JP5681664B2 - Urination treatment material for pet and method for producing the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a pet urine treatment material and a method for producing the same, and more particularly, to a bentonite-based pet urine treatment material and a method for producing the same.

  Conventionally, pet urine treatment materials (also referred to as “cat sand”) using natural bentonite or activated bentonite obtained by subjecting natural bentonite to alkali treatment are known. Bentonite has the property of absorbing and coagulating solids when it comes into contact with moisture, especially in the presence of sodium ions, and forming a solidified lump. Is easy to use.

  In general, there are various performances required for pet urination treatment materials such as water absorption, coagulation solidification, deodorization, deodorization, etc., but in pet urination treatment materials using clay-based materials, In particular, high water absorption and coagulation solidification are required.

  Na-type bentonite, which is often used as a urine treatment material for pets, is excellent in coagulation and solidification at the time of water absorption. On the other hand, urine treatment for pets is performed by rapidly agglomerating and solidifying only the surface that is the contact point when contacting with moisture. There is a problem that water absorption into the interior of the material is obstructed, resulting in a decrease in water absorption capacity immediately after moisture contact.

  In order to improve such a problem of Na-type bentonite, the inventors of the present application have conducted intensive research and used a sodium compound sufficient to form Na-type bentonite when performing an activation treatment using a sodium compound. Thus, a manufacturing method was devised in advance that adjusts moisture, time, temperature, etc. so that introduction of sodium ions between layers does not proceed excessively.

  If such a manufacturing method is used, some sodium ions are introduced between the layers, but many other sodium ions or sodium compounds are in the vicinity of the layers or at the interface of the clay block forming a substantially cylindrical granular material. Or exist on the surface of the granular material. If granular materials made of activated bentonite obtained by applying alkali treatment to sub-bentonite or acid clay (main components: Ca-type smectite, H-type smectite) are used as pet urine treatment materials, bentonite is not progressing to Na-type. For this reason, the surface of the granular material does not rapidly agglomerate and solidify when it comes into contact with water, and the water quickly penetrates into the inside of the granular material. On the other hand, there are a lot of sodium ions and particles of sodium compounds in the vicinity of the interlayer and on the surface of the granular material, so that the water that has contacted the granular material also acts as a medium for introducing these sodium into the interlayer. In parallel with this, Na-type conversion proceeds, so that the urine-treating material for pets after water absorption is solidified and agglomerated and solidified and easily removed from unused items.

  The urine-treating material for pet made of activated bentonite using sub-bentonite or acid clay is an excellent material that has both water-absorbing property and coagulation-solidifying property as described above. The so-called Ca-type smectite occupies most of the main components, and the Ca-type bentonite is more brittle than Na-type bentonite, and when it is made into a granular material, a part thereof is chipped or collapsed and is easily pulverized. is there.

  Now, pet urine treatment materials are generally transferred to pet toilet containers such as urine trays at home, and only the part that absorbed urine is discarded, and the reduced amount is compensated sequentially. It is what is used. The urine treatment material for pets using a clay-based material is often provided as a granular material of several hundred microns to several mm or a molded body of several mm to several cm, but if it is originally a fine granular material, There is a possibility that powder may fly when it is transferred from a packaging bag to a pet toilet, etc., and a health problem may occur due to the person or pet sucking the powder, and a hygiene problem may occur due to scattering around the container.

  In addition, even when the urine-treating material for pets is a granular material having a certain size such as a granular molded body, a part of the granular material may be chipped or broken due to vibration or impact during transportation. In this case, the powdered product remains mixed in the packaging bag, and in particular, a product containing a large amount of Ca-type smectite is fragile, so that such a powder is likely to be generated. Since conveyance of goods goes through the hands of various vendors, it is practically difficult to suppress the generation of fine powder by improving the handling in the conveyance process.

  In order to satisfy such a demand for dust generation suppression, several proposals have been made regarding dust generation suppression for clay-based pet urine treatment materials. For example, in Patent Document 1, the surface of a granular molded body formed from a water-swellable clay mineral is treated with polyalkylene glycol, paraffin wax, higher fatty acid, etc., thereby improving the powdering prevention property of the granular molded body. Technology is shown. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses an animal bed material that makes it difficult for dust to stand up by spraying polytetrafluoroethylene to bentonite clay powder and mixing a binder such as gar rubber.

JP 2006-42798 A US Pat. No. 5,826,543

  However, in the invention described in the cited document 1, although the dust is suppressed to some extent, it does not sufficiently satisfy the demands on hygiene and health. Moreover, although it can suppress dust in the invention described in the cited document 2, it cannot be said that the performance as a pet urine treatment material is sufficiently maintained.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and the object of the present invention is to provide a pet urine treatment material that has sufficient performance as a pet urine treatment material and is provided with a dust generation suppressing function. And a manufacturing method thereof.

  Further, other objects and operational effects of the present invention will be easily understood by those skilled in the art by referring to the following description.

  The problems of the present invention can be solved by a pet urine treatment material having the following configuration and a method for producing the same.

  The pet urine treatment material according to the present invention is a granular molded product in which polytetrafluoroethylene is unevenly distributed on the outer surface of an activated bentonite granulated product produced by adding a sodium compound to natural dioctahedral smectite clay particles. The average minor axis of the granular molded product is 2 to 6 mm, and the weight ratio of the active bentonite granulated product to the polytetrafluoroethylene (based on the dried product) is the active bentonite granulated product: polytetrafluoroethylene. = 100: 0.001 to 0.2.

  Here, the active bentonite treatment by addition and mixing of sodium compound in the present invention means that an appropriate amount of sodium ions is partially introduced between the layers of the dioctahedral smectite, and the remaining sodium content is in the vicinity of the smectite layer or the smectite system. This means that sodium compounds are scattered and placed on the surface of the clay particles as a suitable source of sodium ions, and the water absorption performance and the coagulation solidification performance due to water absorption are further improved by such an active bentonite treatment. As a specific treatment, an activated bentonite granule suitable for a pet urine treatment material can be obtained by adding a sodium compound to natural dioctahedral smectite clay and kneading, granulating, and drying.

  Further, the “average minor axis” means that the shortest diameter passing through the approximate center at the substantially central portion of the granular molded product is the minor axis of the granular product, and n granular materials (n ≧≧ 10) was randomly and randomly sampled, and each minor axis was measured using a caliper, and obtained as an average value of n pieces of data.

  In addition, the “weight ratio (dry matter basis)” means that the active bentonite granulated product is a weight ratio in a state where it is not extremely absorbed by moisture or the like and can be used as a urine treatment material for pets. .

  And according to such a structure, even if it is a pet urine processing material which consists of a granular material which is easy to generate | occur | produce a chipping and collapse at the time of transportation, powdering by a part of granular material chipping or collapsing is remarkably suppressed. Is done. In addition, dust generation during use is extremely small, and sufficient urine absorption solidification as a urine treatment material for pets can be obtained.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is desirable that the granular molded product has a substantially cylindrical shape, an average minor axis is 2 to 5 mm, and an average major axis is in the range of 4 to 10 mm.

  By molding into such a size, the urine absorption solidification performance that should be inherently improved is further improved, and it is difficult to be sandwiched between the four-legged paws such as cats that use pet urine treatment materials The size of the range can be set, which is also preferable in terms of improving the aesthetics from the owner side as one of the product values deployed in the living space.

  Moreover, in preferable embodiment of this invention, it is desirable for the said granular molded article to contain the calcium component of 1-5 weight% (dry matter basis) in conversion of CaO.

  According to such a configuration, by using subbentonite (main component: Ca-type smectite) or acidic clay containing the calcium component as described above in natural dioctahedral smectite clay, which is a raw clay, it is possible to absorb water. Before the start of urine, so much sodium ions are not introduced between the layers, and a pet urine-treating material in which an amount of sodium components that can replace substantially all of the interlayer ions is retained outside the layers is obtained. Thus, immediately after the start of urine absorption, sodium ions already introduced between the layers ensure sufficient urine absorption as a pet urine treatment material, but urine is absorbed because there are not so many sodium ions between layers. The surface of the granular molded product does not rapidly agglomerate and solidify, but as the urine sucks, the sodium component carried into the urine is introduced between the layers, and the urine absorption performance and agglomeration per unit amount of the urine treatment material for pets It will be excellent as a urine-treating material for pets with increased solidification.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the granular molded product has an apex in the region of 2θ = 21.5 to 22.5, and the half width (° / 2θ) is 0.4 or more. those opal silica component having a diffraction peak contained in a range of 20 to 40 wt% in terms of SiO ₂ is preferred.

  According to such a configuration, by using natural dioctahedral smectite clay containing a considerable amount of low crystalline to amorphous and porous silica particles as described above as raw clay, Many pores are formed by silica particles dispersed in a matrix composed of smectite particles. Because of this, even if the clayey part in the granular molded product expands and solidifies due to urine absorption or water absorption, the pores connected to the pores become water and urine channels to help moisture permeation Therefore, it becomes a urine-treating material for pets that is excellent in urine absorption or water absorption.

  Moreover, in preferable embodiment of this invention, it is preferable that the moisture content at the time of factory shipment is 5 weight% or less.

  Here, the “water content” was obtained as a percentage (% by weight) with respect to the total amount of the sample, assuming that about 5 g of the sample was subjected to a ket type infrared moisture meter and heated for 20 minutes at 120 ° C. Means things.

  According to such a configuration, the moisture content at the time of factory shipment is less than 10% because the moisture content at the time of factory shipment is less than 10% because it is actually used as a urine treatment material for pets in each household. When used, there is a higher possibility that a sufficient effect can be obtained as a urine treatment material for pets.

  Furthermore, in preferable embodiment of this invention, it is preferable to use the said sodium compound 1 type (s) or 2 or more types from sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydroxide, and sodium silicate.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the solidified urinary absorption capacity C _US defined by the following formula (1) is preferably 50 or more.

