in Crampton et al.). The compacted tablets then were ground very carefully and screened to remove all particles having a size below 710 microns and to remove all particles having a siz- greater than 4 mm.
A method was developed to evaluate the tendency of cat litters to stick to an animal's paws or fur ~ immediately after the litter is wetted by the animal.
;~ For this procedure, S mls of 1% NaCl at 40C was ~ 35 di~charged from a lO ml pipette into a pan containing .~ the test litter at a minimum depth of one inch. The tip ..
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20~51~
o~ the pipette i5 held gteady approximately one inch above the litter while it drains. Ten seconds after releasing the NaCl solution into the pan, a pre-weighted piece of 4.25 cm Whatman No. 1 ~ilter paper is placed onto the wetted spot, and a 200 gram weight with a flat bottom face approximately 2.5 cm across is placed on the center of the filter paper. Twenty seconds later, the weight is removed, and the filter paper is lifted from the pan. I~ the wet clay adhereq to the filter paper, this is noted, and the weight of both is determined.
The shape of the wet clay mass is noted, as well as any tendency for the NaCl solution-to "puddle" when applied, rather than being immediately absorbed by the clay.
Results:
Sample Paper Paper ~ ClayWet Clay ID Wt. (g) Wet Wt. (~)W~. ~g) non-compacted #1 0.14 0.17 *~
#2 0.12 0.14 **
#3 0.11 0.15 i compacted #1 0.12 11.55 11.43 #2 0.12 11.8~ 11.76 #3 0.12 11.65 11.53 . , .
Commentg: The compacted granular litter prepared by reducing compressed bentonitc showed slow absorption of the NaCl ~olution and puddling, formed thin, pancake shaped clay masses, and was very sticky. The non-compacted litter absorbed the liquid quickly, and formed rounded, cohesive masses that felt rclatively dryer on the ~urface.
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** No non-compated litter adhered to the filter paper. Weight increase i5 fr~m salt solution only.
To demonstrate the new and unexpected results of S the second emb~diment of the present invention, 454 g.
(one pound) of a combination of non-compacted sodium bentonite and non-compacted calcium bentonite clays of the present invention having an overall particle size in the range of 600 microns to 3350 microns ~25% by weight sodium bentonite and 75~ by weight calcium bentonite) was placed in a plastic litter box. The litter box then was used in a house that included 2 cats as household pets. ~he cats urinated in the litter box at regular intervals, causing the bentonite clay~ of the present invention to agglomerate into sufficiently large and stable masses for at least daily phy~ical removal, depending upon the quantity of urine and feces deposited in the litter box. The agglomerates were dropped onto the top of water contained in a household toilet and within 30 seconds or less completely disperse in the toilet water and are flushed to a sewer without plumbing clogging. The unsoiled bentonite clays were allowed to remain in the litter box for subsequent use, and it was found that the litter box was free of offending odors for 14 days. After thi~ time, the litter box was recharged with more of the sodium and calcium bentonite clay co~position of the present invention.
At the user's option, the litter box could be completely cleaned, or an additional amount of the water-swellable bentonite clay could be added to the small amount of remaining, unsoiled bentonite clay without cleaning the litter box because no offensive odors were being generated. In contrast, present dar - animal litter absorbents generate a sufficient amount of offensive odors such that the litter box must be cleaned at least weekly, and osually at least twice weekly.
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. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention as hereinbefore set forth can be made without ; departing from the spirit and scope thereof and Y therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are ~ S indicated by the appended claims.
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Stuart, in U.S. Patent No. 4,685,420, discloses an improved littér box absorbent composition comprising 10 from 0.01% to 5.0~ by weight of a water-absorbing polyacrylate in combination with a common litter box absorbent material. According to the method and composition of Stuart, the polyacrylate and ab~orbent material absorb the urine or similar waste material, and the polyacrylates act to gel the soiled litter box i absorbent material into a gelled product. Stuart teaches that the gelled absorbent material then can be physically removed from the litter box to reduce the generation of offensive odors, and to avoid discarding the unsoiled portion of the absorbent material.
However, the method and compo~ition of Stuart suffer3 i from the di~advantage of relative cost ineffectiveness. The commonly used litter box absorbent material~ are very inexpen~ive materials, whereas the water-absorbent polymers of Stuart are relatively exp-n~ive products that can raise the initial cost of th- litt-r box absorbent material to an unacceptable level in a very cost competitive market.
Other litter box absorbent materials are disclosed by Fi~her in U.S. Patent No. 3,765,371 describing a foamed plastic for absorbing and/or ab~orbing animal dros~; by Kramer et al in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,275,684 and ; 4,395,357 deqcribing calcium silicate a~ an animal litter box absorbent material and specifically teaching against the use of mineral products, such as clay-type .
20~ )5 minerals, because of the ~ineral product's tendency to swell upon liquid absorption; by Rodrig~ez et al in U.S.
Patent No, 4,494,481 de~cribing the addition of a ~ Ulo~iU~on metal of Group Ib or IIb of the periodic 5 table to present-day litter box absorbent materials to prevent the development of urine odor~ and by Greenberg in U.S. Patent No. 4,638,763 describing the addition of sodium sulfate to a litter box absorbent material to facilitate removal of soiled absorbent from the litter 10 box.
Unicharm KK Japanese application J63044-822-A
discloses a clay pet litter containing an organic acid and its salt as a deodorant. The clay litter of the ~ present invention i9 natural clay, as mined and ground, 15 that functions to agglomerate liquid animal dross for 3 effective removal of the used liquid-soaked litter without organic acid or other chemical treatment~.
Xenkyu Japanese application J6 1119-127-A discloses 20 ~praying a cyanoacrylic acid alkyl ester film on the surface of pet feces for removal of the feces separately from the litter.
Crampton et al U.S. Patent No. 4,657,881 teaches a pet litter formed from compacted fine~ of bentonite clay ~ 25 or other clays such that after compaction, the clay 1 particle- have a size of 710 microns to 4 millimeters.
