Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
75462-3
SPECIFICATION
MAMMALIAN EXCREMENT TREATING ARTICLE
AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a mammalian
excrement treating article (i.e., animal litter) made by
using a plastic waste, particularly, a polyethylene
terephthalate waste, a polyethylene waste, a polypropylene
waste, a polystryrene waste or the like as a raw material,
and more particularly, to a mammalian excrement treating
article which is made by using a polyethylene terephthalate
waste as a raw material and which has a water retention
function.
The present invention also relates to a mammalian
excrement treating article which is made by using a plastic
waste as a raw material such as polyethylene terephthalate,
and which has an insecticidal function for exterminating
noxious insects adhered to the body of a mammal,
particularly, a domestic pet animal, from the mammalian body,
and for preventing noxious insects from adhering to the
mammalian body by use thereof at the time of excretion.
BACKGROUND ART
For example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
bottles are light, hard-to-break and transparent containers
made of polyethylene
- 1 -
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
75462-3
terephthalate and are widely used as soy sauce and cooling
beverage bottles.
For example, a nonstandardized paper diaper
waste generated from a paper diaper manufacturing process
is pulverized and classified by screening into a plastic
waste comprising a pulverized mixture of polypropylene,
polyethylene, a rubber and the like, and a water-
absorbable resin and a paper powder. The plastic waste
powder produced in this classifying process is utilized as
a starting material for a paper diaper, or used in another
application. However, in this classifying process, the
plastic waste such as the polypropylene, the polyethylene
and the rubber and the like produced is produced in a
large amount which is about one fourth of the treated
paper diaper waste. This plastic waste cannot be utilized
in any of applications, as is plastic waste produced in a
large amount as the other industrial waste. Moreover, this
plastic waste has a high calorific value of x,500 kcal/kg
or more and hence, if it is incinerated as it is , a
furnace is damaged. For this reason, this plastic waste is
separated from the common refuse, and must be incinerated
with an incombustible refuse, resulting in a problem that
much labor is required. Therefore, the plastic waste is
utilized directly for land-filling, which causes a problem
in a natural environment. It is desired that plastic waste
capable of being incinerated as is the common refuse, can
be effectively utilized.
It is an object of the present invention to
solve the problems concerning the incineration of the
-2-
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
75462-3
plastic waste having a high calorific value.
The present inventors have found that if the
plastic waste such as polyethylene terephthalate,
polyethylene, polypropylene and a synthetic rubber and the
like is pulverized into a particle size of 5 mm or less ,
preferably, 2 mm or less, a powder, i.e., a congregation
of particles, resulting from the pulverization has a
water-absorbing ability and a water retention which are
'.-,
significantly increased, as compared with those k~efore the
pulverization.
The present inventors have also found that for
example, the plastic waste powder having a high calorific
value such as polyethylene terephthalate pulverized into
5 mm or less can be used as a starting material for a
incineratable mammalian excrement treating article by
incorporating an incombustible inorganic compounding
material and further a water-absorbable resin into the
plastic waste and forming a mixture into a granular shape.
The present inventors have also found that for
example, the plastic waste powder having a high calorific
value such as polyethylene terephthalate pulverized into a
particle size of 5 mm or less can be incinerated utilizing
a water absorbing ability thereof by incorporating an
incombustible inorganic compounding material and further a
water-absorbable resin into the plastic waste powder to
produce a combustible mixture having a high calorific
value of 1,000 to 2,500 kcal/kg at the time when it has
absorbed water, and thus, they have accomplished
the present invention.
Further, the present inventors have found that
-3-
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
75462-3
the plastic waste powder such as polyethylene terephthalate,
polyethylene, polypropylene and a synthetic rubber and the
like has a high calorific value, but if it is used as a raw
material for a mammalian excrement treating article, the
produced mammalian excrement treating article has a
calorific value reduced to 1,000 to 2,500 kcal/kg by a large
amount of water contained in the water-absorbable resin and
hence, can be incinerated.
Thereupon, the present inventors have found that
by incorporating the plastic waste powder into a mammalian
excrement treating article made using a water-absorbable
resin as a raw material, the water-absorbing ability of the
plastic waste powder can be effectively utilized, and the
mammalian excrement treating article can be incinerated.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a mammalian
excrement treating article in a granular form produced from
a plastic waste powder having a particle size of 3 mm or
less, an organic compounding material and a water-absorbable
resin in an amount smaller than the plastic waste powder.