_{C US = [M P / (} M A -M P)] × 10 2 ·········· formula (1)

(In the formula, M _A is the weight (g) of the solidified mass that has absorbed the predetermined electrolyte solution M _P (g),
The electrolyte solution is an aqueous solution in which each ion is contained at the following concentration (meq / kg). )
Ca ²⁺ 1
Mg ²⁺ 9
K ⁺ 120
Na ⁺ 250
Cl ^- 150
SO ₄ ^2- 80
HCO ₃ ^- 70
H ₂ PO ₄ ^- 80

Here, the electrolyte solution shown in the formula (1) was uniquely determined by the inventors of the present application with reference to the concentrations of various electrolyte components in the urine of pets such as cats and dogs shown in Documents 1 and 2. It should be called a so-called simulated urine solution. By measuring the urine absorption ability using this simulated urine solution, it is considered that a result more suitable for the actual use mode can be obtained than when pure water or a sodium chloride aqueous solution is used.
Ii) Reference 1: Biochemistry Data Book I-The Japanese Biochemical Society-(1979)
Reference 2: Mitruka, BM & Rawnsley, HM (1977) (literature name unknown)

And by satisfy | filling such a structural requirement, the fixed urine absorption performance about the electrolyte solution which has a property close | similar to pet urine is ensured. More specifically, when the solidified urinary absorption capacity C _US obtained by the formula (1) is 50 or more, 0.5 g or more of the electrolyte solution can be absorbed per 1 g of the pet urine treatment material.

  Moreover, this invention can also be grasped | ascertained also as a manufacturing method of the urination processing material for pets. The method for producing a urine-treating material for pets according to the present invention comprises adding a sodium compound to a natural dioctahedral smectite clay crushed and granulated with a water content of 25 to 40% by weight, mixing and kneading, and extruding. A granulation step of passing a granulated plate with a pore diameter of 2 to 6 mm to obtain a water-containing granulated product, and applying a hot air of 150 to 600 ° C. to the water-containing granulated product so that the water content is 5% by weight or less. A drying step for obtaining an activated bentonite granulated product, and a polytetrafluoroethylene adhering step for adhering polytetrafluoroethylene to the surface of the activated bentonite granulated product, wherein the activated bentonite granulated product and the polytetrafluoroethylene are obtained. The weight ratio (based on dry matter) of the active bentonite granule: polytetrafluoroethylene = 100: 0.001 to 0.2

  Here, as an example of the granulation plate, a plate made of a steel plate with an appropriate number of circular holes having a predetermined hole diameter (2 to 6 mm) is cited. This type of granulation plate is also called a die or a molding plate.

  And according to such a method, since the manufacture of the pet urine treatment material is carried out under the condition that sodium ions are not easily introduced between the layers, the manufactured pet urine treatment material has a water absorption immediately after the start of water absorption. Excellent in urine absorption or urine absorption. In addition, because it is molded into a substantially cylindrical shape, it excels in solidifying urine absorption ability, and it is difficult to partially break or collapse during transportation, etc. can do.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the adhesion in the polytetrafluoroethylene adhesion step may be performed by spraying an aqueous dispersion of polytetrafluoroethylene on the surface of the activated bentonite granule. By using an aqueous polytetrafluoroethylene dispersion, it is possible to easily attach polytetrafluoroethylene to the surface of the activated bentonite granule, which is economically preferable.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, after the polytetrafluoroethylene spraying step, at least a part of the activated bentonite granule to which the polytetrafluoroethylene is adhered is partially filled in a suitable container, and the entire filling is peristated. A polytetrafluoroethylene fiberizing step that exerts external forces such as vibration, rotation, shaking, tapping, and stirring may be provided.

  By providing such a fiberization (fibrillation) step, on the outer surface of the activated bentonite granule subjected to the fiberization treatment, the agglomerated particles of the attached polytetrafluoroethylene fibers are interlinked with the active bentonite granules. Irregular fiber nets or ropes are unraveled by the collision and friction of the fibers, and the irregular fiber nets or ropes spread. Thereby, these polytetrafluoroethylene fiber nets or ropes are captured so as to entangle the dust generated from the outer surface of the activated bentonite granule due to collision and friction, and the dust adhering to the former together, The generated dust is not separated as a powder while being trapped on the surface of the activated bentonite granule, and dust generation during subsequent handling is less likely to occur.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the polytetrafluoroethylene spraying step for attaching the polytetrafluoroethylene, the polyalkylene glycol aqueous solution and / or the sodium silicate aqueous solution is simultaneously with the aqueous polytetrafluoroethylene dispersion. Or you may make it spray by mixing.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at the time of completion of the drying step, the solidified urinary absorption capacity C _US defined by the following formula (1) of the active bentonite is preferably 50 or more.
_{C US = [M P / (} M A -M P)] × 10 2 ·········· formula (1)
(In the formula, M _A is the weight (g) of the solidified mass that has absorbed the predetermined electrolyte solution M _P (g),
The electrolyte solution is an aqueous solution in which each ion is contained at the following concentration (meq / kg). )
Ca ²⁺ 1
Mg ²⁺ 9
K ⁺ 120
Na ⁺ 250
Cl ^- 150
SO ₄ ^2- 80
HCO ₃ ^- 70
H ₂ PO ₄ ^- 80

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a pet urine treatment material provided with a dust generation suppressing function while having sufficient water absorption and coagulation solidification as a pet urine treatment material. .

  Further, according to the method for producing a pet urine treatment material according to the present invention, since the production of the pet urine treatment material is performed under the condition that sodium ions are unlikely to be introduced between layers, The treatment material is excellent in water absorption or urine absorption immediately after the start of water absorption. In addition, because it is molded into a substantially cylindrical shape, it excels in solidifying urine absorption ability, and it is difficult to partially break or collapse during transportation, etc. can do.

It is a figure which shows the comparison result (the 1) of the amount of dust generation by the difference in the kind of dust generation inhibitor. It is a figure which shows the comparison result (the 2) of the amount of dust generation by the difference in the kind of dust generation inhibitor. It is a figure which shows the comparison result of the dusting suppression effect of PTFE by the difference in addition concentration and the addition method. It is a figure which shows the correlation with the addition density | concentration of PTFE and solidification urine absorption ability. It is an enlarged photograph of the surface of Sample 4-1 (PTFE 1% spray sample). It is a figure which shows the EPMA analysis result of the sample 4-1 (PTFE 1% spray sample) surface. It is an enlarged photograph inside the sample 4-1 (PTFE 1% spray sample). It is a figure which shows the EPMA analysis result inside sample 4-1 (PTFE 1% spray sample). It is an enlarged photograph of the surface of Sample 4-2 (FEP 1% spray sample). It is a figure which shows the EPMA analysis result of the sample 4-2 (FEP1% spray sample) surface. It is an enlarged photograph of the surface of Sample 4-3 (PFA 1% spray sample). It is a figure which shows the EPMA analysis result of the sample 4-3 (PFA1% spray sample) surface. It is a figure which shows the DTA curve of sample 4-4, 4-5 (PTFE dry solid substance). It is a figure which shows the correlation with the TGA curve and DTA curve of sample 4-5 (PTFE dry solid). It is a figure which shows the correlation with the TGA curve and DTA curve of sample 4-6, 4-7. It is the elements on larger scale of the DTA curve of various fluororesin 5% spray samples. It is a graph which shows the physical property and evaluation result of a granular molding product obtained in each Example. It is a table | surface which shows the physical property and evaluation result of a granular molding obtained by each comparative example and reference example.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a pet urine treatment material and a method for producing the same according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  As mentioned earlier, Na-type bentonite, which is often used as a pet urine treatment material, is excellent in agglomeration and solidification at the time of water absorption, while only the surface that is the contact point at the time of contact with moisture rapidly agglomerates. By solidifying, there is a problem that water absorption into the urine-treating material for pets is hindered, and as a result, the water absorption ability immediately after contact with moisture is lowered.

  In order to solve such problems, the inventors of the present application use sub-bentonite or acid clay with a high Ca-type smectite ratio, and sodium ions in an amount that can replace all the cations between the layers in the vicinity of the layers or on the surface of granular materials. For pets, the surface does not agglomerate and solidify immediately after the start of water absorption, and sodium ions are introduced between the layers as water absorption proceeds, improving water absorption and coagulation solidification. A urination treatment material was proposed first. However, when Ca-type bentonite is brittle and more granular than Na-type bentonite, there is a problem that a part thereof is chipped or broken and is easily pulverized.

  In addition, one way to increase the water absorption capacity of clay-based pet urine treatment materials is to reduce the water content, but the water content in the particulate matter is a self-adhering bentonite agglomerate. It is considered that the water molecules are associated with each other to some extent between them and serve as a binder that reinforces the adhesion between the agglomerates by hydrogen bonding or the like. For this reason, when there is little or little moisture content, the resulting binder effect is reduced, so that it is easy to be pulverized to generate dust, and to be easily crushed or pulverized during transportation. Furthermore, the powdered particles are electrostatically charged under the conditions of low moisture and low humidity, and are more likely to float.

  Furthermore, by selecting the raw material so that a predetermined amount of the opal silica component is contained in the granular material, these foreign substances that do not have coagulation and solidification properties at the time of water absorption become a water flow path, contributing to an improvement in the water absorption speed. However, since the opal silica component itself is not sticky, the inclusion of these components inhibits the binding between smectite particles or agglomerates, and the granular material is considered to be more brittle. .

  In addition, this kind of pet urine treatment material is often molded and processed as a granular material of a certain size so as not to be caught between four-legged paws such as cats. There is a problem that it is easy to roll and disperse, and if it has a corner shape, there is a risk that it will hurt by sticking into the pet's four legs, etc., so it is often provided in a cylindrical shape etc. Even so, since the end portion is substantially perpendicular to the center line of the cylinder, it is likely to collapse from the end corner when an external force such as vibration is applied.

That is, in order to obtain water absorption and coagulation solidification that are preferable as a urine treatment material for pets. ・ Suppress the progression of Ca type smectite to Na type. ・ Reducing moisture content. ・ Contain opal silica components. Any configuration such as a columnar shape decreases the hardness of the pet urine treatment material, and becomes a factor that tends to collapse.

