JP2015198600A - Water absorbing and treating material and production method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water absorbing and treating material having excellent water-degradable properties and a production method thereof.SOLUTION: A water absorbing and treating material 1 comprises a granular core part 10 and a coating layer part 20. The granular core part 10 comprises a tea shell as a main material. The coating layer part 20 is provided so as to cover the granular core part 10. The coating layer part 20 also comprises a tea shell as a main material. The granular core part 10 also comprises water-soluble binder.

Description

  The present invention relates to a water-absorbing treatment material that absorbs liquid such as human or animal excrement and a method for producing the same.

  Patent Document 1 describes an excrement treatment material which is a kind of water absorption treatment material. In this excrement disposal material, a core layer containing fibers and a skin layer covering the core layer are provided. The skin layer includes α starch and fibers. The document states that as an advantage of the excrement disposal material, it can be safely poured into a flush toilet.

JP 2010-104383 A

  However, in order to dispose of the used water-absorbing treatment material in a flush toilet, the water-absorbing treatment material has sufficient water decomposability (bonded fibers and particles are quickly separated by contact with water and dispersed in water. It is necessary to have a property to Insufficient water disintegration property of the water-absorbing treatment material may cause clogging of the toilet. In this regard, the conventional water-absorbing treatment material has room for improvement in terms of water decomposability.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said subject, and it aims at providing the water absorption processing material excellent in water decomposability, and its manufacturing method.

  The water-absorbing treatment material according to the present invention is characterized by comprising a granular core part mainly made of tea husk and a covering layer part covering the granular core part and made mainly of tea husk.

  This water-absorbing treatment material has tea husk as a main material in both the granular core portion and the coating layer portion. Tea husk is a highly water-degradable material because of its short fibers and weak bonding between the fibers. By using such a tea husk as the main material of the granular core part and the coating layer part, a water-absorbing treatment material excellent in water decomposability can be obtained. Here, the main material of the granular core portion means a material having the highest weight ratio in the whole material constituting the granular core portion. The main material of the covering layer portion is defined in the same manner.

  Further, the method for producing a water-absorbing treatment material according to the present invention includes a step of forming a granular core by forming a core material mainly composed of tea husk into a granular material, and a tea husk as a main material on the surface of the granular core. Forming a coating layer portion covering the granular core portion by adhering a coating material.

  This manufacturing method uses tea leaves as the main material in both the core material and the coating material. As described above, the tea husk is a material with high water decomposability. By using such a tea husk as the main material of the core material and the covering material, a water-absorbing treatment material excellent in water decomposability can be obtained.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the water absorption processing material excellent in water decomposability, and its manufacturing method are implement | achieved.

It is a schematic diagram which shows one Embodiment of the water absorption processing material by this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same elements, and duplicate descriptions are omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of a water-absorbing treatment material according to the present invention. The water-absorbing treatment material 1 is a granular water-absorbing treatment material that absorbs liquid, and includes a granular core portion 10 and a coating layer portion 20. The water absorption treatment material 1 is, for example, an excrement treatment material for pets such as cats and dogs.

  The granular core part 10 has a function of absorbing and retaining a liquid such as urine. The granular core part 10 is formed into a granular shape. Examples of the shape of the granular core 10 include a sphere, an ellipsoid, and a cylinder. The granular core portion 10 is mainly made of tea leaves. The weight ratio of the tea husk occupying the granular core 10 is preferably 85% or more, more preferably 90% or more. The tea shell is preferably pulverized to a particle size of 0.5 mm or more and less than 1 mm. Here, the grain size of the tea husk being 0.5 mm or more means that the tea husk cannot pass through a sieve having an opening of 0.5 mm. Further, the grain size of the tea husk being less than 1 mm means that the tea husk can pass through a sieve having an opening of 1 mm.

  The granular core part 10 contains a water-soluble binder. The weight ratio of the water-soluble binder to the granular core 10 is preferably 2% or more and 15% or less, more preferably 2% or more and 10% or less. As the water-soluble binder, for example, starch can be used.