~, Such compacted clays have been found to be very adherent to an animal's paw~ and fur after wetting.
-~ In accordance with the present invention, it has 30 been found that the compaction of fine particles into larger particles within applicant's preferred particle i size range of about 600 micron~ to about 3350 microns producés a pet litter that is muddy when wetted, apparently due to particle size breakdown upon wetting, ~ . 35 and incapable of quick absorption of liguid to form - coh--lve, non--ticky m~ v-n ft-r partial drying, ,'.,1 ~.g. 12-24 hour at room temperature, so that the wetted animal dross-soaked litter when compacted, is often ; removed from the litter box by the animal's paws and fur necessitating frequent and irritating household cleaning. To achieve the full advantage of the present invention, the water-swellable clay used a3 a pet litter material in accordance with the present invention should have a particle size within the range of about 50 , ,,, ~,. ,. ,. ..................... _.
microns to about 33sO microns, and preferably 600 micron~ to about 3350 and should not be compacted from finer particles.
Therefore, a need exists for a l~tter box absorbent material that effectively collects the urine or other dross material of house-broken pets and caged animals;
that agglomerates when wetted to allow physical removal of the wetted litter box absorbent material from unwetted litter box absorbent material in order to reduce or eliminate dross-based odors and to reduce -costs associated with animal litter box absorbent material ; that will be relatively non sticky when wetted by animal dross to form a cohesive mass that will not stick ~ubstantially to the animal ~o that it can be retained within the litter box a~ a cohe~ive non-muddy mass until removed by the animal' 5 caretaker; that will be relatively non sticky when wetted by animal dross to for~ a cohesive mass that will not stick substantially to the animal so that it can be retained within the litter box as a cohesive non-muddy mass until removed by the animal's caretaker; that is capable of spontaneous - 30 dispersion in water after agglomeration so that the matérial can be discarded to a household waste or storm sewer line, for example, by flushing the dross-soaked, dispersed agglomerates down a household toilet , without clogging plumbing lines; and that i9 gufficiently ; 35 economical for practical use in a highly competitive and icost conscious market. Sur,ri~ingly and unexpectedly, .
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Z04S1~5 it has been found that non-compacted water-swellable bentonite clay3 having a particle size in the range of about S0 microns to about 3350 microns, and preferably ! about 600 microns to about 33so microns effectively absorb animal dross, and during absorption of the animal ~ dross, agglomerate into a sufficiently large, stable and - non-sticky mass for physical separation of the liquid dros~-soiled portion of the litter box absorbent material from the unused portion of the litter box absorbent material even after partial drying e.g. 1 to 24 hours at room temperature, and remains cohesive and non-adherent to the animal even after a 24 hour drying period at room temperature. The water-swellable bentonite clays, and their absorbent and agglomerating properties, effectively reduce or eliminate odors associated with animal dross reduce costs associated with litter box absorbent material replacement; and are sufficiently economical to compete effectively in a highly competitive and cost conscious industry.
In another embodiment, it has been found that a combination of non-compacted sodium bentonite, in an amount of about 1% to about 50% by weight, and calcium bentonite, either compacted or non-compacted, in an amount of about 50% to about 99~, by weight, based on the total weight of clay in the composition, ef~ectively absorbs animal dross, and during absorption of the animal dross, agglomerates into a sufficiently large and stable mass for physical separation of the soiled portion of the litter box absorbent material from the unused portion of the litter box absorbent material, such that the agglomerates readily and spontaneously disperse in water for disposal through a household sewer conduit. To achieve the full advantage of this clay mixture embodiment of the present invention, the combination of sodium bentonite and calcium bentonite .
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;s Z045~05 - a -:
clays should have a particle size in the range of about 50 microns to about 3350 mi~rons, and preferably about 600 microns to about 3350 microns.
SUMHARY OF T~E INVENTION
In brief, the present invention is directed to a composition and method of absorbing animal dross. In one embodiment, the composition comprises discrete particles (about 50 microns to about 3350 microns, preferably about 600 microns to about 3350 microns in size) Oe a non-compacted water-swellable bentonite clay -1 that effectively absorbs animal dross and simultaneously aqglomerates into a sufficiently large, stable mass that is essentially non-adherent to pet animal's body particularly a cat, thereby permitting physical separation of the soiled and wetted water-swellable bentonite clay particles from discrete particles of the ~` unsoiled and unwetted water-swellable bentonite clay, ; 20 even after partial drying of about l to about 24 hours at room temperature. The cohesive masses formed after wetting the clay particles with liquid animal dross are relatively dry feeling on the outer surfaces so that they do not adhere to animal paws or fur. In another embodiment, the composition comprises discrete particles of a combination of non-compacted water-swellable s dium bentonlte clay and calcium bentonite clay that effectively ab~orbs animal dross and simultaneously agglomerates into a water-dispersible but physically stable mass, thereby permitting physical separation of the soiled and wetted bentonite clay particles from discrete particles of the unsoiled and unwetted water-swellable bentonite clay, and has sufficient water-dispersibility for disposal through a household plumbing or sewer conduit without clogging.
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r ZO~S~L05 ~ Therefore, one aspect of the present invention is to provide an improved absorbent composition for animal waste products and related waste products.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a composition that effectively absorbs liquid animal dross and simultaneously agglomerates into a mass of sufficient size and cohesive strength for physical removal from unwetted litter box absorbent composition.
Ano~her aspect of the present invention is to provide a composition that effectively absorbs liquid while having a relatively dry, non-adherent surface so that the cohesive masses formed eliminate or reduce odors associated with animal dross deposited in a litter box.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a composition that economically eliminates or reduces odors associated with animal dross deposited in a litter box.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a composition that facilitates and reduces ~i cleaning and maintenance of animal litter boxes and ~r ' animal cage~. -Still another aspect of the present invention i3 to ~!~ provide a composition that overcomes the disadvantages of prior art animal litter box absorbent compositLons and that i~ economically competitive with prior art litter box ab~orbents.