  The inventors of the present application have such a high water absorption property and agglomeration solidification property, but in the urine treatment material for pets having the property of being brittle and easy to collapse, for the purpose of suppressing undesirable dust generation from the health and hygiene aspects. The present invention has been recalled.

First, various verification experiments performed for verifying the effects of the present invention will be described.

[Verification Experiment 1]
a. Preparation of Sample 1-0 As a raw clay, about 100 kg of dioctahedral smectite clay (hydrated material) from Kodo A-1 Block, Shibata City, Niigata Prefecture, and a granulated plate having a 10 mm wide corrugated hole Was crushed by extruding with a single-screw extrusion granulator equipped with A powder of sodium carbonate (industrial) is sprinkled with 100 parts by weight of the raw clay (150 ° C. dry standard) so as to be 3 parts by weight as Na ₂ CO ₃ , and a single-screw extrusion granulator (6 mm circular hole) Kneading, kneading, and granulation were performed 3 times on a granulating plate and then once on a vertical rotary roll type extrusion granulator (desk pelleter, equipped with a 2.8 mm circular hole granulating plate). Next, the obtained water-containing granulated product is put into an experimental rotary dryer, hot air from LPG combustion is applied to the co-current type, the residence time in the machine is adjusted to about 1 hour, and the exhaust temperature at the outlet is adjusted. It dried so that it might become 140-160 degreeC. Here, about 5 kg of dry granulated material is not collected from the start of discharge, but about 50 kg of the subsequent material is sampled, sized with a crusher and a sieving machine, and the activated bentonite granulated material of Sample 1-0 is obtained. Obtained. The obtained granulated product (Sample 1-0) had an average minor axis of 2.3 mm, a calcium component content of 1.6% by weight in terms of CaO, and a moisture content of 0.7%. Further, the half width (° / 2θ) of the diffraction peak based on the [111] plane of the opal silica component was 0.64, and the content of the silica component was 24% by weight.

  The average particle size, calcium component content, water content, half width of the opal silica component, and content of the opal silica component were determined in the following manner.

<Measurement of average minor axis and average major axis>
The shortest diameter passing through the approximate center at the substantially central portion of the granular molded product is defined as the short diameter of the granular material, the longest diameter is defined as the long diameter of the granular material, and 10 granular materials are randomly selected from the entire granular molded product to be measured. Randomly collecting and measuring each minor axis and major axis with a caliper, the average value of 10 data was obtained.

<Measurement of calcium component content>
Using a fluorescent X-ray analyzer (ZSX Primus II, manufactured by Rigaku Co., Ltd.), composition analysis was performed on the basis of a metal element oxide of F or more, and a calcium component content (weight%) in terms of CaO was obtained.

<Measurement of moisture content (% by weight)>
About 5 g of the molded product sample is applied to a Kett-type infrared moisture meter (FD-600, manufactured by Kett Science Laboratory), and the weight loss when heated at 120 ° C. for 20 minutes is regarded as the moisture content (g). It calculated | required by the percentage (weight%) with respect to.

<Measurement of XRD peak half-value width (° / 2θ) of opal silica component>
Using an X-ray diffractometer (MultiFlex, manufactured by Rigaku Corporation), an XRD peak based on the [111] plane of an opal silica component having an apex in the region of 2θ = 21.5 to 22.5 °, Using the basic data processing software built in the device, perform [smoothing processing], [background removal processing] and [Kα2 removal processing] in the region of 2θ = P ± 1 ° around the peak position P °, The full width at half maximum (° / 2θ) of the peak was determined.

<Measurement of Opal Silica Component Content (wt% / SiO ₂ )>
10 g of a powder sample previously ground in a mortar and dried at 150 ° C. for 3 hours was dispersed in 200 ml of 0.05 molar NaOH aqueous solution to form a slurry, and heated and stirred at 90 ° C. for 8 hours to carry out a dissolution reaction. After cooling, the alkali-dissolved slurry is centrifuged to obtain a clear and colorless clear liquid. The powder sample obtained by evaporating and drying the colorless and transparent Na salt aqueous solution is subjected to X-ray fluorescence analysis and loss on ignition (/ 1050 ° C.) on the basis of 150 ° C., and silica (SiO 2) dissolved in the NaOH aqueous solution is analyzed. ₂ ) was calculated to determine the content (% by weight) of the opal silica component.

b. Preparation of Samples 1-1 to 1-6 Next, a dispersion and / or aqueous solution of a dust suppressant was added to 1 kg of the dried granulated material as Sample 1-0, and the types and concentrations shown in Table 1 below. Then, samples 1-1 to 1-6 were obtained by spraying uniformly over several times with a commercially available manual sprayer and adhering to the surface. The addition concentration (%) in Table 1 is the number of addition parts (% by weight) relative to 100 parts by weight of the dry granulated product, and polytetrafluoroethylene (hereinafter referred to as PTFE) is Mitsui DuPont Fluorochemical Co., Ltd. The product, polyethylene glycol (hereinafter referred to as PEG) is manufactured by Sanyo Chemical Industries.

  FIG. 1 shows the result of the dust generation test performed on the granular material samples 1-0 to 1-6 obtained in the verification experiment 1 described above. The dust generation test was conducted as follows.

<Dust generation test 1>
<Dust measurement method>
A circular flat-bottom bat is installed inside, a wooden semi-sealed container for measuring dust of about 45cm in height, about 35cm in length and about 35cm in height and connected to a dust meter, and a manually openable circle with a diameter of 5cm at the bottom. Prepare a round-bottomed container with a hole, transfer 1 kg of the granular molded product sample into the round-bottomed container, open the bottom circular hole of the round-bottomed container in the semi-sealed container for self-made dust measurement, and measure the total amount of the sample After naturally dropping a distance of 30 to 40 cm to the circular flat bottom bat, the self-made dust measurement semi-sealed container is closed. After standing for 1 minute as it was, it was obtained by sucking the atmosphere inside the semi-sealed container for self-made dust measurement with a dust meter (light scattering method, digital dust measuring machine LD-5D, manufactured by Shibata Kagaku Co., Ltd.) for 1 minute. The amount of dust (unit: cpm) is measured. Strictly speaking, the amount of dust here represents the amount of dust scattered (cpm value), but the amount of dust scattered is determined by the concentration of dust floating in the air (mg / m ³ ). Since it is proportional, this was taken as the dust generation amount (cpm) representing the dust generation property of the sample.

<Initial dust generation amount _DOR >
With respect to 1 kg of the molded product sample, the initial dust generation amount D _OR (cpm) was defined as the dust amount measured according to the dust amount measurement method without applying an impact treatment.

<Dust generation after impact D _nS >
1 kg of a molded product sample was placed in a commercially available polyethylene bag with a chuck (K-4, length 400 mm × width 280 mm × thickness 0.04 mm), and further, air was filled in the polyethylene bag with a chuck to enclose it. The operation of moving the polyethylene bag with a chuck enclosing the sample and air up and down with a swinging width of 70 to 80 cm (hereinafter referred to as an impact) is performed at a speed of about 50 to 60 times / minute for each predetermined number of times. Let sit for a minute. The post-impact dust generation amount D _nS (cpm) was determined by measuring the dust generation property of the sample after the impact treatment according to the above-described dust amount measurement method. It should be noted that the above-mentioned impact is defined as “up and down movement once” by adding one upward swinging motion and one downward swinging motion, and the vertical impact is n times. Moreover, the measurement of the amount of dust generation for each number of impacts is performed for the same sample a plurality of times as in the following procedures 1 to 9.
1. Measure initial dust generation 2. Impact 10 times Measures the amount of dust generated by 10 impacts 4.20 impacts (30 impacts in total)
5. Measures the amount of dust generated after 30 impacts 6.20 impacts (50 impacts in total)
7). Measures the amount of dust generated after 50 impacts 8. 50 impacts (100 impacts in total)
9. Measures dust generation after 100 impacts

  By measuring the amount of dust generated after applying an impact in this way, the amount of subsequent dust generated by the impact of loading and unloading in the distribution process of the product after packaging and the impact of intermittent vibration during transportation Can be assumed.

  In this verification experiment 1, PTFE, which is known to have a dust generation suppressing effect, was compared with the dust generation suppression performance of PEG added to a conventional pet urine treatment material. As is clear from the results of FIG. 1, the initial dust generation amount of the blank sample 1-0 is about 550 cpm, whereas samples 1-1 to 1-3 to which only PTFE is added, and PTFE In 1-4 and 1-5 to which PEG is added, the initial dust generation amount is about 150 to 350 cpm, and in both cases, in 1-6 to which only PEG is added, the initial dust generation amount is Although it is about 500 cpm and dust generation is suppressed from 1-0 which is a blank sample, the dust generation suppression effect of sample 1-1 to 1-5 is not acquired.

  In particular, after impact, both the blank sample 1-0 and the sample 1-6 to which only PEG was added increased the amount of dust generation substantially in proportion to the number of impacts, whereas PTFE was In the used samples 1-1 to 1-5, an extreme increase in the amount of dust generation is hardly observed. Specifically, in the amount of dust generated by 100 impacts, the blank sample 1-0 has a large value of 1050 cpm and the sample 1-6 has a large value of 950 cpm, whereas in the samples 1-1 to 1-5, Is also stopped at about 100 to 350 cpm. From these results, it was found that by adding PTFE to the pet urine treatment material, an excellent dusting suppression effect against impact can be obtained.

[Verification experiment 2]
Next, a verification experiment was conducted to determine whether a fluororesin other than PTFE has a dust generation suppressing effect similarly to PTFE, and whether there is a difference in the dust generation suppression effect due to a difference in manufacturing method or the like even with the same PTFE. Here, a plurality of PTFEs from different manufacturers are used, and perfluoroethylene propene copolymer (hereinafter referred to as FEP) and perfluoroalkoxyalkane (hereinafter referred to as PFA) used as a coating agent in the same manner as PTFE. ing.