Thus, the plastic waste powder having a high calorific value
is rendered incineratable by utilizing the organic
compounding material such as a coffee extraction residue,
used tea leaves, a wood powder, a paper powder and a paper-
making sludge and the like as a starting material for the
mammalian excrement treating article.
In addition, the present invention provides a
mammalian excrement treating article in a granular form
produced from a plastic waste powder having a particle size
- 4 -
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
75462-3
of 3 mm or less, an organic compounding material, a water-
absorbable resin in an amount smaller than the plastic waste
powder, and an inorganic compounding material. Thus, the
plastic waste powder having a high calorific value is
rendered incineratable by utilizing the organic compounding
material such as a coffee extraction residue, used tea
leaves, a wood powder, a paper powder and a paper-making
sludge and the like as a starting material for the mammalian
excrement treating article.
Further, the present invention provides a process
for producing a mammalian excrement treating article in the
granular form, comprising the steps of pulverizing a plastic
waste into a powder having a particle size of 3 mm or less,
mixing the plastic waste powder with an organic compounding
material and a water-absorbable resin in an amount smaller
than the plastic waste powder, and granulating the resulting
mixture. Thus, the plastic waste powder having a high
calorific value is rendered incineratable by utilizing the
organic compounding material such as a coffee extraction
residue, used tea leaves, a wood powder, a paper powder, a
paper-making sludge and the like as the starting material
for the mammalian excrement treating article.
Yet further, the present invention provides a
process for producing a mammalian excrement treating article
in the granular form, comprising the steps of pulverizing a
plastic waste into a powder having a particle size of 3 mm
or less, mixing the plastic waste powder with an organic
compounding material, an inorganic compounding material and
a water-absorbable resin in an amount smaller than the
plastic waste powder, and granulating the resulting mixture.
Thus, the plastic waste powder having a high calorific value
is rendered incineratable by utilizing the organic
- 5 -
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
75462-3
compounding material such as a coffee extraction residue,
used tea leaves, a wood powder, a paper powder, a paper-
making sludge and the like as the raw material for the
mammalian excrement treating article.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a schematic view for illustrating the
steps of producing a mammalian excrement treating article
according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
Fig. 2 is a schematic view for illustrating the
steps of producing a mammalian excrement treating article
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING THE INVENTION
In the present invention, a mammalian excrement
treating article has a granular form and may comprise only a
granular core section made by mixing a plastic waste powder
having a particle size of 3 mm or less, preferably, a
particle size of 1 mm or less, an organic compounding
material and a water-absorbable resin in a smaller amount
than the plastic-waste powder to provide a mixture, and
granulating the
- 6 -
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
' 75462-3
mixture, or may comprise the granular core section and
a covering layer section that covers the granular core
section. The mammalian excrement treating article can also
be formed by mixing the plastic waste and an inorganic
compounding material and granulating the resulting
mixture.
In the present invention, one or two or more
types of plastic wastes may be used. Examples of such
'plastic wastes are plastic wastes having a calorific value
higher than 5,500 kcal/kg or more, including a
polyethylene terephthalate waste (far example, having a
calorific value of about 5,500 kcal/kg in a dried state),
a polyethylene waste (for example, having a calorific
value of about 9,950 kcal/kg to 10,720 kcal/kg in a dried
state), a polypropylene waste (for example, having a
calorific value of about 10,030 kcal/kg to 10,810 kcal/kg
in a dried state), a polyacrylonitrile waste, a nylon
waste, a polyester waste and the like. A calorific value
of 1,000 to 2,500 kcal/kg in a wet state enabling an
incineration of the mammalian excrement treating article
can be achieved by using the plastic waste having a high
calorific value as a starting material for the mammalian
excrement treating article in the above manner.
In the present invention, it has been found that
the water absorbing ability and the water retention
capability of the plastic waste are significantly enhanced
by pulverizing the plastic waste into a plastic waste
powder having a particle size of 3 mm or less. Therefore,
in the present invention the plastic waste is formed into
a powder having a particle size of 3 mm or less. When the
-7-
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
75462-3
plastic waste~is a soft plastic, it is pulverized into a
powder having a particle size of 3 mm or less, because it
is difficult to finely pulverize the plastic waste.