Another aspect of the present invention is to , provide a composition for absorbing animal dros9 such that the physical removal of urine from an animal litter box is achieved without forming animal-adherent masses.
~3~ Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of effectively absorbing animal dross with a composition compri~ing a non-compacted water-., .;
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2~L5~1~5 s~ellable bentonite clay having a particle size of about ~ 50 microns to about 33so microns, preferably about 600 ; microns to about 3350 microns that simultaneou~ly agglomerates into a sufficiently large, non-adherent mass of suf~icient strength upon absorbing the animal dross to permit physical separation of soiled and wetted bentonite clay particles from the unsoiled and unwetted bentonite clay particles, even after partial drying.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an animal dross-absorbent composition capable of agglomeration upon contact with animal dross, particularly animal urine, such that the agglomerates are capable of easy and spontaneous dispersion in water for disposal through a household plumbing conduit.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of effectively absorbing animal dross with a composition comprising a combination of a non-compacted water-swellable sodium bentonite clay and calcium bentonite clay that simultaneously agglomerate into a sufficiently large, essentially non-adherent mass of sufficient strength upon absorbing the animal dross to permit physical separation of soiled and wetted ` bentonite clay particles from the unsoiled and unwetted bentonite clay particles, such that the agglomerates are capable of being dispersed in water for periodic dispo~al through a hou~ehold plumbing line without clogging.
The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention.
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2045~)5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The drawing is a perspective view of a receptacle including the absorbent composition of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF r~ INVENTION
In accordance with the method and composition of the present invention, water- wellable bentonite clays have been found useful as animal dross absorbents. The water-swellable bentonite clays of the present invention provide advantages over prior art animal litter box absorbent compositions in that the water-swellable lS bentonite clays are capable of absorbing several times their weight in liquid dross` material and also are capable of simultaneously agglomeratinq to form a wetting mass of sufficient size and cohesive strength such that the soiled and wetted mass can be physically ` 20 separated from the remaining unwetted water-swellable bentonite clay ab~orbent without adhering to animal paw~
~: and fur.
~,: In accordance with another embodiment of the . present invention, a combination of non-compacted water-i 25 swellable sodium bentonite clay and calcium bentonite .~ clay, either compacted or non-compacted, have been found `~. us-ful as animal dross absorb-nts. The combination of bentonite clays of the present invention provide advantages over prior art animal~litter box absorbent compositions in that the bentonite clays are capable of ab~orbing several times their weight in liquid dross material and also are capable of simultaneously agglomerating and di~persing in water to form a wetted mass of ~ufficient size and cohesive strength such that , 35 the soiled and wetted mass can be phy~ically separated from the remaining unwetted water-swellable bentonite . .
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204~05 clay absorbent and later dispersed in water for disposal through a household plumbing conduit. These properties of the water-swellable bentonite clays serve to reduce or eliminate odors resulting from urine-saturated litter box absorbents; to reduce the cost of using a litter box absorbent material because only soiled absorbent material is discarded; to reduce the number of times the : litter box or animal cage must be completely cleaned;
enable periodic disposal of the formed agglomerates through a household sewer conduit and the cohesive ; agglomerates are not sticky on their outer surfaces so that the clay does not substantially adhere to an animal's paws or fur. ~urthermore, the water-swellable bentonite clays of the present invention provide these cost saving and work saving benefits without adding expensive supplementary compounds, such as water-absorbent polymers, acid or other organic compound additives that can prohibitively increase the cost of a ~-~ product competing in a very cost-conscious market.
In accordance with an important feature of the i present invention, non-compacted water-swellable bentonite clay provides an improved animal litter box - absorbent composition. The water-swellable bentonite clays of the present invention absorb several times their own weight of an aqueous fluid, ~uch as urine, and consequently swell. The wetted, swelled bentonite particles then interact with nearby wetted ant swelled .: bentonite particles and agglomerate through physical and chemical interactions, such as hydrogen bonding and entanglement, to form a wetted mass of sufficient stability and size such that the mass can be removed from the unwetted particles of the water-swellable ;~ bentonite clay, even after partial drying at room temperature for periods of about 1 to about 24 hours, as . 35 normally would occur before removal of the soiled pet ., litter material. The cohesive masses formed after G, :, . . ~
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,, ;, 2 ~ 4 5~ 05 wetting the clay particles with liquid animal dross are relatively dry feeling on the outer surfaces so that ~hey do not adhere to animal paws or ~ur. Unexpectedly, agglomerates that include both sodium bentonite and calcium bentonite then spontaneously disperse when contacted with water, such as in a toilet bowl, for disposal into a waste or storm sewer. The chemical and physical interactions that cause the wetted bentonite ~,clay particles to agglomerate are not present when the bentonite clay particles are dry, hence separation o the wetted, swelled bentonite clay particles from the unwetted and unswelled bentonite clay particles are facilitated.
In practice, when an animal urinates on the litter ;'15 box absorbent of the present invention, the urine is .~absorbed by the water-swellable bentonite to form an agqlomerated mass of water-swellable bentonite and urine having a non-sticky dry feeling surface (non-muddy).
This agqlomerated mass has sufficient physical integrity ,'^!20 to be removed from a litter box, or an animal cage, by using the implements and methods normally used to remove `~feces from a litter box and does not readily adhere to an animal's paws or fur. Therefore, the litter box absorbent composition of the present invention permits the animal owner or caretaker to employ the same removal ~techniques used to remove feces from the litter box to `$remove urine from the litter box. 3efore the method and composition of the present inventlon, it was not possible to mechanically remove urine from a litter box utilizing only one or more swellable clays as the absorbent because the urine soaked particles could not be differentiated from the unsoiled absorbent in the litter box.
In accordance with an important feature of the present invention, the water-swellable bentonite clay ~, .
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2045~05 absorbent remaining in the litter box after removal of the urine-soaked and agglomerated bentonite clay still is available for future use. This portion of the litter box absorbent composition is still clean and useful, and does not contribute to the generation of noxious odors. In contrast, when using prior art litter box absorbents, such clean and useful absorbent material because no means existed to effectively separate the soiled absorbent from the fresh absorbent.