  A covering layer portion 20 is provided so as to cover the granular core portion 10. The covering layer part 20 may cover the entire surface of the granular core part 10 or may cover only a part of the surface of the granular core part 10. The covering layer portion 20 has a function (blocking function) for adhering the water-absorbing treatment materials 1 that have absorbed liquid such as urine during use to form a block.

  The covering layer portion 20 also has tea husk as a main material. The weight ratio of the tea husks in the coating layer portion 20 is preferably 70% or more, more preferably 75% or more. In the present embodiment, a surfactant is added to the tea husk, which is the main material of the coating layer portion 20. Examples of the surfactant include ionic surfactants (anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants), and nonionic (nonionic) surfactants. The tea shell is preferably pulverized to a particle size of 0.2 mm or more and less than 0.3 mm.

  The coating layer portion 20 contains a water-absorbing polymer (including a highly water-absorbing polymer; the same applies hereinafter). The weight ratio of the water-absorbing polymer in the coating layer portion 20 is preferably 10% or more and 30% or less, more preferably 10% or more and 25% or less.

  The average particle diameter of the water-absorbing polymer is preferably 20 μm or less, more preferably 10 μm or less. As such a water-absorbing polymer, those pulverized by a jet mill can be used. Here, the average particle diameter means a minimum opening through which particles of 50% by weight or more can pass when a water-absorbing polymer that is an aggregate of a large number of particles is passed through a sieve. Therefore, an average particle diameter of 20 μm or less means that 50% by weight or more of particles can pass when the water-absorbing polymer is passed through a sieve having an opening of 20 μm.

  Then, an example of the manufacturing method of the water absorption processing material 1 is demonstrated as one Embodiment of the manufacturing method of the water absorption processing material by this invention. This manufacturing method includes a granulation step, a covering step, a sizing step, and a drying step.

  A granulation process is a process of forming the granular core part 10 by shape | molding the core part material which uses tea leaves as a main material in a granular form. In this step, the tea husk, which is the main material of the core material, is pulverized to a particle size of less than 1 mm using a pulverizer. Thereafter, the ground tea husk and starch (water-soluble binder) are mixed using a mixer. The mixing ratio (weight ratio) at this time is preferably from 85% to 98% for tea husk, from 2% to 15% for starch, more preferably from 90% to 98% for tea husk and 2% for starch. % To 10%. If the specific example of a mixing ratio is given, it will be 95% for tea leaves and 5% for starch. Thereby, the core part material which consists of a mixture of tea leaves and starch is obtained. Further, this core material is formed into a granular shape using an extrusion granulator or the like. At this time, no water is added to the core material. Thereby, the granular core part 10 is formed.

  The covering step is a step of forming a covering layer portion 20 that covers the granular core portion 10 by attaching a covering material mainly composed of tea husk to the surface of the granular core portion 10. In this step, a surfactant is added to the tea husk, which is the main material of the coating material. Moreover, using a dryer, the tea husk is dried and its water content is adjusted. This drying may be performed before the surfactant is added to the tea husk, or may be performed after the addition. Thereafter, using a pulverizer, the tea shells to which the surfactant is added are pulverized to a particle size of 0.2 mm or more and less than 0.3 mm. Further, the separately prepared water-absorbing polymer is pulverized so that the average particle diameter is 20 μm or less (more preferably 10 μm or less). For example, a jet mill can be used for the pulverization.

  Next, the ground tea leaves and the water-absorbing polymer are mixed together using a mixer. The mixing ratio (weight ratio) at this time is preferably 70% or more and 90% or less for the tea husk, 10% or more and 30% or less for the water-absorbing polymer, and more preferably 75% or more and 90% or less for the tea husk. The conductive polymer is 10% or more and 25% or less. To give a specific example of the mixing ratio, the tea husk is 80% and the water-absorbing polymer is 20%. Thereby, the coating material which consists of a mixture of a tea husk and a water absorbing polymer is obtained. Furthermore, a coating material is attached to the surface of the granular core 10 using a coating apparatus or the like. The coating material can be applied, for example, by spraying or spraying. At this time, no water is added to the granular core 10. Thereby, the coating layer part 20 is formed.