However, in order to enhance the water absorbing ability
and water retention capability, it is preferable that the
plastic waste is pulverized into a particle size of 2 mm
or less, more preferably, into a particle size of 1 mm or
less. When the plastic waste is a hard plastic, the
plastic waste is pulverized into a powder having a
particle size of 3 mm or less, because it is easily
pulverized, but in order to enhance the water absorbing
ability and water retention capability, it is preferable
that the plastic waste is pulverized into a particle size
of 1 mm or less.
In the present invention, the organic
compounding material is mixed into a product such as a
kitty litter in order to give it an adhering ability and
an absorbing ability, and at the same time,. the calorific
value of the plastic waste is reduced. Such an organic
compounding material is utilized with a plastic waste
having a high calorific value, therefore an organic
compounding material having a calorific value lower than
the calorific value of the plastic waste is utilized. It
is preferable to utilize an organic compounding material
having a calorific value within the range of 3,000 to
6,000 kcal/kg. The organic compounding material is an
extracted residue of, for example, used tea leaves (for
example, having a calorific value of about 5,290 kcal/kg
in a dried state), a coffee extraction residue(for
3o example, having a calorific value of about 5,600 kcal/kg
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
75462-3
in a dried state), a paper powder (for example, having a
calorific value of about 3,500 kcal/kg to 4,000 kcal/kg in a
dried state), a wood powder (for example, having a calorific
value of about 3,000 kcal/kg in a dried state), alpha starch
(4,200 kcal/kg), a paper-making sludge (2,000 kcal/kg), or a
mixture of two or more of them.
In the present invention, the utilized paper
powder can be pulverized waste such as a paper tube or a
pulverized waste powder from paper factories, a pulverized
punch-paper scrap, a pulverized used paper or powder from
pulverized woven fabrics such as cotton waste, wool waste or
linen waste. Paper powder having a particle size of 3 mm or
less can be utilized, but it is easier to uniformly mix if a
paper powder having a particle size of 1 mm or less is
utilized, and the paper powder will have an increased water
absorbing ability and retention ability.
In the present invention, saw dust discharged from
a lumber mill, namely a wood powder, can be incorporated
into the plastic waste powder. A wood powder having a
particle size of 3 mm or less can be utilized, but it is
easier to uniformly mix if a wood powder having a particle
size of 1 mm or less is utilized, and the wood powder will
have an increased water absorbing ability and retention
ability.
Also, in the present invention, it is preferable
to utilize a wood powder with an insect repelling effect,
such as pulverized hiba arborvitae shavings and/or cypress
shavings because hiba arborvitae and/or cypress has an
insect repelling effect. In this case, the amount of wood
powder is 3~ by weight of the granular core section, but it
- 9 -
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
75462-3
is preferred to have an amount of 5% or more by weight in
order to strengthen the insect repelling effect. Using
hiba aborvitae shavings and/or cypress shavings as a
starting material in a mammalian excrement treating
article is also preferred because of the points of having
a deodorizing function, an insecticide function, a
fungicide function and a perfuming function.
In the present invention, the utilized coffee
extraction residue can come from the large amount of
coffee extraction residue waste when extracting coffee
from roasted coffee beans such as the coffee extraction
residue when making coffee for cans or PET bottle
containers and the coffee extraction residue when making
instant coffee. Coffee extraction residue having a
particle size of 3 mm or less can be utilized, but it is
easier to uniformly mix if the coffee extraction residue
having a particle size of 1 mm or less is utilized, and
the coffee extraction residue will have an increased water
absorbing ability and retention ability.
In the present invention, the utilized used tea
leaves can come from the large amount of tea leaves waste
such as the used tea leaves when making tea for cans or
PET bottle containers. Used tea leaves having a particle
size of 3 mm or less can be utilized, but it is.easier to
uniformly mix if the used tea leaves having a particle
size of 1 mm or less is utilized, and the used tea leaves
will have an increased water absorbing ability and
retention ability.
