JP5150661B2 - Method for producing water-decomposable animal excrement disposal material that can be poured into toilet - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for producing a water-decomposable animal excrement disposal material used for excrement disposal of animals such as cats, dogs, pigs and rats.

  Conventionally, in order to easily treat animal excrement, an excrement treating material called so-called cat sand using zeolite, bentonite or pulp has been used. As a method of use, an excrement treatment material is placed on a place where an animal excretes, for example, a tray, and the excrement is absorbed after excretion. And the processing material which absorbed excrement is removed and discarded as used. Here, treatment materials that have been treated so that the treatment materials that have absorbed the excrement are joined together to form a mass have been studied. In the case of such a thing, since the processing material which absorbed excretion can be removed as one lump, it is convenient and hygienic. Furthermore, from the viewpoint that it would be convenient if the treatment material that absorbed the excrement could be discarded in the same way as normal excrement, a treatment material that can be thrown away into a flush toilet has been studied.

As an excrement disposal material that absorbs excrement and solidifies, and as an animal excrement disposal material that can be thrown away into a toilet, the following Patent Document 1 includes a core layer and a skin layer each containing a superabsorbent resin and pulp. The granular material for excrement processing comprised by this is disclosed. The following Patent Document 2 discloses excrement granules composed of pulp and inorganic salts. Patent Document 3 below discloses an excrement treatment material comprising an organic fiber core material, a covering layer made of a polymer covering the core material, and organic fiber powder. Patent Document 4 below discloses an animal excrement treatment material containing fine fiber layer waste and calcium carbonate.

JP-A-6-226659 JP-A-9-252675 JP 11-32608 A Japanese Patent No. 2516060

  However, since the conventional excrement absorber is made of a poorly water-soluble inorganic substance or a chemical fiber such as PP or PE, it is not biodegraded in the septic tank when it is poured into a flush toilet and is likely to accumulate in the septic tank. . Therefore, there is a possibility that the number of cleanings of the septic tank will increase or it will be mixed into the effluent water from the septic tank and cause contamination of the surrounding water area. Moreover, the thing using a polymer has the fault that a polymer swells in a septic tank, it floats easily in a septic tank, and it remains easily without being hydrolyzed.

Moreover, the thing which used the inorganic substance and the chemical fiber as a raw material did not have sufficient absorption rate of excrement.
The objective of this invention is providing the manufacturing method of the excrement disposal material for animals which can be biodegraded within a septic tank, can be safely flowed to a flush toilet, and has a quick excretion absorption rate.

The objects and advantages of the invention are as follows:
(A) a step of granulating hydrophilic and biodegradable fibers dispersed in water to form a core layer;
(B) The surface of the core layer is composed of hydrophilic and biodegradable fiber having an average fiber length of 0.02 to 1 mm and pregelatinized starch, pregelatinized starch: hydrophilic and biodegradable fiber = 20 Coating with a skin layer mixed at 80 to 80:20 ,
(C) drying the coated granular material having a two-layer structure;
It is achieved by a method for producing a water-decomposable animal excrement disposal material characterized by comprising:

Since the excrement disposal material obtained by the production method of the present invention is composed mainly of biodegradable natural products, it is easily biodegradable in the septic tank, and the number of cleanings in the septic tank does not increase, and the surroundings There is no worry about water pollution. Further, since the pregelatinized starch contained in the skin layer is water-soluble, the treatment material does not gel, becomes difficult to float in the septic tank, and is easily decomposed in the septic tank. Therefore, it can be poured into a flush toilet with peace of mind.

  In addition, the excrement is rapidly absorbed by the fibers of the skin layer, and when the excretion is absorbed, the gelatinized starch in the skin layer is dissolved by moisture, and stickiness is developed. Furthermore, the moisture absorbed in the skin layer moves to the core layer, and as a result of the moisture content in the skin layer being reduced, the viscosity of the gelatinized starch in the skin layer is increased. Therefore, the treatment materials are reliably bonded to each other and are easily clumped.

In (b), it is preferable to introduce the core layer into a mixture of the hydrophilic and biodegradable fibers and pregelatinized starch in a drum mixer, and further in the drum mixer (c) It is preferable to perform a process.
Also after the step (a), it has the preferred compression molding the core layer.
Fibers contained in the skin layer, the average fiber length is short fiber 0.02～1Mm, easily degraded in the septic tank.

The average particle size of the α-starch is arbitrarily preferred that at 0.25mm or less.

The excrement disposal material obtained by the production method of the present invention has a fast excretion absorption rate, and when excretions are absorbed, the treatment materials are surely joined together and tend to be a lump. Therefore, the amount of processing material used once can be kept low, and it is easy to take out at the time of disposal, which is convenient. Moreover, the tray on which the granular material is spread can be kept clean.

  Furthermore, the treatment material that has become a lump by absorbing excrement can be thrown away into the flush toilet and discarded.

Sectional drawing of the excrement disposal material for animals obtained by the manufacturing method of this invention

The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a water-decomposable animal excrement disposal material obtained by the production method of the present invention.