By adding a dust generation inhibitor to Sample 1-0 created in Verification Experiment 1 according to Table 2 below, granular samples 2-1 to 2-6 having the same shape were obtained.

  FIG. 2 shows the result of the dust generation test performed on the samples 2-1 to 2-6 obtained in the verification experiment 2. In the figure, MD is an abbreviation for Mitsui DuPont Fluorochemical, A is Asahi Glass, N is Nihon Kasei, and DK is Daikin Industries.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the initial dust generation amount was about 50 to 100 cpm in the samples 2-1 to 2-4 to which PTFE was added, whereas the samples 2-5 and PFA to which FEP was added. In the added sample 2-6, there was a large difference of about 900 cpm.

  Furthermore, with respect to the amount of dust generated after the impact was applied, in Samples 2-1 to 2-4 to which PTFE was added, the amount of dust generated hardly changed even when the number of impacts increased, and the number of impacts was 100 times. However, while the dust generation amount is about 100 to 150 cpm, in 2-5 to which FEP is added and 2-6 to which PFA is added, 600 cpm is exceeded even at 10 to 30 shocks. With an impact of 100 times, the dust generation amount is about 1000 cpm.

  From these results, it was found that PTFE was most suitable among the three types of fluororesins PTFE, FEP and PFA. Moreover, it is thought that there is almost no difference in the dust generation suppression effect resulting from the difference in the manufacturing method etc. between several PTFE.

[Verification Experiment 3]
Next, a verification experiment was conducted as to whether or not there was a difference in the dust suppression effect due to the difference in the addition concentration, the addition method, and the addition timing of PTFE as a dust generation inhibitor.

By adding PTFE to Sample 1-0 created in Verification Experiment 1 in accordance with Table 3 below, granular samples 3-0 to 3-3 having the same shape were obtained. Moreover, it carried out similarly to manufacture of the sample 1-0 except having added PTFE by the method shown in Table 3 in the manufacturing process of the sample 1-0, and obtained the granular material samples 3-4 to 3-6. The PTFE used in the verification experiment 3 is manufactured by Mitsui DuPont Fluorochemical Co., Ltd. The “PTFE powder” in the table is a powder obtained by drying a PTFE dispersion at 150 ° C. and crushing it in a mortar. is there.

  FIG. 3 shows the result of the dust generation test performed on each granular material sample obtained in the verification experiment 3. In Samples 3-1 to 3-3 in which PTFE is sprayed on the outer surface of the granular material sample, the dust amount is in the range of 10 to 50 cpm in both the initial dust generation amount and the dust generation amount after 10 to 100 impacts. A high dusting suppression effect was observed. On the other hand, in the blank sample 3-0, the dust generation amount is about 600 to 1200 cpm, and when PTFE is sprayed and added to the surface of the activated bentonite granule, a high dust generation suppression effect can be obtained. all right.

  On the other hand, the sample 3-4 sprayed with PTFE before the kneading / granulating step does not provide an effective dust suppression effect, and the sample 3-5 sprayed after the kneading / granulating step is mixed with the sample 3-5. In 3-6 previously added as a powder, although it was inferior to samples 3-1 to 3-3, a certain degree of dust generation suppression effect was obtained.

  It is considered that the difference in the dust generation suppression effect in Samples 3-1, 3-4, and 3-5 having the same PTFE addition concentration was caused by the difference in the PTFE addition method. Since the dust generation suppressing effect is in the order of 3-1> 3-5> 3-4, the sample having a small number of kneading and granulation after the addition of PTFE, that is, PTFE is unevenly distributed near the outer surface of the granular material. The sample is considered to be superior in dust generation suppression effect. In addition, in Sample 3-6, as in Sample 3-4, while PTFE was added before the kneading and granulating step, a higher dust generation suppression effect was obtained than in 3-4, but this was due to the difference in PTFE addition concentration. It is thought to be due to.

  From the above verification experiments 1 to 3, it was found that PTFE is preferable as the dust generation inhibitor, and that the addition method in which PTFE is unevenly distributed on the outer surface of the granular material is preferable.

  Now, PTFE used as a dust suppressant in the present invention is known to have high water repellency, but as described above, a urine-treating material for pets is required to have high water absorption or urine absorption. Is. Then, next, it verified about the degree of the bad influence with respect to urine absorption property and solidification property when the PTFE fiber which has water repellency was unevenly distributed on the surface of a granular material sample.

Among the particulate samples obtained in verification experiments 1 and 3, sample 1-0 (without PTFE added), sample 1-1 (added with PTFE 0.005%), sample 1-3 (added with PTFE 0.02%), sample Samples 3-1 (PTFE 0.1% added), Sample 3-2 (PTFE 0.2% added), and Sample 3-3 (PTFE 0.3% added) were subjected to solidified absorption with respect to the simulated urine electrolyte solution without applying an impact. The urinary capacity C _US was measured, and the result is shown in FIG. The solid urine absorption capacity was measured as follows.

<Solidability test 1>
<Prescription of simulated urine electrolyte solution>
When measuring the solid urinary absorption ability, first, a pseudo urine electrolyte solution used for measurement of the solid urine absorption ability is prepared. About 2 kg of deionized water is put into a 5 L beaker and stirred, and then the following seven kinds of reagents weighed separately are sequentially added and dissolved.
1_CaCl ₂ .2H ₂ O (= 147.01; ≧ 99%): 0.22 g
2_MgCl ₂ .6H ₂ O (= 203.30; ≧ 97%): 2.83 g
3_KCl (= 74.55; ≧ 99%): 27.11 g
4_NaCl (= 58.44; ≧ 99%): 3.54 g
5_Na ₂ SO ₄ (= 142.04; ≧ 99%): 17.22 g
6 — NaHCO ₃ (= 84.01; ≧ 99.5%): 17.73 g
7_NaH ₂ PO ₄ .2H ₂ O (= 155.99; ≧ 99%): 37.82 g
To this was added deionized water to a total volume of 3 kg, and the mixture was further stirred to obtain a homogeneous solution, thereby completing a pseudo urine electrolyte solution containing an electrolyte component at a concentration close to that of pet urine. It was pH: 6.3-6.4 (20-30 degreeC) when pH of the completed pseudo urine electrolyte solution was measured.
The electrolyte solution obtained by the above formulation is an aqueous solution in which each ion is contained at the following concentration (meq / kg).
Ca ²⁺ 1
Mg ²⁺ 9
K ⁺ 120
Na ⁺ 250
Cl ^- 150
SO ₄ ^2- 80
HCO ₃ ^- 70
H ₂ PO ₄ ^- 80
The simulated urine electrolyte concentration in this prescription is determined with reference to the values of urinary excretion of pets (mainly cats or dogs) of various electrolyte components shown in Documents 1 and 2.
Ii) Reference 1: Biochemistry Data Book I-The Japanese Biochemical Society-(1979)
Reference 2: Mitruka, BM & Rawnsley, HM (1977) (literature name unknown)

<Solidifying capacity C _US >
A rectangular or cylindrical tray (container) with a depth of 15 cm or more is spread with a solid granular sample that is not re-dried to a depth of about 15 cm, and the surface is flattened, and then 8 g (M _P ) of a simulated urine electrolyte solution Was poured from a height of 1 cm in 10 seconds. After 10 minutes, the solidified mass obtained by absorbing the simulated urine electrolyte solution was taken out, the solidified weight M _A (g) of the solidified mass was measured, and substituted into the following formula (1) to solidify urinary absorption capacity C _US was calculated.
_{C US = [M P / (} M A -M P)] × 10 2 ·········· formula (1)
(In the formula, M _A is the weight (g) of the solidified mass that has absorbed the predetermined pseudo-urine electrolyte solution M _P (g).)
In the present invention, this measurement operation is repeated five times, the maximum value and the minimum value are cut, and the average value of the three measurement values is used as the solidified urine absorption capacity C _US . The unit of solidified urinary absorption capacity C _US is dimensionless, but means the liquid absorption amount (g) per 100 g of the granular sample constituting the solidified lump for the simulated urine electrolyte solution.

  As is clear from the results of FIG. 4, the solid urine absorption capacity of each sample to which PTFE was added did not decrease as compared with the blank sample 1-0, but rather increased in this added concentration range (0.005 to 0.3 ppm). I found out that It is considered that this is because fine powder generated by friction or the like is held on the surface of the granular material sample by PTFE, and this fine powder contributes to the solidified urine absorption ability.

  However, in Samples 3-2 and 3-3, the surface of the granular material exhibits hydrophobicity, and the pseudo urine electrolyte solution poured onto the upper surface on which the granular material sample is spread is not instantaneously absorbed by the sample, A phenomenon was observed in which the pseudo urine electrolyte solution spread concentrically and shallowly in the horizontal direction along the upper surface (upper layer) of the sample, and when the pseudo-urine electrolyte solution stayed on the upper layer of the sample for several seconds and returned to wettability, it was suddenly absorbed by the lower layer. The shape of the agglomerated solidified product at this time is not generally spherical to beveled, but close to an inverted conical shape, and most of the solution absorbed inside is not absorbed into the sample grains, It seemed that a considerable part remained as a liquid in the gap between the grains as a liquid. From this, it is considered that the influence of PTFE on water absorption starts to appear when the PTFE addition concentration exceeds 0.2%.

However, still urine suction capacity C _US as solid material fixed shape holds the solution at a higher state, although the aggregate solidified are slightly resilient soft, necessary for extraction removal after use The strength of the degree is retained. However, as for Sample 3-3, the additive concentration exceeds 0.3%, although there is a variation in each test, it is held between the granules forming the solidified lump and absorbed inside the grains. In some cases, water could be discharged from the solidified mass without being able to hold the undissolved solution. For this reason, when the added concentration of PTFE exceeds 0.3%, there is a possibility that the moisture discharged from the solidified lump when actually made into a product adheres to the pet's body or the like and becomes dirty. Therefore, it is considered that the practical addition concentration of PTFF is preferably 0.2% or less, particularly preferably 0.1% or less.