In the present invention, examples of the
inorganic compounding material powder are bentonite,
-10-
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
' 75462-3
zeolite, ash resulting from the reburning of pulp sludge
(e.g., ash resulting from incineration of FJ-lite), ash
resulting from the reburning of dirty sludge and raw
garbage, vermiculite, pearlite and the like. In the
present invention, it is preferable that the amount of
inorganic compounding material powder incorporated in a
mammalian excrement treating article is determined so that
the ash resulting from the incineration thereof occupies
40% by weight or less. In this case, it is preferable that
the average particle size of the inorganic compounding
material powder is 3 mm or less. When each of the plastic
waste and the inorganic compounding material powder which
are to be mixed together are pulverized into a powder
having a particle size of 1 mm or less, they are easily
uniformly mixed together, which is preferred.
In the present invention, in order to provide
kitty litter with an insecticidal function, a volatile
.pyrethroid-based insecticide having an insecticidal
function, e.g., empenthrine may be mixed into the
plastic waste.
The empenthrine of the volatile pyrethroid-based
insecticide used in the present invention has a contact
toxic effect and is an insecticidal component, but is
relatively harmless to a warm-blooded animal or mammal and
hence, is used as an insecticide. The empenthrine acts to
expel harmful insects such as a tick or an acarid and flea
from the mammalian body by contact with the mammalian
body. The structure of the empenthrine is represented by
the following formula:
-11-
' ~ 2200870
o c Hs
C H 3 I9 I
> C =C H -C H -C H -C -0 -C H -C =C H -C 2 H 5
C H g \ / I
C C ---- C H
H g C C H s
In the present invention, in order to ensure
that the granular mammalian excrement treating article has
an insecticidal function, the volatile pyrethroid-based
insecticide can be contained in the granular core section
and/or in the covering layer section. The content of the
empenthrine of the volatile pyrethroid-based insecticide
is of 0.05 by weight, preferably, 0.4o by weight or more.
However, the volatile pyrethloid-based insecticide is
relatively expensive, and it is preferable that the
content of the pyrethroid-based insecticide is of 1~ by
weight or less.
2o In the present invention, when the empenthrine
of the volatile pyrethloid is incorporated as an insect-
repellent component in order to produce the mammalian
excrement treating article having an insecticidal
function, the empenthrine can be incorporated in the
plastic waste and/or the organic compounding material by
dispersing or dissolving it into a non-alcoholic organic
solvent such as an iso-paraffinic solvent, a hydrocarbon
solvent, a halogenated hydrocarbon solvent or ester
solvents. When the empenthrine is incorporated in the
mammalian excrement treating article in the above manner,
-12-
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
75462-3
the empenthrine having the insecticidal function can be
evaporated from the mammalian excrement treating article
during excretion to come into contact with the body of a
mammal or animal which is in excretion, thereby expelling
an insect adhered to the body of the mammal or animal.
In the present invention, when the empenthrine
of the volatile pyrethroid-based insecticide is
incorporated alone in the granular core section of the
mammalian excrement treating article, a solution of the
empenth.rine in a solvent may be added to and mixed while
stirring with the plastic waste or the inorganic compounding
~ material or the mixture of them, or may be blended by
scattering or spraying it to such mixture at a granulating
step. When the empenthrine of the volatile pyrethroid-
based insecticide is incorporated alone in the covering
layer section of the mammalian excrement treating article,
the plastic powder or the mixture of the plastic powder
and the highly water absorbable resin in the covering
layer section may be impregnated with a solution of the
empenthrine in a solvent by scattering or spraying or by
other means, or the plastic powder or the mixture of the
plastic powder and the highly water-absorbable resin,
which is to be covered, may be impregnated with the
solution of the empenthrine in the solvent, before it is
covered. In this manner, the empenthrine can be
incorporated by adding it to the surface of the granular
core section to form the covering layer section.
In the present invention, a powder of wood
shavings discharged from a lumber~mill may be incorporated
into the plastic waste powder. In this case, if wood
-13-
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
75462-3
shavings of hiba arborvitae or cypress are selected, the
repelling of insects can be achieved, because such wood
shavings contain hinokitiol and a hiba oil having an insect
repellent effect. By adding a powder of wood shavings of
hiba arborvitae or cypress discharged from a lumber mill to
the plastic waste powder in place of the empenthrine of the
volatile pyrethroid-based insecticide, the insect repelling
effect of the hiba oil and/or the hinokitiol is added to the
insect expelling effect of the volatile pyrethroid-based
insecticide and as a result, the mammalian excrement
treating article has an increased insect expelling effect.