~or example, the drawing shows a litter box 10 comprising a water-impermeable floor member 12 having integral, water-impermeable upstanding walls 14. The unsoiled absorbent composition 16, comprising a non-compacted water swellable bentonite clay in one ^ 15 embodiment, or a combination of sodium bentonite and calcium bentonite in a second embodiment, is placed in the litter box 10. In the second embodiment, the combination of water-swellable clays includes sodium ; bentonite clay, preferably non-compacted, in an amount of about 1% to about 50~ based on the total dry clay weight in the absorbent composition, and calcium bentonite, either compacted or non-compacted, in an ~; amount of about 50% to about 99% based on the total dry clay weight in the absorbent composition. Solid animal dross 18, such as fecal matter, is of sufficient mass and of sufficient cohesive strength to be physically removed from the litter box for ultimate disposal.
- Liquid animal dross, such as urine, vomit or blood, contacts the absorbent, water-swellable bentonite ~,~ 30 composition 16, causing the water-swellable bentonite to ~ agglomerate into a soiled solid mass 20 of sufficient ;~ size and sufficient cohesive strength to allow physical removal of the soiled solid mass 20 from the remaining ,!, unsoiled absorbent composition 16. The remaining . 35 unsoiled absorbent composition 16 does not contribute to ; the generation of noxious odors and can remain in the ,"
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,.
2~45~5 litter box 10 for future use. Soiled solid mass 20 is discarded in an appropriate manner without the need of cleaning the entire litter box 10 and discarding its entire contents. In the second embodiment, the combination of sodium and calcium bentonites contained in the ag~lomerates unexpectedly disperse when contacted with water, so that the agglomerates can be disposed of down a household toilet or sink without clogging household plumbing conduits.
lOTherefore, and in accordance with another important feature of the present invention, the water-swellable bentonite clays provide a cost savings over the prior art litter box absorbents. First, cost savings are realized because unsoiled and unused absorbent composition is not discarded with the soiled absorbent composition. Secondly, surprisingly and unexpectedly, the water-swellable bentonite clays provide these cost-saving benefits without the addition of expensive polymeric or organic compounds that force the absorbent particles to gel into a removable physical mass.
Therefore, utilizing the water-swellable bentonite clays of the present invention minimizes the raw material cost of the litter box absorbent composition in a cost competitive market.
~3The litter box absorbent composition of the present invention comprises, in one embodiment, a non-compacted water-swellable bentonite clay; and in a second :jembodiment, a combination of sodium and calcium bentonite clayg. The use of bentonite clays in a variety of applications, such as a component in drilling muds, is well known. ~entonites are economical, readily available clays, with certain forms capable of hydrating and swelling in the presence of water. The swelling propertie~ of bentonite are related to the exchangeable cations present in a particular bentonite ore. The , ..
, :.
~ .
20~5~05 water-swellable bentonite clays contain various exchangeable cations, including sodium, potassium, lithium, ammonium, calcium and magnesium. Although any of these cations can be the predominant exchangeable 5 cation of the bentonite clay of the present invention, bentonite clays often include a variety of exchangeable cations.
The non-compacted water-swellable bentonite clays useful in the animal dross absorbent compositions of the 10 first embodiment of the present invention include any water-swellable bentonite clay having a particle size within the range of about 50 microns to about 3350 s microns, preferably about~600 to about 3350 microns that has not been compacted (pressurized such that two or 15 more smaller particles are pressurized together to form 1 a cohesive larger particle) and will hydrate in the ; presenee of water, e.g., swell in the presence of water. The non-compacted bentonite clay can be any member of the dioctahedral or trioctahedral smectite 20 group, or a mixture thereof. Exampleci include ontmorillonite, Beidellite, Nontronite, Heetorite and Saponite; or eombinations thereof. The non-compacted bentonite elay of the present invention also can include Attapulgite or Sepiolite.
~; The clays useful in combination in accordance with the prineiples of the seeond embodiment of the present invention have sodium and ealeium as the predominant exehanqeable eations although thes-~elay~ often inelude 30 a variety of other exehangeable eations in a smaller amount. The remaining bentonite elays, eontaining predominantly other exehangeable eations, ean be added as well, so long as the sodium bentonite, preferably non-eompaeted, eomprises about 1% to about 50~ based on the total dry weight of bentonite elays in the eomposition and the ealeium bentonite eomprises about ,~ .
.: .
~. .
, . .
- 17 - 2~45~05 ~o% to about 99~ based on the total dry weight of - bentonite clays in the composition. The combination of sodium bentonite and calcium bentonite clays have a particle size of about 50 microns to about 3350 microns, and preferably about 600 microns to about 3350 microns for best agglomeration and for most effective removal from the litter box. The bentonite ~lays can be any member of the dioctahedral or trioctahedral smectite group, or a mixture thereof. Examples include Montmorillonite, Beidellite, Nontronite, ~ectorite and Saponite: or combinations thereof. The bentonite clays of the present invention also can include Attàpulgite or Sepiolite.
In order to achieve the full advantage of the present invention, regardless of the water-swellable bentonite that is used in the litter box absorbent composition, of either embodiment of the present invention, it is preferred that the bentonite clay i5 not calcined. Calcination results a loss of a portion of the hydroxyl groups from the bentonite clay, and such hydroxyl groups are related to the water-absorption and water-swelling properties of the bentonite clay.
Consequently, a calcined bentonite clay, while still able to absorb many times its weight of a liquid, may not swell and agglomerate with nearby wetted and calcined bentonite particles as effectively as uncalcined bentonite particles.
~' In accordance with another important feature of either embodiment of the present invention, a water-~, swellable ben~onite clay useful in a litter box i absorbent composition i9 present in a particle size ranging from about 50u (microns) to about 3350u in diameter, and more preferably in a par~icle size ranging from about 600u to about 3350u in diameter; or, in other ~ word~, in a particle size of from about 6 mesh to about ,:~
:. ~
. ., . i ~'.