  According to the verification experiments so far, PTFE is preferable among various fluororesins as the dust generation inhibitor, and as the addition method, PTFE such as spraying a PTFE dispersion on the surface of the granular material, or covering the surface of the granular material with PTFE powder. It was found that the addition method in which the particles are unevenly distributed on the surface of the granular material is preferable. The inventors of the present invention, the pet urine treatment material according to the present invention, when an external force such as vibration or friction is applied to the granular material, PTFE fiber, which is a fibrous resin, frays and spreads on the surface of the granular material. It was thought that debris and fine powder generated by rubbing and bumping could be entangled to prevent the debris and fine powder from being scattered in the packaging bag, and as a result, the powder standing after opening could also be suppressed. . If this assumption is followed, it is thought that the addition method of spraying etc. which can make PTFE concentrate on the outer surface of a granular material has a big effect on dust generation suppression.

[Verification Experiment 4]
In this regard, the following verification experiment was conducted to confirm whether the fluororesin is unevenly distributed on the surface of the granular material when it is added by spraying, and whether it is frayed by external forces such as vibration and friction. . As expected by the inventors, when each fluororesin is added by spraying, it is considered that the fluororesin stops on the granular surface without penetrating into the inside.
In this experiment, the types and addition amounts of the dust suppressant are in accordance with Table 4 below, and the other steps and addition amounts are the same as in Samples 1-1 to 1-3. 3,4-8 to 4-10 and fluororesin dry solids 4-4 to 4-7 were prepared.

  About the sample obtained in the verification experiment 4, the enlarged photograph, the EPMA analysis result, the differential thermal analysis curve (DTA) result, and the thermogravimetric analysis curve (TGA) result are shown in FIGS. 5-16, the surface after friction means the surface after putting an initial sample in a packaging bag and applying friction through a bag. Further, enlarged photography, EPMA analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential thermal analysis (DTA) were performed as follows.

<Enlarged photography and EPMA analysis>
The taking of the enlarged photograph and the EPMA analysis were performed using an electronic probe microanalyzer (JXA-8100, manufactured by JEOL Ltd.). The magnification of the magnified photograph is 1700 times (3000 magnification only in FIG. 7).

<Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA)>
Each measurement sample was dried for 3 hours in a drier set at 200 ° C. to remove moisture, and then the temperature range (from room temperature to 700 ° C.) using a thermal analyzer (Thermo Plus TG8120, manufactured by Rigaku Corporation) Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) were performed at a heating rate of 10 ° C./min.

  FIG. 5A shows the initial surface of Sample 4-1 (PTFE 1% spray sample), and FIG. 5B shows the surface after friction of Sample 4-1. When observing FIG. 5A, a substance such as a thin thread having a length of about several tens of μm can be confirmed slightly in the center of the photograph, and there is no fibrous raw material other than PTFE in the raw material of Sample 4-1. Therefore, it is considered that this fibrous substance is PTFE fiber. In order to confirm this point, FIG. 6 shows the result of EPMA analysis performed on the region where the fibers are recognized in FIG.

  As a result of collecting the periphery of the fibrous material and conducting the EPMA analysis, in FIG. 6A using LDE2 as a spectral crystal, a peak derived from carbon is around 120 to 130 mm, and FIG. In b), a peak considered to be derived from fluorine can be confirmed in the vicinity of 200 mm. From this, it is considered that the fibrous substance confirmed in the photograph is highly likely to be PTFE.

  Returning to FIG. 5 and observing FIG. 5 (b), more fibrous substances were observed than in FIG. 5 (a), although the images were taken at the same magnification as FIG. 5 (a). This is thought to be because PTFE fibers adhering to the surface of the granular material frayed and spread by rubbing the sample surface, and seemed to be more than before the friction.

  That is, when PTFE is sprayed on the surface of the pet urine treatment material, the fibers present on the surface of the pet urine treatment material are frayed by impact or friction during transportation and spread on the surface of the pet urine treatment material (cover). ) To prevent scattering of debris and fine powder, which is considered to suppress dust generation.

  Next, Sample 4-1 (PTFE 1% spray sample) was divided, and it was confirmed whether PTFE had penetrated to the inside. FIG. 7 shows an enlarged photograph of the inside of the sample 4-1, and FIG. 8 shows a result of EPMA analysis performed by collecting the periphery of the region photographed in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, PTFE fibers were not found in the sample 4-1 even when enlarged to 1700 times, and the fibrous material as seen on the surface even when the magnification was increased to 3000 times It was not found. Further, as with the surface, the inside of the region photographed in FIG. 7 was sampled and EPMA analysis was performed. As a result, FIG. 8A using LDE2 as the spectral crystal and FIG. 8 using TAPH as the spectral crystal. In any of the cases (b), a peak that was considered to be derived from PTFE did not appear. From these results, it is considered that when PTFE is sprayed on the surface of the activated bentonite granules, the PTFE stops on the surface of the activated bentonite granules and hardly enters the inside of the activated bentonite granules.

  In order to confirm whether such a tendency is only in PTFE or in other fluororesins, the same verification was performed using a fluororesin other than PTFE. The initial surface of Sample 4-2 (FEP 1% spray sample) is photographed in FIG. 9A, the surface after friction of Sample 4-2 is photographed in FIG. 9B, and Sample 4-2 is photographed in FIG. 9A. FIG. 10 shows the results of EPMA analysis performed by sampling the periphery of each region. 11A shows the initial surface of Sample 4-3 (PFA 1% spray sample), FIG. 11B shows the surface after friction of Sample 4-3, and FIG. 11A shows Sample 4-3. FIG. 12 shows the results of EPMA analysis by collecting the area around the imaged area.

  As is clear from FIGS. 9 and 11, PTFE is obtained for both FIG. 9A which is an enlarged photograph of the initial surface of the sample 4-2 and FIG. 11A which is an enlarged photograph of the initial surface of the sample 4-3. No fibrous material was observed as in the case of, and only a small lump having a diameter of about several μm was observed. Further, in the enlarged photographs after friction, FIGS. 9 (b) and 11 (b), no fraying of the fibers was observed as in the enlarged photographs before friction.

  On the other hand, in both the EPMA analysis result of the sample 4-2 shown in FIG. 10 and the EPMA analysis result of the sample 4-3 shown in FIG. 12, FIG. 10 (a) using LDE2 as the spectroscopic crystal. And in FIG. 12 (a), a peak derived from carbon was observed in the vicinity of 120 to 130 μm, and in FIG. 10 (b) and FIG. 12 (b) using TAPH as a spectral crystal, a peak derived from fluorine was observed in the vicinity of 200 μm. . From these analysis results, it is considered that fluororesin was also present in the area where the EPMA measurement samples of Samples 4-2 and 4-3 were collected, that is, around the imaged area.

  Samples 4-1 (PTFE 1% sprayed sample), Samples 4-2 (FEP1% sprayed sample), and 4-3 (PFA 1% sprayed sample) have a dust generation suppressing effect even with samples sprayed with fluororesin. It is thought that the large difference is based on such a difference in properties (surface state).

  Next, it was verified whether or not the addition of PTFE could be confirmed from the finished urine-treating material for pets. FIG. 13 shows differential thermal analysis curves of Samples 4-4 and 4-5 (PTFE dry solid). The analysis shown in the figure was performed using Sample 4-4 (PTFE 312-JR (GX), Mitsui DuPont Fluorochemical (indicated as MD in the figure)) and Sample 4-5 (POLYFLON PTFE EK-3700C21R, Daikin Industries, Ltd.). The test was carried out for two types of PTFE (denoted as Naka DK).

  As shown in FIG. 13, although there are some differences in height and appearance position, one of samples 4-4 and 4-5 is around 250 to 350 ° C. (derived from the additive) and around 500 to 600 ° C. One peak (derived from fluororesin) was confirmed. Although the main component is the same, the slight difference in peak height and appearance position is considered to be due to the subcomponent added to the product.

  Next, thermogravimetric analysis (hereinafter referred to as TGA) is performed for Sample 4-5 at the same time as DTA analysis up to 700 ° C., and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) curve 1 and differential thermal analysis (DTA) curve 2 are obtained. The overlay is shown in FIG. The horizontal axis corresponds to temperature, the vertical axis of the TGA curve 1 corresponds to the left axis scale (unit: mg), and the vertical axis of the DTA curve 2 corresponds to the right axis scale (unit: μV).

  According to the TGA curve 1 shown in FIG. 14, when PTFE dry solid is burned, it is about 10% in the region (A) around 250-350 ° C. and about 90 in the region (B) around 500-600 ° C. % Mass loss is seen, which is almost consistent with the region where the DTA curve 2 shows a large exothermic peak.

  From the results of FIGS. 13 and 14, it can be seen that when PTFE is burned, characteristic peaks appear in the region of 250 to 350 ° C. and in the region of 500 to 600 ° C. From this, pet urination treatment with addition of PTFE is performed. It is considered that it can be confirmed that PTFE is added to the sample by using TGA or DTA or these analyzes in combination with the material.

  Furthermore, the inventors confirmed that whether the above-mentioned peak is observed only in PTFE or is characteristic of fluororesin, sample 4-7, which is a dry solid of PFA, and drying of FEP Sample 4-6, which is a solid substance, was also analyzed by TGA and DTA, and the results are shown in FIG. Also in this figure, the horizontal axis corresponds to temperature, the vertical axis of the TGA curve corresponds to the scale on the left axis (unit: mg), and the vertical axis of the DTA curve corresponds to the scale on the right axis (unit: μV).

  Both sample 4-7 (dried solid of PFA) shown in FIG. 15 (b) and sample 4-6 (dried solid of FEP) shown in FIG. 15 (a) are large around 500 ° C. A peak was observed, and the mass reduction rate due to this peak was around 98% in both PFA and FEP, which suggests that the peak seen in the region around 500 ° C. can be confirmed in various fluororesins. From the magnitude of the mass reduction rate, it is considered that observing this peak around 500 ° C. is suitable for observing the fluororesin.