It is preferable that the wood shavings of the
hiba arborvitae and the shavings from the cypress are
incorporated as insect expelling components into the
mammalian excrement treating article along with the
empenthrine. In this case, the wood shavings of the hiba
arborvitae and the shavings from the cypress may be used as
they are, or may be used after they are pulverized into a
given particle size, e.g., of 0.5 mm or less, preferably,
0.3 mm or less, when they are incorporated in the covering
layer section, or into a particle size of 1 mm or less when
incorporated in the granular core section when the granular
core is formed by an extrusion process because particles are
subjected to a pressure in the extrusion process.
In the present invention, a substance having a
germicidal action may be added to the covering layer section
of the mammalian excrement treating article, in order to
avoid the generation of fungi. Examples of such substance
having the germicidal action are a germicide, an
- 14 -
2200810
antiseptic agent and a fungicide such as table salt,
sorbic acid or the salt thereof, calcium propionate,
sodium hypochlorite, and/or benzoic acid or the salt
thereof.
In the present invention, the mammalian
excrement treating article is capable of preventing the
generation of fungi during storage by drying it until the
water content reached 15o by weight or less.
In the present invention, when the inorganic
1o compounding material powder used is bentonite and zeolite,
it is possible to ensure that the mammalian excrement
treating article has a function as a deodorizing agent
when the ash resulting from the incineration thereof
occupies 40°s by weight or less. Also in the present
invention, it is preferable to incorporate a highly water-
absorbable resin as a water-absorbing agent in order to
strengthen the water retention function.
In the present invention, the water-absorbable
resin is added as a lubricating agent during granulation
of the forming mixture. In the present invention, the
water-absorbable resin means a water-absorbable resin
other than a highly water-absorbable resin, and a highly
water-absorbable resin. Accordingly, it is possible to
utilize whichever a highly water-absorbable resin and an
inedible highly water-absorbable resin as a resin in the
water-absorbable resin. It is preferred to utilize an
inedible highly water-absorbable resin in the highly
water-absorbable resin because the production cost is
lower.
The water-absorbing resin is added to the
-15-
2200870
granular core section of the plastic waste at the time of
forming the mammalian excrement treating article in order
to increase the water retention ability of the granulated
mixture, and to function as a deodorizing agent at the
time of pulverizing the granulated mixture. In this case,
the water-absorbable resin occupies 3o to 10o by weight of
the granulated mixture, and preferably, 5°s by weight or
less. In the present invention, the highly water-absorbing
resin, utilized as the compounding material highly water-
absorbing resin in the granular core section of the
mammalian excrement treating article, but because it
functions to absorb water, thicken, and retain water from
the circumference of the granular core section when
discharged, it is preferable to control the humidity of
the covering layer section.
In the present invention, the water-absorbing
resin can be added to the covering layer section in an
amount of 13o to 17~ by weight, in order to absorb and
retain water on the exterior face of the powder particles
of the mammalian excrement treating article, and to easily
adhere to the circumference of the powder particles of the
mammalian excrement treating article. Generally, it is
possible to have an amount of powder particles inside the
covering layer section of 15°s to 25% by weight, but it is
preferable to have an amount of 10~ to 20~ by weight.
In the present invention, the highly water-
absorbable resin is a resin which can maintain its shape,
even if it has absorbed water in an amount which is
several ten times to two hundred times its own weight.
Examples of such highly water-absorbable resins are a
-16-
zzoos~o
soponified product of a copolymer of a vinyl ester and an
ethylenic unsaturated carboxylic acid or the derivative
thereof, a graft polymer of starch and acrylic acid, a
cross-linked polyacrylic acid, a coploymer of vinyl
alcohol and acrylic acid, a partially hydrolyzed
polycrylonitrile, a cross-linked carboxymethyl cellulose,
a cross-linked polyethylene glycol, the salt of chitosan,
and a gel of pullulan. One of these substances may be
contained alone in the plastic waste, or two or more of
these substances may be contained in the form of a mixture
in the plastic waste.