2045~05 lQ0 mesh. It has been found that a significant percentage, e.g. 10% by weight or more, of waterswellable bentonite particles appreciably greater than about 3350u in diameter do not sufficiently 5 cohesively agglomerate to allow facile physical separation of the wetted, agglomerated mass ~rom the litter box. Furthermore, it has been found that a significant amount, e.g. 10% by weight or more, of water-swellable bentonite particles appreciably smaller lO than about 50u in diameter produce a litter box absorbent composition that is too dusty and forms a muddy, sticky wetted mass of insufficient cohesive strength after partial drying, e.g. about l to about 24 hours at room temperature. In order to achieve the full 15 advantage of the present invention, the water-swellable bentonite clay should be present in the composition in i~ particle sizes across the entire range of about 600u to 3 about 3350u because the smaller diameter water-swellable bentonite particles, e.g. 50~ to 600u upon being wetted, -~ 20 swell and serve as "bridges" between the larger wetted bentonite particles. The overall effect of a i,, predominance of particles within the 600~ to 3350~ range that have not been compacted from smaller particle~ is ; the production of a sufficiently large wetted mass with 25 excellent physical cohesive strength, even after partial ';'~! drying, that does not adhere to an animal's paws or i, fur.
The litter box absorbent composition of the present invention can consist only of a non-compacted water-30 swellable bentonite clay in the first embodiment; or ;J~ only of sodium and calcium benton~te clays in the second embodiment, thereby avoiding any extra compounding process steps. In addition, the litter box absorbent composition of the present invention optionally can include perfumes, deodorants, odor absorbents, anti-microbial agents, disinfectants, colorants and ~ :
ZO~ 5 pesticides, in an amount sufficient to perform their intended functions substantially without decreasing the water-swellability of the clay. The litter box absorbent composition also can include other typically S used litter box absorbents such as other clays, sand, or cellulose-based materials. ~owever, any optionally added ingredient cannot be present in an amount that materially and adversely affects the ability of the water-swellable bentonite clay to absorb liquid dross products and simultaneously agglomerate into a monolithic mass of sufficient size and cohesive strength for physical removal of the soiled and wetted mass from the litter box without a wet, sticky surface. Any optional ingredients and additional absorbents are dry-blended into the water-swellable bentonite clay of the present invention and the wate~-swellable clay is present in an amount of at least 65% by weight of the composition, and to achieve the full advantage of the present invention and water-swellable clay is present in an amount of at least 90~ by weight of the composition.
It should be noted that the animal dross absorbent of the pre~ent invention can be used in litter boxed or in caqes of animals including, among others, household pets such as cats, dogs, gerbils, guinea pigs, mice and ham~ters5 other pets such as rabbits, ferrets and skunk~5 or laboratory animals such as monkeys, mice, rat~, goats, horses, cows and sheep. The animal litter absorbent of the present invention is especially useful for smaller animals, such as cats. Furthermore, the water-swellable bentonite clay of the present invention is suitable for other uses in addition to absorbing ur~ne, such as absorbing vomit or absorbing waste liquidJ in appropriate areas of slaughter houses and meat packing plant~.
' .
'~1 I
2Q4s~s To demonstrate the new and unexpected results of the first embodiment of the present invention, 454 9.
(one pound) of a non-compacted water-swellable sodium bentonite clay having a particle size of 600 microns to 3350 microns was placed in a plastic litter box. The ; litter box then was used in a house that included 2 cats as household pets. The cats urinated in the litter box at regular intervals, causing the water-swellable bentonite of the present invention to agglomerate into sufficiently large and stable masse~ for at least daily ~ physical removal, depending upon the quantity of urine - and feces deposited in the litter box. The unsoiled water-swellable bentonite was allowed to remain in the litter box for subsequent use, and it was found that the lS litter box was free of offending odors for 14 days.
After this time, the litter box was recharged with more of the non-compacted water-swellable sodium bentonite clay of the present invention.
In comparison, the above-described non-compacted sodium bentonite clay of the precent invention was compared to a compacted clay having a particle size of 110~ to 4000~ - like that of the Crampton et al. U.S.
~' Pat. No. 4,657,881. The compacted clay was prepared by . compressing sodium bentonite into ~ inch tablets by compression in a tablet machine to compact the clay (as disclosed in Crampton et al.). The compacted tablets then were ground very carefully and screened to remove all particles having a size below 710 microns and to remove all particles having a siz- greater than 4 mm.
A method was developed to evaluate the tendency of cat litters to stick to an animal's paws or fur ~ immediately after the litter is wetted by the animal.
;~ For this procedure, S mls of 1% NaCl at 40C was ~ 35 di~charged from a lO ml pipette into a pan containing .~ the test litter at a minimum depth of one inch. The tip ..
..
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: ~' .
~.
.. . . . .. . . .. .
20~51~
o~ the pipette i5 held gteady approximately one inch above the litter while it drains. Ten seconds after releasing the NaCl solution into the pan, a pre-weighted piece of 4.25 cm Whatman No. 1 ~ilter paper is placed onto the wetted spot, and a 200 gram weight with a flat bottom face approximately 2.5 cm across is placed on the center of the filter paper. Twenty seconds later, the weight is removed, and the filter paper is lifted from the pan. I~ the wet clay adhereq to the filter paper, this is noted, and the weight of both is determined.
The shape of the wet clay mass is noted, as well as any tendency for the NaCl solution-to "puddle" when applied, rather than being immediately absorbed by the clay.
Results:
Sample Paper Paper ~ ClayWet Clay ID Wt. (g) Wet Wt. (~)W~. ~g) non-compacted #1 0.14 0.17 *~
#2 0.12 0.14 **
#3 0.11 0.15 i compacted #1 0.12 11.55 11.43 #2 0.12 11.8~ 11.76 #3 0.12 11.65 11.53 . , .