  In FIGS. 13 to 15, since the TGA curve and the DTA curve were analyzed by burning dry solids of various fluororesins such as PTFE, the characteristics of each compound appeared remarkably. When PTEF is added to the treatment material, peaks of other components contained in the urine treatment material for pets such as active bentonite also appear, and the proportion of PTFE in the sample also decreases. It is thought that the result is not as beautiful as it was done. In view of this point, a partially enlarged view of the result of differential thermal analysis performed with an actual addition amount is shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 16, sample 1-0 (blank) was powdered with active bentonite, sample 4-8 was sprayed with 5 parts by weight of PTFE (POLYFLON PTFE EK-3700C21R, manufactured by Daikin Industries) with respect to 100 parts by weight of active bentonite. Sample 4-9 was sprayed with 5 parts by weight of FEP (NEOFLON FEP ND-110, manufactured by Daikin Industries) with respect to 100 parts by weight of active bentonite. Sample 4-10 was 5 weights with respect to 100 parts by weight of active bentonite. Part of PFA (NEOFLON PFA AD-2CLER, manufactured by Daikin Industries). The amount of each fluororesin added was set to about 5% because when about 0.1% PTFE, which is considered to be a practical amount added, was sprayed on the surface of the activated bentonite granules, This is based on a trial calculation that the ratio of PTFE to active bentonite when the surface portion where PTFE is unevenly distributed is scraped is about 5%.

  FIG. 16 shows a differential thermal analysis of the above four types of samples in the range up to 700 ° C., and a partial enlargement of only the range of 400 to 600 ° C. in which the difference among the samples was most prominent. In Samples 4-8 to 4-10 containing fluororesin, a remarkable exothermic peak considered to be derived from fluororesin is observed around 450 to 550 ° C., but for Sample 1-0 containing no fluororesin, There is no exothermic peak in this region. In addition, it is thought that it is the difference by the kind of fluororesin contained in each sample that there exists a difference in the position and the appearance of a peak about the materials 4-8 to 4-10 containing a fluororesin.

  Next, raw materials other than the fluororesin used in the present invention, production procedures, etc. will be described in detail.

[About raw clay]
The dioctahedral smectite clay used in the pet urine treatment material of the present invention is not particularly limited, and bentonite, acid clay, etc. can be used as appropriate, but after processing into a granular molded product, 100 parts by weight of the granular molded product The calcium component is preferably contained in an amount of 1% by weight or more in terms of CaO, and more preferably in the range of 1.5 to 5% by weight. By using a sub-bentonite containing a calcium component in such a range, the surface only agglomerates and solidifies immediately after the start of water absorption and does not inhibit water absorption, and has excellent solidification urine absorption ability. It becomes easy to use as a urination treatment material.

  Some natural raw material bentonite contains calcium components derived from calcium carbonate such as calcite in an amount of 10% or more in terms of CaO. This calcium component is sodium derived from added sodium compounds and calcium ions between smectite layers. The possibility of affecting the exchange reaction with ions is considered to be small, but as the content increases, the smectite component decreases, so the total calcium component content should be suppressed to 5% by weight or less in terms of CaO. preferable.

  In addition, by using subbentonite (main component: Ca-type smectite) or acid clay, not only the total amount of interlayer ions of smectite, which is the main component, but sodium ions in an amount suitable for high water absorption at the beginning of water absorption at the production stage. Can be replaced with In this way, an amount of sodium component that can replace substantially the entire amount of interlayer ions is held not in the interlayer but in the vicinity thereof, or on the surface of the granular molded product, etc. This is because it is possible to prepare a pet urine-treating material in which sodium ions necessary for swelling and coagulation are introduced.

  In general, in the manufacture of a urine treatment material for pets, so-called activation treatment (described later in detail) is performed in which cations are introduced between clay layers using an alkali compound in order to improve swelling and solidification properties. In particular, when a large amount of sodium ions is introduced between the layers, a high swelling and solidifying property is obtained, and there is an advantage that a relatively hard granular material can be formed even when molded as a granular material. However, when sodium is excessively advanced at the time of actual use, the surface of the urine treatment material for pets touches moisture, so that the contact portion instantaneously swells and solidifies to prevent moisture from penetrating inside. As a result, the inventors have previously found that the water absorption immediately after contact with moisture deteriorates. Therefore, the amount of Na ions at the raw clay stage does not have to be so much concerned.

The raw clay used in the present invention has an opacity having an X-ray diffraction peak having an apex in the region of 2θ = 21.5 to 22.5 and a half-value width (° / 2θ) of 0.4 or more. It is preferable that the silica component is contained in a range of 20 to 40% by weight in terms of SiO ₂ with respect to 100 parts by weight of the granular molded product. The pores formed by these opal silica components serve as channels through which moisture flows during water absorption, contributing to the improvement of water absorption capability. Here, if the content of SiO ₂ is less than 20% by weight, there is a possibility that a sufficient flow path with few pores may not be obtained. Conversely, if the content exceeds 40% by weight, the proportion of components that inhibit binding is low. Therefore, there is a possibility that sufficient coagulation and solidification properties cannot be obtained.

[Manufacturing process]
Manufacture of the pet urine treatment material according to the present invention is performed, for example, as follows. First, the mined raw soil (bentonite, acid clay, etc.) is crushed using a flat roll crusher, etc., adjusted to a water content of 25-40% by weight, and then mixed with a sodium compound. Knead. The mixture to which the sodium compound has been added is passed through a granulation plate having a pore diameter of about 2 to 6 mmφ with a screw extruder to form a hydrous granulated product.

  Here, the kneading treatment after adding the sodium compound corresponds to a so-called activation treatment, and the temperature: normal temperature to 50 ° C. so that introduction of sodium ions between layers (Na-type conversion) does not proceed excessively as described above. It is preferable to carry out within a few minutes to about 1 hour. For the same reason, it is preferable to add the sodium compound as a powder. When adding as an aqueous solution, the initial water content should be adjusted so that the water content after addition of the aqueous sodium solution is 25 to 40% by weight. Is desirable.

  As an apparatus used for the mixing / kneading treatment, a uniaxial or biaxial extrusion kneader, a screw extruder, a roll kneader, a Banbury mixer, a kneader, a concrete mixer, a disk pelleter, or the like can be used.

The amount of sodium compound used may be an amount that can replace all cations between smectite layers with sodium ions. Specifically, it is 0 in terms of Na ₂ O with respect to 100 parts by weight of the raw earth. The amount is about 8 to 3.6 parts by weight.

  As a sodium compound used in the present invention, one or more of sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydroxide, and sodium silicate can be used.

  Next, the hydrous granulated product is dried by applying hot air to the activated bentonite granulated product, and the drying temperature at this time is 100 to 250 ° C., more preferably 150 to 200 ° C. Moreover, this drying process is performed until the moisture content of the granulated product becomes 5% by weight or less, and the time required for drying is about 0.3 to 3 hours, although it depends on the moisture content of the hydrous granulated product.

  Next, the urine-treating material for pets according to the present invention is obtained by attaching PTFE to the surface of the obtained activated bentonite granule. Here, the polytetrafluoroethylene adhering to the outer surface of the activated bentonite granulated product may be partially fiberized.

  In the present invention, PTFE is adhered to the surface of the activated bentonite granulated product by spraying the PTFE aqueous dispersion on the surface of the activated bentonite granulated product, immersing in the PTFE aqueous dispersion, or drying the PTFE dry powder. A method such as spraying on the surface of the particles can be considered. Here, the PTFE aqueous dispersion is a liquid in which 0.15 to 0.35 μm-diameter fine agglomerated particles in which polytetrafluoroethylene fibers are aggregated like diatoms are dispersed in water by the addition of a surfactant. Therefore, commercially available products can be used as appropriate.

  Further, when the PTFE aqueous dispersion is used, the concentration and the spray amount of the PTFE aqueous dispersion are adjusted so that the abundance ratio between the activated bentonite granulated product and PTFE falls within a preferable range. In the present invention, the amount of PTFE added is adjusted so that the active bentonite granulated product: PTFE = 100: 0.001-0.2, and the active bentonite granulated product: PTFE = 100: 0. A range of 0.002 to 0.1 is more preferable. By setting the weight ratio of the activated bentonite granulated product to the PTFE fiber within the above range, the dust generation preventing effect can be sufficiently obtained and the performance as a pet urine processing material can be sufficiently satisfied. It can be.

  In the present invention, polyalkylene glycol and / or sodium silicate may also be added when performing the PTFE addition treatment. Further, as in the case of PTFE, these substances may be used as an aqueous solution. When spraying a polyalkylene glycol aqueous solution and / or a sodium silicate aqueous solution, it may be prepared separately from the PTFE aqueous dispersion and sprayed at the same time, or mixed with the PTFE aqueous dispersion and sprayed. May be.

  In the present invention, after the PTFE spraying step, a part of the activated bentonite granulated product to which PTFE has adhered is partially filled into a suitable container, and the entire packing is stirred, vibrated, rotated, shaked, tapped, stirred, etc. You may provide the PTFE fiber formation process which fibrillates a part of PTFE fiber by exerting external force.

  By providing such a PTFE fiberization step, aggregated particles of PTFE fibers adhering to the outer surface of the activated bentonite granulated material are broken into fibers and spread due to mutual collision and friction of the activated bentonite granulated product. And by capturing the irregularly formed fiber net or rope so that the dust generated simultaneously from the outer surface of the granulated material and the dust adhering to it are also entangled together, the generated dust is It is not separated as a powder while trapped on the surface of the activated bentonite granulated product, and dusting during subsequent handling is less likely to occur.

  In addition, as a container used for the PTFE fiberization process, sufficient space remains in the container even if it is filled with the activated bentonite granulated material to be fiberized, and the container swings, vibrates, rotates, shakes, taps, and stirs. It is preferable that the activated bentonite granulated product has a size that can sufficiently move in the container when an external force such as, for example, a rotary tube mill, pot mill, rolling granulation is used. And a container such as a low-speed rotary mixer, etc. In this use, a pulverizing medium or a stirrer that is usually used is unnecessary. Moreover, the fiberization process using external force like stirring with the baffle plate etc. which were provided in the transfer path | route of the active bentonite granulated material to the vertical direction thru | or a horizontal direction is also considered.