In the present invention, the water-absorbable
resin which may be used includes a water-absorbable resin
having a poor water absorbing ability with a water
absorbing rate as low as lower than 200 g/g. Examples of
such water-absorbable polyacrylic acid resins having such
a low water absorbing ability are a fine resin having a
larger particle size of, for example, 600 ~tm or more, and
a fine resin having a smaller particle size of, for
example, 20 ~tm or less. Such a water-absorbable resin can
be produced, for example, by classification from the
plastic waste, or can be available as a'product out of the
polyacrylic acid resin. It is preferable that the water-
absorbable resin having a particle size of, for example,
600 ~m or more is used in the granular core section, and
the fine water-absorbable resin having a particle size of,
for example, 20 ~m or more is used in the covering layer
section. The highly water-absorbable resin is contained in
the diaper waste as described above and hence, when the
plastic waste powder is incorporated, the highly water-
-17-
2200870
absorbable resin added may be decreased by an amount
contained in the plastic waste.
In the present invention, it is preferable to
incorporate a combustible material having a water
absorbing function, for example, used tea leaves, a coffee
extraction residue, a wood flour or a mixture thereof,
into the plastic waste, to ensure the mammalian excrement
treating article has an absorbing function.
In the present invention, it is preferable that
a compounding substance having an adhesive function and a
water retention ability in the covering layer section is
incorporated into the plastic waste in order to avoid the
pulverization of the excrement treating article which is
in service. Examples of such water-soluble or water-
dispersible compounding substances are a paper powder
pulverized from a lumber mill, a pulverized punch-paper
scrap, a solution of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a
polyethylene.glycol, sorbitol, polypropylene glycol and
the like, and an alpha starch.
In the present invention, a compounding
substance having a lubrication function, an adhesive
function and a water retention function in the granular
core section is incorporated into the plastic waste in
order to avoid the pulverization of the excrement treating
article which is in service. Examples of such compounding
substances are wheat flour, starch, corn starch,
carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), pullulan or gelatin. They
may be used as the compounding substance, alone or in the
form of a mixture made by a combination of two or more of
them.
_1g_
2200870
In the
present invention, when using a diluted
solution of a mixture of polyethylene glycol and sorbitol,
it is possible to use a diluted solution of polyethylene
glycol of 0.08 by weight and sorbitol of 0.03a by weight.
In this case, for example, it is possible to cover by
spraying an amount of 1 g of the polyethylene glycol and
sorbitol mixture over the covering layer section of the
granulated mixture for each 1 g of the mammalian excrement
treating article.
In the mammalian excrement treating article of
the present invention, the inorganic compounding material
powder is incorporated into the plastic waste powder and
the resulting mixture is granulated, and in order to avoid
as much as possible the presence of very fine dust after
the granulation it is preferable that the mixture is
granulated into a granulate having a grain size of, for
example, 3 mm or more. However, if the mixture is
granulated into a granulate having a grain size of 7 mm or
more, the grains are difficult to scatter from a toilet
box inside a room, and even if the grains scatter, it is
easy to collect the grains. This case is also preferred
for maintaining the sanitation within the room. In these
cases, however, the presence of the grains having the
grain size of 3 mm or less and the presence of the grains
having the grain size of 7 mm or less are not completely
rejected. In the present invention, the granulate may be
formed into any of spherical, columnar, granular and
particulate shapes and the like.
When the paper powder of the covering layer
material is adhered to the surface of the mammalian
_1g_
A
2200810
excrement treating article along with a water-soluble or
alcohol-soluble adhesive, an excrement such as urine is
adhered to the granulate during excretion of a mammal or
animal, but portions of the granulate to which the
excrement such as urine has been adhered are stuck
together to form a solid, which is preferable.
In the present invention, the compounding
material incorporated into the previous granulate and the
compounding material adhering to the surface of the
granulate can be the same substance or a different
substance.
In the present invention, the mixture of the
plastic waste and the organic compounding material or the
mixture of the plastic waste, the organic compounding
material and a highly water-absorbable resin or the
mixture of the plastic waste, the organic compounding
material, an inorganic compounding material and a highly
water-absorbable resin is produced by mixing in a mixing
device and granulated in a granulating device. The
granulating device which may be used includes a
conventionally well-known extruding granulating device.
In addition to the extruding granulating device,
any various granulating devices of a pan type, drum type
and a fluidized-bed type may be used. It is preferable
that a compounding substance having an adhesive ability, a
water-absorbable resin, a compounding substance having a
germicidal action or another compounding substance is
adhered to the surface of the granulate of the plastic
waste by smearing or the like after the granulation, and
then dried, so that the compounding substance adhered is
-20-
2200870
not Basil eeled off from the surface of the
y p granulate.