Commentg: The compacted granular litter prepared by reducing compressed bentonitc showed slow absorption of the NaCl ~olution and puddling, formed thin, pancake shaped clay masses, and was very sticky. The non-compacted litter absorbed the liquid quickly, and formed rounded, cohesive masses that felt rclatively dryer on the ~urface.
~, .
.
:: ,. . :.. ,,. .-20~L511DS
** No non-compated litter adhered to the filter paper. Weight increase i5 fr~m salt solution only.
To demonstrate the new and unexpected results of S the second emb~diment of the present invention, 454 g.
(one pound) of a combination of non-compacted sodium bentonite and non-compacted calcium bentonite clays of the present invention having an overall particle size in the range of 600 microns to 3350 microns ~25% by weight sodium bentonite and 75~ by weight calcium bentonite) was placed in a plastic litter box. The litter box then was used in a house that included 2 cats as household pets. ~he cats urinated in the litter box at regular intervals, causing the bentonite clay~ of the present invention to agglomerate into sufficiently large and stable masses for at least daily phy~ical removal, depending upon the quantity of urine and feces deposited in the litter box. The agglomerates were dropped onto the top of water contained in a household toilet and within 30 seconds or less completely disperse in the toilet water and are flushed to a sewer without plumbing clogging. The unsoiled bentonite clays were allowed to remain in the litter box for subsequent use, and it was found that the litter box was free of offending odors for 14 days. After thi~ time, the litter box was recharged with more of the sodium and calcium bentonite clay co~position of the present invention.
At the user's option, the litter box could be completely cleaned, or an additional amount of the water-swellable bentonite clay could be added to the small amount of remaining, unsoiled bentonite clay without cleaning the litter box because no offensive odors were being generated. In contrast, present dar - animal litter absorbents generate a sufficient amount of offensive odors such that the litter box must be cleaned at least weekly, and osually at least twice weekly.
., .
;.
204s~o~
. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention as hereinbefore set forth can be made without ; departing from the spirit and scope thereof and Y therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are ~ S indicated by the appended claims.
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Claims (44)
1. A litter box comprising a water-impermeable receptacle having disposed therein an absorbent composition capable of agglomerating upon wetting into a mass of sufficient size and of sufficient cohesive strength for physical removal of the agglomerated mass from a litter box, said absorbent composition comprising particles of a water-swellable clay having a particle size distribution that includes a sufficient amount of fine particles for agglomeration of the absorbent composition into said mass upon wetting.
2. The litter box of claim 1 wherein the water-swellable clay is selected from the group consisting of sodium bentonite, potassium bentonite, lithium bentonite, calcium bentonite and magnesium bentonite; or combinations thereof.
3. The litter box of claim 1 wherein the water-swellable clay is selected from the group consisting of Montmorillonite, Beidellite, Nontronite, Hectorite, Saponite, Attapulgite and Sepiolite; or combinations thereof.
4. The litter box of claim 1 wherein the water-swellable clay is a non-calcined water-swellable bentonite clay.
5. The litter box of claim 1 wherein the water-swellable clay has a particle size ranging from about 50 microns to about 3350 microns.
6. The litter box of claim 1 wherein the ant.
water-swellable bentonite clay has a particle size ranging from about 600 microns to about 3350 microns.
water-swellable bentonite clay has a particle size ranging from about 600 microns to about 3350 microns.
7. The litter box of claim 1 wherein the absorbent composition comprises at least 90% water-swellable bentonite clay by weight of the absorbent composition.
8. The litter box of claim 1 wherein the absorbent composition comprises particles of non-compacted sodium bentonite clay in an amount of about 1% to about 50% and calcium bentonite clay in an amount of about 50% to about 99%, based on the total dry weight of bentonite clay in the composition and capable of agglomerating upon wetting into a water-dispersible mass of sufficient size and cohesive strength for physical removal of the agglomerated mass from a little box, said agglomerated mass capable of being dispersed in water for disposal through a household plumbing conduit.
9. The litter box of claim 8 wherein the sodium bentonite clay is present in an amount of about
10% to about 40% and the calcium bentonite clay is present in an amount of about 60% to about 90% based on the total dry weight of bentonite clays in the composition.
10. The litter box of claim 8 wherein the sodium bentonite clay is present in an amount of about 10% to about 25% and the calcium bentonite clay is present in an amount of about 60% to about 75% based on the total weight of bentonite clays in the composition.
10. The litter box of claim 8 wherein the sodium bentonite clay is present in an amount of about 10% to about 25% and the calcium bentonite clay is present in an amount of about 60% to about 75% based on the total weight of bentonite clays in the composition.
11. The litter box of claim 8 wherein the combination of sodium and calcium bentonite clays have an overall particle size ranging from about 50 microns to about 3350 microns.
12. The litter box of claim 8 wherein the combination of sodium and-calcium bentonite clays have an overall particle size ranging from about 600 microns to about 3350 microns.
13. A litter box absorbent composition consisting essentially of particles of a water-swellable bentonite clay capable of agglomerating upon wetting into a mass of sufficient size and cohesive strength for physical removal or the agglomerated mass from a litter box, said water-swellable bentonite clay having a particle size distribution that includes a sufficient amount of fine particles for agglomeration of the absorbent composition into said mass upon wetting.
14. A litter box absorbent composition having essentially no water-swellable organic polymeric material comprising particles of a water-swellable bentonite clay capable of agglomerating upon wetting into a mass of sufficient size and cohesive strength for physical removal of the agglomerated mass from a litter box, said water-swellable bentonite clay having a particle size distribution that includes a sufficient amount of fine particles for agglomeration of the absorbent composition into said mass upon wetting.
15. The litter box absorbent composition of claim 13 wherein the fine particles have a particle size ranging from about 50 microns to about 600 microns.
16. The litter box absorbent composition of claim 14 wherein the fine particles have a particle size ranging from about 50 microns to about 600 microns.