  The pet urine-treating material thus obtained has the following configuration and physical properties.

  The pet urination treatment material according to the present invention forms a lump of active bentonite of about 0.1 to 2 mm, and this lump gathers together and becomes a granular molded product. Here, the shape of the granular molded product may be an average minor axis of 2 to 6 mm, but is more preferably a substantially cylindrical shape having an average minor axis of 2 to 5 mm and an average major axis of 4 to 10 mm. When the pet urine treatment material is processed into a cylindrical shape with a certain size, it becomes a size that is difficult to be sandwiched between the four legs of cats and other pets, and the pet walks on the pet urine treatment material However, the urine-treating material for pets is not sandwiched between the meat balls and scattered in the periphery, which is preferable from the viewpoint of the owner as a product to be deployed in the living space.

  In the urine treatment material for pets made of the activated bentonite granulated material, keeping the water content low is one of the important factors for keeping the urine absorption solidification performance high. Since the activated bentonite granule is inherently highly hygroscopic, it gradually increases its moisture content due to moisture absorption by moisture in the air from when the packaging bag is opened until it is placed on the tray and used. The gradual decrease in urinary solidification performance is inevitable. For this reason, at the stage of packaging at the factory, it is desirable to finish as low moisture as possible in the drying process before the packaging process, and to perform packaging with as high moisture resistance as possible in the packaging process.

  In the present invention, since it is desirable that the moisture content of the pet urine treatment material is 10% by weight or less at the time of actual use, the moisture content at the time of factory shipment is preferably 5% by weight or less, It is more preferable if it is 3% by weight or less. If the water content is 10% by weight or less when actually used as a pet urination treatment material, it is considered that sufficient water absorption and coagulation solidification can be maintained as a pet urination treatment material.

The pet urination treatment material according to the present invention preferably has a solidified urinary absorption capacity C _US defined by the following formula (1) of 50 or more, more preferably 60 or more. In Formula (1), the solidification urine absorption capacity C _US being 50 or more means that the water absorption amount of the following electrolyte solution per 1 g of the pet urination treatment material is 0.5 g or more.
_{C US = [M P / (} M A -M P)] × 10 2 ·········· formula (1)
(In the formula, M _A is the weight (g) of the solidified mass that has absorbed the predetermined electrolyte solution M _P (g),
The electrolyte solution is an aqueous solution in which each ion is contained at the following concentration (meq / kg). )
Ca ²⁺ 1
Mg ²⁺ 9
K ⁺ 120
Na ⁺ 250
Cl ^- 150
SO ₄ ^2- 80
HCO ₃ ^- 70
H ₂ PO ₄ ^- 80

  If the Na-type is excessively advanced, the surface of the granular material that first comes into contact with moisture is agglomerated and solidified by water absorption to prevent moisture penetration into the interior, so it is difficult to satisfy the above values. It is believed that there is.

Further, in the manufacturing process of the pet urine treatment material according to the present invention, the solidification urine absorption capacity C _US at the time when the drying process is completed, that is, before the PTFE aqueous dispersion is sprayed, is adjusted to 60 or more. Is preferred. Since PTFE fiber is inherently water-repellent, if the PTFE fiber is unevenly distributed on the outer surface of the granulated product, the granulated product surface is slightly hydrophobic and decreases the solid urine absorption ability. This is because a trend is likely to appear.

  In the pet urine treatment material of the present invention, a deodorant, an antibacterial agent, and other additives may be added as long as the performance as a pet urine treatment material is not impaired.

[Example]
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to Examples, Comparative Examples, and Reference Examples.

[Examples 1-7]
<First step>
As a raw material clay, about 100 kg of dioctahedral smectite clay (hydrated material) from the A-2 block, Shibata City, Niigata Prefecture, was used, and a single-screw extrusion structure equipped with a granulated plate with a 10 mm wide corrugated hole Crushed by extruding with a granulator. A powder of sodium carbonate (industrial) is sprinkled with 100 parts by weight of the raw clay (150 ° C. dry standard) so as to be 3 parts by weight as Na ₂ CO ₃ , and a single-screw extrusion granulator (6 mm circular hole) It was kneaded, kneaded and granulated three times on a granulating plate and then once on a vertical rotary roll extrusion granulator (desk pelleter, equipped with a 2.8 mm circular hole granulating plate). The obtained water-containing granulated product is put into an experimental rotary dryer, hot air by LPG combustion is applied to the co-current type, the residence time in the machine is adjusted to about 40 minutes, and the exhaust temperature at the outlet is 140 to It dried so that it might become 160 degreeC. About 5 kg of the dried granulated product discharged first was not collected, but about 50 kg of the subsequent granulated product was collected and sized using a crusher and a sieving machine to obtain an activated bentonite granulated product.
The obtained granulated product had an average minor axis of 2.2 mm, a calcium component content of 2.1% by weight in terms of CaO, and a water content of 0.8%. In addition, the half width (° / 2θ) of the diffraction peak based on the [111] plane of the opal silica component was 0.69, and the content of the silica component was 28% by weight.

<Second step>
The granulated product obtained in the first step is put on a fluororesin-coated vat (flat plate, 30 × 21 × 6 cm) placed on a platform balance having a sensitivity of 0.05 g, and 1.00 kg is weighed. From various locations of PTFE dispersions of predetermined concentrations (%) obtained by diluting commercially available polytetrafluoroethylene 29.8% dispersion (PTFE312-JR, manufactured by Mitsui DuPont Fluorochemical Co., Ltd.) with water as necessary The fixed amount (g) was divided into several times and uniformly sprayed with a commercially available manual sprayer while shaking the whole, and adhered to the surface to obtain a PTFE-added active bentonite granulated product.
The amount (g) of sprayed dispersion (%) of PTFE in Examples 1 to 7 and the number of parts added (= added concentration, unit:%) relative to 100 parts by weight of the granulated product are as shown in Table 5 below.

<Third step>
The PTFE-attached active bentonite granulated product (1 kg) obtained in the second step of Examples 1 to 7 was filled with air in a polyethylene bag with a chuck (commercial product: 400 × 280 × 0.04 mm), The operation of moving the granule-containing bag up and down with a swing width of 70 to 80 cm is repeated 100 times, and the granulated product is sufficiently rubbed together to deagglomerate the PTFE fibers adhering to the surface, and the PTFE fibers Made.

〈第３工程〉
第２工程で得られたＰＴＦＥ添着活性ベントナイト造粒物（１ｋｇ）について、実施例１〜７の第３工程と全く同様に実施し、造粒物の表面に添着されたＰＴＦＥの繊維化を行った。 [Comparative Examples 1-2]
<First step>
The completely same process as the 1st process of Examples 1-7 was implemented, and the activated bentonite granulated material was obtained.
<Second step>
In the 2nd process of Examples 1-7, it implemented exactly like the spraying conditions of a PTFE dispersion liquid as shown in following Table 6, and obtained the PTFE adhesion active bentonite granulated material.

<Third step>
The PTFE-attached active bentonite granulated product (1 kg) obtained in the second step was carried out in exactly the same manner as in the third step of Examples 1 to 7, and the fiberization of PTFE attached to the surface of the granulated product was performed. It was.

[Comparative Example 3]
The completely same process as the 1st process of Examples 1-7 was implemented, and the activated bentonite granulated material was obtained, without implementing the 2nd process and 3rd process of attaching PTFE.

〈第３工程〉
第２工程で得られたＰＴＦＥ添着活性ベントナイト造粒物（１ｋｇ）について、実施例１〜７の第３工程と全く同様に実施し、造粒物の表面に添着されたＰＴＦＥの繊維化を行った。 [Reference Examples 1-2]
<First step>
As raw material clay, about 10 kg of dioctahedral type smectite clay (hydrated material) from Odo region B-1 block (= Reference Example 1) or C-1 block (= Reference Example 2) in Niigata Prefecture, Crushing was performed by extruding with a single-screw extrusion granulator equipped with a granulation plate having a 10 mm wide corrugated hole. Sprinkle powder of sodium carbonate (industrial) so that it becomes 3 parts by weight as Na ₂ CO ₃ against 100 parts by weight of this coarsely crushed clay (150 ° C. dry basis), put in a polyethylene bag and shake well. , 3 times on a single screw type extrusion granulator (5mm circular hole granulation plate installed), then 1 time on a vertical rotary roll type extrusion granulator (desk pelleter, 3.0mm circular hole granulation plate installed) Kneaded, kneaded and granulated. The obtained water-containing granulated product was taken into a stainless steel vat, placed in a box dryer set at 170 ° C. and dried for about 4 hours. After being allowed to cool, the particles were sized using a crusher and a sieving machine to obtain an activated bentonite granulated product.
<Second step>
In the 2nd process of Examples 1-7, it implemented similarly except performing the spraying conditions of a PTFE dispersion as shown in following Table 7, and obtained the PTFE adhesion active bentonite granule.

<Third step>
The PTFE-attached active bentonite granulated product (1 kg) obtained in the second step was carried out in exactly the same manner as in the third step of Examples 1 to 7, and the fiberization of PTFE attached to the surface of the granulated product was performed. It was.

[Reference Example 3]
This is a commercially available urine-treating material for pets (cylindrical molded product) sold by Company A in Japan. Judging from the surface state of the molded product, it is highly possible that the separately produced active bentonite powder was kneaded and granulated and dried.

  The results of performing dust generation and solidification performance tests and measuring various physical properties of pet urine treatment materials obtained in Examples 1 to 7, Comparative Examples 1 to 3, and Reference Examples 1 to 3 are shown in FIG. 17 and 18. In addition, the dust generation increase amount δD, the dust generation comprehensive evaluation, the solidified water absorption capacity, and the solidification comprehensive evaluation were measured in the following manner, respectively. Further, the calcium component content of the granular molded products obtained in Examples 1 to 7 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3, the half-value width (° / 2θ) of the diffraction peak based on the [111] plane of the opal silica component, and the silica About the content rate of a component, it considered that it was not different from the data of the activated bentonite granulated material obtained at the 1st process.