  In the sizing step, the water-absorbing material produced in the previous step is passed through a sieve having a sieve with a predetermined size. Thereby, only the water absorption processing material which satisfy | fills a predetermined specification is extracted.

  In the drying step, the water-absorbing treatment material extracted in the previous step is dried with a dryer. By appropriately adjusting the moisture content of the granular core part 10 by drying, the moisture of the granular core part 10 can be prevented from transitioning to the coating layer part 20 and the water absorption capacity can be reduced, and the water-absorbing treatment material 1 can be preserved. Occasional generation of mold or the like can be prevented.

  The effect of this embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, tea husk is the main material in both the granular core portion 10 (core portion material) and the covering layer portion 20 (covering material). Tea husk is a highly water-degradable material because of its short fibers and weak bonding between the fibers. By using such a tea husk as the main material of the granular core part 10 and the coating layer part 20, the water-absorbing treatment material 1 excellent in water decomposability is obtained. The water-absorbing treatment material 1 is suitable for disposal after being used in a flush toilet.

  By increasing the content ratio of the tea husk, the water decomposability of the water-absorbing treatment material 1 can be improved. From this point of view, the weight ratio of the tea husk to the granular core 10 (core material) is preferably 85% or more, and more preferably 90% or more. Similarly, the weight ratio of the tea husk occupying the coating layer portion 20 (coating material) is preferably 70% or more, and more preferably 75% or more.

  The water disintegration property of the water-absorbing treatment material 1 can be improved by finely grinding the tea husk. From such a viewpoint, it is preferable that the tea husk, which is the main material of the granular core portion 10, is pulverized to a particle size of less than 1 mm. Similarly, the tea husk that is the main material of the coating layer portion 20 is preferably pulverized to a particle size of less than 0.3 mm. On the other hand, when the particle size of the tea husk is reduced, its water absorption and water retention are lowered. From this viewpoint, it is preferable that the grain size of the tea husk which is the main material of the granular core 10 is 0.5 mm or more. Similarly, the grain size of the tea husk that is the main material of the coating layer portion 20 is preferably 0.2 mm or more.

  Furthermore, components such as zinc, saponin and catechin contained in tea remain in the tea shell. Therefore, tea leaves have a deodorizing effect and an antibacterial effect. By using such a tea husk as the main material of the granular core part 10 and the coating layer part 20, the water-absorbing treatment material 1 excellent in deodorizing effect and antibacterial effect can be obtained.

  In addition, tea leaves are discharged in large quantities from beverage manufacturers and the like, but most of them are discarded by incineration. According to the present embodiment, it is possible to effectively utilize such tea leaves.

  The granular core part 10 (core part material) contains a water-soluble binder. By including the binder in this manner, the core material can be easily formed into a granular shape, and the shape can be easily maintained. From this viewpoint, the weight ratio of the water-soluble binder in the granular core 10 is preferably 2% or more. On the other hand, when the content ratio of the water-soluble binder is increased, the content ratio of the tea husk is relatively reduced, so that the functions of the tea husk (water absorption, water retention, deodorization, antibacterial, etc.) cannot be fully extracted. From this viewpoint, the weight ratio of the water-soluble binder in the granular core 10 is preferably 15% or less, and more preferably 10% or less. Moreover, since this binder is water-soluble, it does not impair the water decomposability of the water-absorbing treatment material 1. Starch can be suitably used as such a water-soluble binder.

  A surfactant is added to the tea husk, which is the main material of the coating layer portion 20. Thereby, since liquids, such as urine, become easy to be absorbed by the water absorption processing material 1 at the time of use, the water absorption of the water absorption processing material 1 can be improved. Moreover, since the water of a toilet becomes easy to introduce | transduce into the inside of the water absorption treatment material 1 when the water absorption treatment material 1 after use is poured into the flush toilet, the water disintegration property of the water absorption treatment material 1 can also be improved.