17. A method of selectively removing liquid animal dross from a litter box comprising:
adding to a litter box an absorbent composition comprising particles of a water-absorbent bentonite clay having a particle size distribution that includes a sufficient amount of fine particles for agglomeration of the absorbent composition into said mass upon wetting;
contacting the water-absorbent bentonite clay in the litter box with the liquid animal dross thereby producing an agglomerated mass comprising the absorbent composition and the liquid animal dross that is of sufficient size and of sufficient cohesive strength to be removed from the litter box; and removing the agglomerated mass from the litter box thereby removing the liquid animal dross from the litter box.
adding to a litter box an absorbent composition comprising particles of a water-absorbent bentonite clay having a particle size distribution that includes a sufficient amount of fine particles for agglomeration of the absorbent composition into said mass upon wetting;
contacting the water-absorbent bentonite clay in the litter box with the liquid animal dross thereby producing an agglomerated mass comprising the absorbent composition and the liquid animal dross that is of sufficient size and of sufficient cohesive strength to be removed from the litter box; and removing the agglomerated mass from the litter box thereby removing the liquid animal dross from the litter box.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the liquid animal dross includes urine, vomit or blood; or combinations thereof.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein the absorbent composition comprises sodium bentonite clay in an amount of about 10% to about 40% and calcium bentonite clay in an amount of about 60% to about 90% based on the total dry weight of bentonite clays in the absorbent composition.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein the sodium bentonite clay is present in an amount of about 10% to about 25% and the calcium bentonite clay is present in an amount of about 60% to about 75% based on the total weight of bentonite clays in the composition.
21. A method of agglomerating liquid animal dross to facilitate removal of the liquid animal dross comprising contacting the liquid animal dross with an absorbent material consisting essentially of a water-swellable bentonite clay having a particle size distribution that includes a sufficient amount of fine particles for agglomeration of the absorbent composition into said mass upon wetting;
contacting the absorbent composition with the liquid animal dross to form the agglomerated mass of the absorbent composition; and removing essentially only the agglomerated mass from the litter box.
contacting the absorbent composition with the liquid animal dross to form the agglomerated mass of the absorbent composition; and removing essentially only the agglomerated mass from the litter box.
22. A receptacle for receiving animal dross comprising a water-impermeable floor member having integral, water-impermeable upstanding wall means for retention of an absorbent composition above the floor member, wherein the composition comprises particles of a water-swellable bentonite clay capable of agglomerating upon wetting into a mass of sufficient size and of sufficient cohesive strength for physical removal of the mass from the receptacle, said water-swellable bentonite clay having a particle size distribution that includes a sufficient amount of fine particles for agglomeration of the absorbent composition into said mass upon wetting.
23. A litter box comprising a water-impermeable receptacle having disposed therein a non-water-absorbent polymer-containing absorbent composition capable of agglomerating upon wetting into a mass of sufficient size and of sufficient cohesive strength for physical removal of the agglomerated mass from the litter box without substantial adherence to an animal, said absorbent composition comprising non-compacted particles of a water-swellable clay.
24. The litter box of claim 23 wherein the water-swellable clay is selected from the group consisting of sodium bentonite, potassium bentonite, lithium bentonite, calcium bentonite and magnesium bentonite: or combinations thereof.
25. The litter box of claim 23 wherein the water-swellable clay is selected from the group consisting of Montmorillonite, Beidellite, Nontronite, Hectorite, Saponite, Attapulgite and Sepiolite; or combinations thereof.
26. The litter box of claim 23 wherein the water-swellable clay is a non-calcined water-swellable bentonite clay.
27. The litter box of claim 23 wherein the water-swellable clay is bentonite having a particle size ranging from about 50 microns to about 3350 microns.
28. The litter box of claim 23 wherein the water-swellable clay is bentonite having a particle size ranging from about 600 microns to about 3350 microns.
29. A litter box comprising a water-impermeable receptacle having disposed therein an absorbent composition capable of agglomerating upon wetting into a mass of sufficient size and of sufficient cohesive strength for physical removal of the agglomerated mass from the litter box without substantial adherence to an animal, said absorbent composition, consisting essentially of non-compacted particles of a water-swellable clay.
30. The litter box of claim 29 wherein the absorbent composition consists essentially of particles of non-compacted sodium bentonite in an amount of about 1% to about 50% and calcium bentonite in an amount of about 50% to about 99%, based on the total dry weight of bentonite clay in the composition and capable of agglomerating upon wetting into a water-dispersible mass of sufficient size and cohesive strength for physical removal of the agglomerated mass from a litter box, said agglomerated mass capable of being dispersed in water for disposal through a household plumbing conduit.
31. The method of selectively removing liquid animal dross from a litter box comprising:
contacting the water-absorbent composition in the litter box of claim 29 with liquid animal dross, thereby producing an agglomerated mass comprising the absorbent composition and the liquid animal dross that is of sufficient size and of sufficient cohesive strength to be removed from the litter box without substantial adherence to an animal; and removing the agglomerated mass from the litter box thereby removing the liquid animal dross from the litter box.
contacting the water-absorbent composition in the litter box of claim 29 with liquid animal dross, thereby producing an agglomerated mass comprising the absorbent composition and the liquid animal dross that is of sufficient size and of sufficient cohesive strength to be removed from the litter box without substantial adherence to an animal; and removing the agglomerated mass from the litter box thereby removing the liquid animal dross from the litter box.
32. A method of selectively removing liquid animal dross from a litter box comprising:
contacting the water-absorbent composition in the litter box of claim with liquid animal dross, thereby producing an agglomerated mass comprising the absorbent composition and the liquid animal dross that is of sufficient size and of sufficient cohesive strength to be removed from the litter box without substantial adherence to an animal; and removing the agglomerated mass from the litter box thereby removing the liquid animal dross from the litter box.
contacting the water-absorbent composition in the litter box of claim with liquid animal dross, thereby producing an agglomerated mass comprising the absorbent composition and the liquid animal dross that is of sufficient size and of sufficient cohesive strength to be removed from the litter box without substantial adherence to an animal; and removing the agglomerated mass from the litter box thereby removing the liquid animal dross from the litter box.