<Dust generation test 2>
<Dust increase δD>
The value obtained by subtracting the initial dust amount D _OR from pressurized shock subsequent dust amount D _nS described above and dust generation increase δD (cpm), were evaluated dusting.
<Dust generation comprehensive evaluation>
For the PTFE-attached active bentonite granulated product and the activated bentonite granulated product obtained in each example, comparative example and reference example, the initial dust generation amount D _OR of each molded product sample, the dust generation amount D _{100S after 100} impacts, and The dust generation suppression effect was evaluated from the dust generation increase amount δD according to the criteria shown in Table 8 below, and each evaluation symbol was shown as a comprehensive evaluation of dust generation.

<Solidability test 2>
<Solidified water absorption capacity C _PW >
C _PW = [M _Q / (M _B −M _Q )] × 10 ² ··· Formula (2)
(In the formula, MB is the weight (g) of the solidified mass that has absorbed pure water M _Q (g).)
The solidified water absorption capacity _CPW means a water absorption amount (g) per 100 g of a granular product sample constituting a solidified aggregate with respect to pure water, although the unit is dimensionless. In the experiment in the present application, in the method for measuring the solidified urinary absorption ability, the same operation was performed except that 8 g of the pseudo urine electrolyte solution was replaced with 8 g of pure water, and the solidified weight M _B (g) was measured. The solidified water absorption capacity _CPW was calculated by substituting for. Here, this measurement operation was repeated five times, the maximum value and the minimum value were cut, and the average value of the three measurement values was used as the solidified water absorption capacity _CPW .
<Comprehensive evaluation of solidification>
Since urine electrolytes vary greatly in the urine electrolyte concentration depending on the pet's diet, water intake, health condition, etc., various conditions can be obtained by measuring both the solidified urinary absorption capacity and the solidified water absorption capacity described above. It is thought that it can cope with the urine.
Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention, in Comparative Examples and Reference Examples, from the observation values with the absorbent and solidification conditions during measurement of the solidified urine absorbing capacity C _US and solidification water absorption capacity C _PW of each molding sample, following The urine absorption solidification property was evaluated according to the criteria in Table 9, and each evaluation symbol was shown as a solidification comprehensive evaluation.

As is clear from FIG. 17, the urine-treating material for pets of the present invention obtained in Examples 1 to 7 has an initial dust generation amount D _OR , a post-impact dust generation amount D _100S , and a dust generation increase amount δD. Even in Example 1 where the PTFE addition concentration is as low as 0.001%, it can be seen that the amount of each dust generation is almost halved as compared with Comparative Example 3 without PTFE addition. .

  Moreover, in the urine-treating material for pets according to Examples 2 to 7, both the initial dust generation amount and the post-impact dust generation amount are greatly improved as the PTFE addition concentration increases, and the dust generation suppression is extremely excellent. It is clear that the effect is obtained.

Furthermore, also in the solidification property, the urine treating material for pets obtained in Examples 1 to 7 retains both the solidified urinary absorption capacity C _US ≧ 60 and the solidified water absorption capacity C _PW ≧ 60, which are considered to be practically preferable. On the contrary, the solid urine absorption ability is rather improved as compared with Comparative Example 3 in which PTFE was not added.

  Further, when observing in detail the solidified urine absorption capacity and solidified water absorption capacity of each example, the solidified water absorption capacity for pure water tends to gradually decrease as the concentration of PTFE added increases, whereas that for simulated urine In the solid urine absorption ability, the tendency to increase similarly was seen as the addition concentration became high. The reason for the opposite tendency between pure water and simulated urine is not clear, but the difference in the surface tension between the two liquids, the difference in wettability of the surfaces of each molded article stock, or the electrolyte components and active bentonite in the urine It is speculated that this may be due to the relationship with the sodium ions between the layers.

  On the other hand, in the pet urine treatment materials obtained by Comparative Examples 1 and 2 in which the addition concentration of PTFE exceeded 0.2%, as shown in FIG. In this case, the number of urine absorption was further improved. However, the outer surface of the clay block constituting the urine-treating material for pets is hydrophobic or water-repellent, so that the solidified water absorption ability is deteriorated and water cannot be absorbed in 10 minutes required for measurement, and thus measurement is impossible. For this reason, when the pet urine treatment material according to Comparative Examples 1 and 2 is actually used, the water tends to stay on the surface layer of the surface on which the pet urine treatment material is spread, and practical water absorption and solidification. Some problems remain in terms of sex.

  The pet urine treatment materials obtained in Reference Example 1 and Reference Example 2 are both excellent examples corresponding to the present invention in terms of both dusting and solidifying properties. The bentonite has been converted to Na-type by the low content, and the content of the opal silica component is small and the smectite component is relatively large. For this reason, the dust generation suppressing effect is slightly higher than that of Reference Example 2, but the solidified urine absorption ability is slightly lower.

  Moreover, since the urine-treating material for pets according to Reference Example 3 was obtained by granulating and molding active bentonite powder, dust generation was extremely high. In addition, the bentonite Na-type has progressed largely from the production method, solidification is also in a practical range, solidification urine absorption capacity was slightly lower than Examples 1-7 according to the present invention. .

  As described above, the pet urine-treating material according to the present invention has a water-absorbing ability or a urine-absorbing ability and a coagulation-solidifying performance that are excellent for use as a pet urine treating material. It is suitable for health and hygiene because there are few powders that float when it is transferred.

Claims (12)

It consists of a granular molded product in which polytetrafluoroethylene is unevenly distributed on the outer surface of an activated bentonite granulated product made by adding and mixing sodium compounds to natural dioctahedral smectite clay particles,
The average minor axis of the granular molded product is 2 to 6 mm,
The weight ratio (based on dry matter) of the activated bentonite granulated product and the polytetrafluoroethylene is in the range of activated bentonite granulated product: polytetrafluoroethylene = 100: 0.001-0.2. Urine treatment material for pets.   2. The pet urine treatment material according to claim 1, wherein the granular molded product has a substantially columnar shape, and has an average minor axis of 2 to 5 mm and an average major axis of 4 to 10 mm.   3. The pet urine treatment material according to claim 1, wherein the granular molded product contains 1 to 5% by weight (on a dry matter basis) of a calcium component in terms of CaO. Wherein the particulate molded articles, 2 [Theta] = 21.5 to 22.5 and a half-value width having a vertex in the region of the (° / 2 [Theta]) is SiO ₂ opal silica component having an X-ray diffraction peaks at 0.4 or more It contains in the range of 20-40 weight% in conversion, The urination processing material for pets in any one of Claims 1-3 characterized by the above-mentioned.   5. The urine treatment material for pets according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the moisture content at the time of factory shipment is 5% by weight or less.   The pet according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sodium compound is one or more of sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydroxide, and sodium silicate. Urine treatment material. The urine-treating material for pet according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the solidified urinary absorption capacity C _US defined by the following formula (1) is 50 or more.
_{C US = [M P / (} M A -M P)] × 10 2 ·········· formula (1)
(In the formula, M _A is the weight (g) of the solidified mass that has absorbed the predetermined electrolyte solution M _P (g),
The electrolyte solution is an aqueous solution in which each ion is contained at the following concentration (meq / kg). )
Ca ²⁺ 1
Mg ²⁺ 9
K ⁺ 120
Na ⁺ 250
Cl ^- 150
SO ₄ ^2- 80
HCO ₃ ^- 70
H ₂ PO ₄ ^- 80 A natural dioctahedral smectite clay with a moisture content adjusted to 25 to 40% by weight is mixed and kneaded with crushed and granulated material, and passed through a granulated plate with a pore diameter of 2 to 6 mm using an extrusion granulator. A granulating step to obtain a hydrous granulated product,
A drying step of obtaining an activated bentonite granule having a water content of 5% by weight or less by applying hot air of 150 to 600 ° C. to the hydrated granule;
A polytetrafluoroethylene attaching step of attaching polytetrafluoroethylene to the surface of the activated bentonite granule,
The weight ratio (based on dry matter) of the activated bentonite granulated product and the polytetrafluoroethylene is in the range of activated bentonite granulated product: polytetrafluoroethylene = 100: 0.001 to 0.2 parts by weight. A method for producing a urine-treating material for pets. The said adhesion in the said polytetrafluoroethylene adhesion process is performed by the spraying process which sprays the aqueous dispersion liquid of a polytetrafluoroethylene on the surface of the said active bentonite granulated material, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. Method for producing pet urine treatment material.   Polytetrafluoroethylene which partially fills an appropriate container with at least part of the activated bentonite granule to which the polytetrafluoroethylene is adhered, and exerts external forces such as shaking, vibration, rotation, shaking, tapping, stirring, etc. The method for producing a urine-treating material for pets according to claim 8 or 9, characterized by comprising the fiberizing step. The pet urination treatment material according to claim 9 or 10, wherein, in the spraying step, the polyalkylene glycol aqueous solution and / or the sodium silicate aqueous solution is sprayed simultaneously with or mixed with the aqueous dispersion of polytetrafluoroethylene. Manufacturing method. In the drying step completion, according to any one of claims 8 to 11 solidified urine absorbing ability C _US defined by the following equation of active bentonite granules (1) is characterized in that at least 50 Method for producing pet urine treatment material.
_{C US = [M P / (} M A -M P)] × 10 2 ·········· formula (1)
(In the formula, M _A is the weight (g) of the solidified mass that has absorbed the predetermined electrolyte solution M _P (g),
The electrolyte solution is an aqueous solution in which each ion is contained at the following concentration (meq / kg). )
Ca ²⁺ 1
Mg ²⁺ 9
K ⁺ 120
Na ⁺ 250
Cl ^- 150
SO ₄ ^2- 80
HCO ₃ ^- 70
H ₂ PO ₄ ^- 80

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