  The excrement disposal material 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a core layer 2 and a skin layer 3 that covers the surface of the core layer 2. The granule including the core layer 2 and the skin layer 3 is a granule having a diameter and a length dimension of about 2 to 20 mm. The core layer 2 is formed of fibers 4. On the other hand, the skin layer 3 is formed of a mixture of fibers 5 and pregelatinized starch 6.

  As the fiber 4 forming the core layer 2, any fiber can be used as long as it is hydrophilic and biodegradable. For example, natural fibers such as pulp, cotton, sawdust, hemp, or rayon is used. In particular, the fibers 4 are preferably formed only from pulp because of their high water absorption and ease of granulation. In addition, when using a pulp, what was delignified in order to improve water absorption is preferable.

  In addition, the core layer 2 may contain a natural coagulant such as starch such as starch, cellulose-based polysaccharide, or protein such as collagen.

  The fibers 5 contained in the skin layer 3 are hydrophilic and biodegradable like the fibers 4, and for example, natural fibers such as pulp, cotton, sawdust, hemp, or rayon is used. In particular, it is preferable to use a pulp having high water absorption. In addition, when using a pulp, what was delignified in order to improve water absorption is preferable.

  The fibers 5 contained in the skin layer 3 are preferably short fibers having an average fiber length of 0.02 mm to 1 mm. By using the short fibers, the area where the water of the excrement can come into contact is increased, so that the absorption rate of the excrement is increased. Further, the bonding between the fibers by hydrogen bonding becomes strong, and the shape of the granular material is easily maintained. Furthermore, since the surface area of the fibers increases, the granules joined by the pregelatinized starch described below are joined in a wider area, so that the joints between the granules when moisture is absorbed become stronger. The short fiber of the pulp can be formed, for example, by a pulverizer having a plurality of sharp blades. When the fiber length is smaller than the lower limit, the fiber 5 may fall off from the surface of the treatment material 1.

  The pregelatinized starch contained in the skin layer 3 is pregelatinized starch such as tapioca, wheat, corn, and potato. Among these, pregelatinized tapioca starch is preferable because it is tacky and low in cost.

  The average particle size of the pregelatinized starch 6 is preferably 0.25 mm or less. When a pre-gelatinized starch having such a small particle size is used, it easily dissolves when it comes into contact with moisture, and easily develops tackiness. Furthermore, it becomes easy to cover the surface of the core layer 2 when the treatment material 1 is formed. When the average particle size is larger than the upper limit, the solubility of the pregelatinized starch 6 is lowered, and as a result, the joining of the treatment materials 1 at the time of excretion absorption tends to be weak. A more preferable average particle size is 0.075 mm or less.

  In the skin layer 3, the content of the pregelatinized starch 6 is preferably 20% by mass or more and 80% by mass or less of the skin layer 3. If the content of pregelatinized starch is greater than the above upper limit, a film of pregelatinized starch is formed on the surface of the treatment material 1 when the treatment material 1 absorbs excrement, and the excrement is absorbed into the treatment material. May be hindered. Moreover, when content of pregelatinized starch is made smaller than the said minimum, the adhesive force for a processing material to absorb excrement and to mutually join will become low.

  On the other hand, in the skin layer 3, the content of the fiber 5 is preferably 20% by mass or more and 80% by mass or less of the skin layer 3. If the content of the fibers 5 is smaller than the lower limit, the excrement absorption rate of the treatment material 1 becomes low, so the excrement comes into contact with a wide range of granular materials, and further to the bottom of the tray in which the treatment material 1 is placed. The excrement may reach.

When using the excrement disposal material obtained by the production method of the present invention, excrement is rapidly absorbed by the fibers of the skin layer. Since the excretion absorption rate is fast, the excrement can be prevented from spreading over a wide range of treatment materials. Therefore, the amount of processing material used is reduced, and the cost is reduced.

Moreover, when the excrement processing material obtained by the production method of the present invention absorbs excrement, the pregelatinized starch in the skin layer is dissolved by moisture and develops stickiness. Furthermore, the moisture absorbed in the skin layer moves to the core layer, and as a result of the moisture content in the skin layer being reduced, the viscosity of the gelatinized starch in the skin layer is increased. Therefore, the treatment materials are securely bonded to each other. Thereafter, when the treatment material is naturally dried, moisture is evaporated and the treatment materials are solidified while being adhered. Therefore, only the part contaminated with excrement in the excrement and the treatment material located in the vicinity thereof can be discarded as a lump.

  Further, when the treatment material that has become a mass after absorbing excrement is poured into a flush toilet and thrown away, since the pregelatinized starch is water-soluble, the treatment material does not gel and is discarded without clogging the piping. Furthermore, since moisture easily penetrates into the treatment material, the treatment material does not float above the septic tank. Further, the treatment material can be formed of a highly biodegradable material and is decomposed in a normal purification treatment facility, so that it can be safely thrown away and thrown away without adversely affecting the environment.

  Next, an example of the manufacturing method of the excrement disposal material 1 will be described. First, the raw material fibers of the core layer 2 are dispersed in water, and the water content is dehydrated to about 50%. This is granulated with a disk pelleter into, for example, a circle with a diameter of about 2 to 4 mm or an ellipse with a minor axis of 2 to 4 mm and a major axis of about 7 to 9 mm to form the core layer 2.