33. A litter box comprising a water-impermeable receptacle having disposed therein an absorbent composition capable of agglomerating upon wetting into a mass of sufficient size and of sufficient cohesive strength for physical removal of the agglomerated mass from the litter box without substantial adherence to an animal, said absorbent composition comprising at least 65% by weight non-compacted particles of a water-swellable clay.
34. The litter box of claim 33 wherein the absorbent composition comprises particles of non-compacted sodium bentonite in an amount of about 1% to about 50% and calcium bentonite in an amount of about 50% to about 99%, based on the total dry weight of bentonite clay in the composition, said composition including at least 65% by weight bentonite clay and capable of agglomerating upon wetting into a water-dispersible mass of sufficient size and cohesive strength for physical removal of the agglomerated mass from a litter box, said agglomerated mass capable of being, dispersed in water for disposal through a household plumbing conduit.
35. The method of selectively removing liquid animal dross from a litter box comprising:
contacting the water-absorbent composition in the litter box of claim 33 with liquid animal dross, thereby producing an agglomerated mass comprising the absorbent composition and the liquid animal dross that is of sufficient size and of sufficient cohesive strength to be removed from the litter box without substantial adherence to an animal; and removing the agglomerated mass from the litter box thereby removing the liquid animal dross from the litter box.
contacting the water-absorbent composition in the litter box of claim 33 with liquid animal dross, thereby producing an agglomerated mass comprising the absorbent composition and the liquid animal dross that is of sufficient size and of sufficient cohesive strength to be removed from the litter box without substantial adherence to an animal; and removing the agglomerated mass from the litter box thereby removing the liquid animal dross from the litter box.
36. A method of selectively removing liquid animal dross from a litter box comprising:
contacting the water-absorbent composition in the litter box of claim 34 with liquid animal dross, thereby producing an agglomerated mass comprising the absorbent composition and the liquid animal dross that is of sufficient size and of sufficient cohesive strength to be removed from the litter box without substantial adherence to an animal; and removing the agglomerated mass from the litter box thereby removing the liquid animal dross from the litter box.
contacting the water-absorbent composition in the litter box of claim 34 with liquid animal dross, thereby producing an agglomerated mass comprising the absorbent composition and the liquid animal dross that is of sufficient size and of sufficient cohesive strength to be removed from the litter box without substantial adherence to an animal; and removing the agglomerated mass from the litter box thereby removing the liquid animal dross from the litter box.
37. A litter box comprising a water-impermeable receptacle. having disposed therein an absorbent composition capable of agglomerating upon wetting into a mass of sufficient size and of sufficient cohesive strength for physical removal of the agglomerated mass from the litter box without substantial adherence to an animal, said absorbent composition comprising non-compacted particles of a water-swellable clay having a particle size ranging from about 50 microns to about 3350 microns.
38. The litter box of claim 37 wherein the water-swellable bentonite clay has a particle size ranging from about 600 microns to about 3350 microns.
39. The litter box of claim 37 wherein the absorbent composition comprises particles of non-compacted sodium bentonite in an amount of about 1% to about 50% and calcium bentonite in an amount of about 50% to about 99%, based on the total dry weight of bentonite clay in the composition and capable of agglomerating upon wetting into a water-dispersible mass of sufficient size and cohesive strength for physical removal of the agglomerated mass from a litter box, said agglomerated mass capable of being dispersed in water for disposal through a household plumbing conduit.
40. The litter box of claim 39 wherein the sodium bentonite clay is present in an amount of about 10% to about 40% and the calcium bentonite clay is present in an amount of about 60% to about 90% based on the total dry weight of bentonite clays in the composition.
41. The litter box of claim 39 wherein the sodium bentonite clay is present in an amount of about 10% to about 25% and the calcium bentonite clay is present in an amount of about 60% to about 75% based on the total weight of bentonite clays in the composition.
42. The litter box of claim 39 wherein the combination of sodium and calcium bentonite clays have an overall particle size ranging from about 50 microns to about 3350 microns.
43. The litter box of claim 39 wherein the combination of sodium and calcium bentonite clays have an overall particle size ranging from about 600 microns to about 3350 microns.
44. A method of selectively removing the liquid animal dross from a litter box comprising:
contacting the water-absorbent composition in the litter box of claim 28 with liquid animal dross, thereby producing an agglomerated mass comprising the absorbent composition and the liquid animal dross that is of sufficient size and of sufficient cohesive strength to be removed from the litter box without substantial adherence to an animal, wherein the sodium bentonite clay is present in the absorbent composition in an amount of about 10% to about 40% and the calcium bentonite clay is present in an amount of about 60% to about 90% based on the total dry weight of bentonite clays in the composition; and removing the agglomerated mass from the litter box thereby removing the liquid animal dross from the litter box.
contacting the water-absorbent composition in the litter box of claim 28 with liquid animal dross, thereby producing an agglomerated mass comprising the absorbent composition and the liquid animal dross that is of sufficient size and of sufficient cohesive strength to be removed from the litter box without substantial adherence to an animal, wherein the sodium bentonite clay is present in the absorbent composition in an amount of about 10% to about 40% and the calcium bentonite clay is present in an amount of about 60% to about 90% based on the total dry weight of bentonite clays in the composition; and removing the agglomerated mass from the litter box thereby removing the liquid animal dross from the litter box.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US07/552,823 | 1990-07-16 | ||
| US07/552,823 US5129365A (en) | 1989-10-18 | 1990-07-16 | Animal dross absorbent and method |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2045105A1 true CA2045105A1 (en) | 1992-01-17 |
Family
ID=24206953
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2045105 Abandoned CA2045105A1 (en) | 1990-07-16 | 1991-06-20 | Animal dross absorbent and method |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2045105A1 (en) |
-
1991
- 1991-06-20 CA CA 2045105 patent/CA2045105A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU639321B2 (en) | 1993-07-22 |
| AU7590691A (en) | 1992-01-16 |
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| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
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