  The coating layer portion 20 contains a water absorbing polymer. Thereby, the agglomeration function of the coating layer part 20 can be improved. From this viewpoint, it is preferable that the weight ratio of the water-absorbing polymer in the coating layer portion 20 is 10% or more. On the other hand, if the content ratio of the water-absorbing polymer is too large, the water decomposability of the water-absorbing treatment material 1 is lowered. This is because the water-absorbing polymer swollen by absorbing the liquid blocks the toilet water from reaching the granular core 10. From this point of view, the weight ratio of the water-absorbing polymer in the coating layer portion 20 is preferably 30% or less, and more preferably 25% or less.

  The water-absorbing polymer is finely pulverized to suppress swelling during liquid absorption. Thereby, even if the content ratio of the water-absorbing polymer is increased, the water in the toilet easily reaches the granular core portion 10, so that it is possible to avoid a decrease in water disintegration property of the water-absorbing treatment material 1. From this viewpoint, the average particle size of the water-absorbing polymer is preferably 20 μm or less, and more preferably 10 μm or less.

  Further, the finely pulverized water-absorbing polymer can suppress the expansion at the time of liquid absorption, while increasing the adhesiveness. For this reason, the agglomeration function of the coating layer portion 20 can be further improved by finely pulverizing the water-absorbing polymer.

  On the other hand, if an attempt is made to obtain a water-absorbing polymer having a particle size that is too small, a special device or the like is required, leading to an increase in the manufacturing cost of the water-absorbing treatment material 1. From this viewpoint, the average particle diameter of the water-absorbing polymer is preferably 1 μm or more.

  When a jet mill is used for pulverization of the water-absorbing polymer, a water-absorbing polymer having an average particle size of 20 μm or less and a small variation in particle size can be easily obtained.

  Regarding the manufacturing method of the water-absorbing treatment material 1, in the step of forming the granular core portion 10, the core portion material is formed into a granular shape without adding water to the core portion material. Thereby, since the water addition process with respect to a core part material becomes unnecessary, the manufacturing process of the water absorption processing material 1 can be simplified. Normally, the core material is hydrated prior to molding in order to supply moisture necessary for molding the core material. In this respect, in the present embodiment, the moisture necessary for molding can be covered by the abundant moisture contained in the tea husk, which is the main material of the core material.

  The step of forming the covering layer portion 20 includes a step of drying the tea husk that is the main material of the covering material. As a result, the water content of the tea husk and thus the coating material can be adjusted, and the coating material can easily adhere to the surface of the granular core portion 10.

  In the step of forming the coating layer portion 20, the coating material is adhered to the surface of the granular core portion 10 without adding water to the granular core portion 10. Thereby, since the hydration process with respect to the granular core part 10 becomes unnecessary, the manufacturing process of the water absorption processing material 1 can be simplified. Normally, the particulate core 10 is hydrated prior to adhesion in order to supply moisture necessary for adhesion of the coating material. In this respect, in the present embodiment, the moisture necessary for adhesion can be covered by the abundant moisture contained in the tea shell that is the main material of the granular core portion 10.

1 Water Absorption Treatment Material 10 Granular Core 20 Covering Layer

Claims (26)