  At this time, when the core layer 2 is compression-molded, the moisture absorption rate in the core layer 2 can be made moderately slow in the finally obtained excrement disposal material. Therefore, when the treatment material absorbs excrement, moisture stays in the skin layer for a while, and the treatment materials can be more reliably joined to each other by dissolution of pregelatinized starch.

  On the other hand, the raw fiber of the skin layer 3 and the pregelatinized starch are mixed, for example, with a drum mixer. In addition, when the said short fiber is used as the fiber 5, it can mix with the pregelatinized starch 6 uniformly. The obtained core layer 2 is put into the obtained mixture and mixed for about 5 minutes. Then, the surface of the core layer 2 is covered with the skin layer 3. Thereby, the surface of the core layer 2 can be covered with the skin layer 3 all over.

Thereafter, the obtained granular material having a two-layer structure is dried in a drum mixer using hot air of about 120 ° C. so that the moisture content of the granular material is 10% or less. If the water content of the excrement disposal material is more than 10% by weight, the absorbability of excrement falls, and there is a risk that mold occurs during storage. The final bulk specific gravity of the treatment material 1 is preferably 0.1 to 0.5 g / cm ³ .

  When the skin layer 3 is formed, moisture contained in the core layer 2 is transferred to the skin layer, and the pregelatinized starch 6 contained in the skin layer 3 is dissolved and joined to the fibers 5. The fibers 5 and the pregelatinized starch 6 are not easily detached from the surface. Furthermore, by drying in the drum mixer, the effect of ironing the surface of the treatment material 1 can be obtained, and the fluffing of fibers existing on the surface of the treatment material 1 can be suppressed.

  In addition, in the present invention, the skin layer 3 can contain an anti-fogging agent. For example, natural compounds such as polyethylene glycol, glycerin, tomitsu, and carboxymethylcellulose can be given. The blending amount of the anti-fogging agent is preferably 1% by weight or less of the skin layer. Among these, polyethylene glycol is preferable.

  The excrement disposal material can contain other substances as long as the effects of the present invention are not hindered. Bentonite and zeolite water-absorbing agents, inorganic substances such as kaolin, fragrances, colorants, surfactants, bactericides, preservatives, deodorants and the like can be contained.

The animal excrement disposal materials obtained by the production method of the present invention can be used for breeding most animals. Is optimal. When small animals are to be used, the excrement disposal material may be compressed to a thickness of 3 mm or less in order to suppress scattering from the installation location of the excrement disposal material.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although an Example demonstrates this invention in more detail, this invention is not limited to these Examples.

  Using the material described in Table 1, the animal excrement disposal material shown in FIG. 1 was formed using the method described in the above embodiment. As the pregelatinized starch, pregelatinized tapioca starch was used. The particle diameter of the pregelatinized tapioca starch was 0.10 mm or less, and the pulp fiber having an average fiber length of 0.10 mm was used.

  About each obtained Example, bulk specific gravity, mass weight, mass strength, and mass shape were measured in accordance with the following method. As a comparative example, the same test was performed on a skin layer formed of only pulp or pregelatinized starch. The results are shown in Table 1.

  (Bulk specific gravity) The treatment material was poured into a 1 liter measuring cup and its weight was measured.

  (Mass weight) The processing material was spread uniformly on a tray having a depth of 40 mm. 20 cc of a 0.9 wt% sodium chloride solution was dropped from a height of 2 cm from the surface of the treated material spread over 10 seconds. Only the treatment material that absorbed the solution was collected and its weight was measured.

  (Clot Strength) Five minutes after the solution was charged, the mass of the treatment material that absorbed the solution was pierced with a stainless steel rod having a diameter of 5 mm at a speed of 500 mm / min, and the maximum resistance was measured with a digital force gauge.

  (Clot shape) The mass of the treatment material that absorbed the solution was visually observed from the lateral direction.

1 Animal excrement disposal material 2 Core layer 3 Skin layer 4, 5 Fiber 6 Pregelatinized starch

Claims (5)

(A) a step of granulating hydrophilic and biodegradable fibers dispersed in water to form a core layer;
(B) The surface of the core layer is composed of hydrophilic and biodegradable fiber having an average fiber length of 0.02 to 1 mm and pregelatinized starch, pregelatinized starch: hydrophilic and biodegradable fiber = 20 Coating with a skin layer mixed at 80 to 80:20 ,
(C) drying the coated granular material having a two-layer structure;
A method for producing a water-degradable animal excrement disposal material, comprising: The hydrolyzable animal excrement treatment according to claim 1, wherein in (b), the core layer is introduced into a mixture of the hydrophilic and biodegradable fibers and pregelatinized starch in a drum mixer. A method of manufacturing the material.   The method for producing a water-decomposable animal excrement disposal material according to claim 2, wherein step (c) is further performed in the drum mixer.   The method for producing a water-decomposable animal excrement disposal material according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the core layer is compression-molded after the step (a). The method for producing a water-degradable animal excrement disposal material according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the pregelatinized starch has an average particle size of 0.25 mm or less.

Images