A granular core mainly made of tea leaves;
Covering the granular core, a coating layer portion mainly made of tea shells,
Water-absorbing treatment material characterized by comprising. The water-absorbing treatment material according to claim 1,
The water absorption processing material whose weight ratio of the said tea occupying to the said granular core part is 85% or more. In the water absorption treatment material according to claim 1 or 2,
The water absorption processing material whose weight ratio of the said tea occupying to the said coating layer part is 70% or more. In the water absorption processing material in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 3,
The granular core is a water-absorbing treatment material containing a water-soluble binder. In the water absorption processing material of Claim 4,
The water absorption processing material whose weight ratio of the said water-soluble binder to the said granular core part is 15% or less. In the water absorption processing material of Claim 4 or 5,
The water-soluble binder is a water-absorbing treatment material that is starch. In the water absorption processing material in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 6,
A water-absorbing treatment material in which a surfactant is added to the tea husk, which is a main material of the coating layer portion. In the water absorption processing material in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 7,
The said coating layer part is a water absorption processing material containing a water absorbing polymer. The water-absorbing treatment material according to claim 8,
The water absorption processing material whose weight ratio of the said water absorbing polymer to the said coating layer part is 30% or less. The water-absorbing treatment material according to claim 8 or 9,
The water-absorbing treatment material has an average particle diameter of 20 μm or less. In the water absorption processing material in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 10,
The tea husk, which is the main material of the granular core, is a water-absorbing treatment material that is crushed to a particle size of less than 1 mm. In the water absorption processing material in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 11,
The water-absorbing treatment material in which the tea husk, which is the main material of the coating layer portion, is pulverized to a particle size of less than 0.3 mm. A step of forming a granular core by forming a core material mainly composed of tea husk into a granular shape;
Forming a coating layer covering the granular core by attaching a coating material mainly composed of tea husk to the surface of the granular core; and
A method for producing a water-absorbing treatment material, comprising: In the manufacturing method of the water absorption processing material according to claim 13,
The method for producing a water-absorbing treatment material, wherein a weight ratio of the tea husk to the core material is 85% or more. In the manufacturing method of the water absorption processing material of Claim 13 or 14,
The method for producing a water-absorbing treatment material, wherein a weight ratio of the tea husk to the covering material is 70% or more. In the manufacturing method of the water absorption processing material in any one of Claims 13 thru | or 15,
In the step of forming the granular core part, a method for producing a water-absorbing treatment material, wherein the core part material is formed into a granular form without adding water to the core part material. In the manufacturing method of the water absorption processing material in any one of Claims 13 thru | or 16,
The step of forming the coating layer portion is a method for manufacturing a water-absorbing treatment material, including a step of drying the tea husk that is a main material of the coating material. In the manufacturing method of the water absorption processing material in any one of Claims 13 thru | or 17,
In the step of forming the coating layer portion, a method for producing a water-absorbing treatment material, wherein the coating material is adhered to the surface of the granular core portion without adding water to the granular core portion. In the manufacturing method of the water absorption processing material in any one of Claims 13 thru | or 18,
The core material is a method for producing a water-absorbing treatment material comprising a mixture of the tea husk and a water-soluble binder. In the manufacturing method of the water absorption processing material according to claim 19,
The method for producing a water-absorbing treatment material, wherein a weight ratio of the water-soluble binder to the core material is 15% or less. In the manufacturing method of the water absorption processing material in any one of Claims 13 thru | or 20,
The step of forming the coating layer portion is a method for producing a water-absorbing treatment material, including a step of adding a surfactant to the tea husk that is a main material of the coating material. In the manufacturing method of the water absorption processing material in any one of Claim 13 thru | or 21,
The said coating material is a manufacturing method of the water absorption processing material which consists of a mixture of the said tea leaves and a water absorbing polymer. In the manufacturing method of the water absorption processing material of Claim 22,
The method for producing a water-absorbing treatment material, wherein a weight ratio of the water-absorbing polymer to the covering material is 30% or less. In the manufacturing method of the water absorption processing material of Claim 22 or 23,
In the step of forming the covering layer portion, a method for producing a water-absorbing treatment material, including a step of pulverizing the water-absorbing polymer before being mixed with the tea husk so that an average particle diameter is 20 μm or less. In the manufacturing method of the water absorption processing material in any one of Claims 13 thru | or 24,
The step of forming the granular core part is a method for producing a water-absorbing treatment material, including the step of pulverizing the tea husk, which is the main material of the core part material, to a particle size of less than 1 mm. In the manufacturing method of the water absorption processing material in any one of Claims 13 thru | or 25,
The step of forming the coating layer portion is a method for producing a water-absorbing treatment material, including a step of pulverizing the tea husk, which is a main material of the coating material, to a particle size of less than 0.3 mm.

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