In the case of covering the granular core
section with a high quality-paper punch scrap and the like
which is a relatively non flexible and a paper powder that
is hard to absorb water, it is required to pulverize to a
diameter, for example, to 0.5 mm or less, in order to
improve water retention, external appearance and
adhesiveness of the covering layer section.,In the case of
using a paper powder that is water-absorbing and
relatively flexible, it is possible to utilize a cloth
with a relatively large diameter powder, for example 0.7
mm or less.
The mammalian excrement treating article
according to the present invention is formed by adding the
paper powder, the highly water-absorbable resin and the
compounding substance such as the volatile empenthrine as
an insecticide and the like to the granulate having a
grain size of 3 mm or more, preferably, 7 mm or more and
containing mainly the plastic waste or the plastic waste
and the inorganic compounding material. Therefore, the
mammalian excrement treating article can absorb well urine
excreted by a mammal, has a good water retention, and can
significantly exhibit an insecticidal property to a mammal
or animal to which the article is used.
Moreover, the paper powder and the highly water-
absorbable resin, as well as in addition, a wheat flour,
Poval, starch or another compounding substance having an
adhesive ability or a substance having a germicidal action
or a mixture of such two or more substances can be
incorporated in the mammalian excrement treating article
-21-
. 2200870
according to the present invention, particularly, in the
covering layer section thereof. Therefore, the mammalian
excrement treating article is adhered to the excrement
discharged from a mammal or animal to wrap the excrement
massively therein, and can be simply and easily post-
treated. When a deodorizing agent and/or water-absorbing
agent is mixed, the mammalian excrement treating article
exhibits further excellent deodorizing and water-absorbing
properties. Further when a substance having a germicidal
action is mixed in the granular core section or the
covering layer section, the mammalian. excrement treating
article can be stored for a long period without generation
of fungi or the like.
The present invention will now be described by
waY of preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings,
but the present invention is not limited in any way by the
following descriptions or illustrations.
Fig.1 is a schematic illustration for explaining
the steps of producing a mammalian excrement treating
article according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
EMBODIMENTS
The apparatus used in this embodiment is
constructed as described above, so that a predetermined
amount of paper diaper waste powder is placed into a
metering hopper 1, and a predetermined amount of coffee
extraction residue is placed into a metering hopper 5.
Then, a screw conveyer 2 for supplying the paper
diaper waste powder, the screw conveyer 6 for supplying
-22-
2200810
the coffee extraction residue and the main screw conveyer
4 are operated to supply a predetermined amount of paper
diaper waste powder and the predetermined amount of coffee
extraction residue to a mixing device 8, where they are
',' mixed uniformly with water supplied through a water
supplying pipe --9~
The mixture of the paper diaper waste powder,
the coffee extraction residue and water is fed through a
mixture transporting screw conveyer 11 which is in
operation to an extruding-type granulating device 12. In
this embodiment, the extruding-type granulating device 12
extrudes the granulated mixture from the rotary screw from
a die 14 having an established pore corresponding to its
cross section. The die used has a bore diameter of 5.5 mm
and a thickness of 33 mm.
A vibrating screen classifier 15 including an
upper screen having a screen opening of 8 mm and a lower
screen opening of 4 mm is 'mounted below the die 14 of the
extruding-type granulating device 12 so that the grains in
the extruded granulate mixture smaller than 4 mm are
separated off, and the grains passed through the screen
having the opening of 4 mm are fed to a screened grain
transporting conveyer belt 19 connected to the outlet 18
below the screen and then from the screened grain
transporting conveyor belt 19 through the mixture
transporting screw conveyer 11 back to the granulating
device 12, wherein they are granulated again.
In this embodiment, the grains regulated to a
grain size in a range of 8 mm to 4 mm, i.e., the grains on
the screen having the opening of 4 mm are fed from the
-23-
r
s
220~~10
outlet 16 above the screen to a rotary-type disc covering -
device 17. There, the covering material incorporating a
water-absorbing resin and the mixture of the fixed amount
of paper powder are sprinkled and covered. The covered
granulate covered from the covering device 17 is fed to a
covering device 24 and a covering device 26 and while
being transported through the vibration-type discs, the
covering material made of a mixture of the previously
scattered water-absorbing resin and paper powder is made
to contact and is covered.
The granulate grains covered with the covering
material in the granulate covering devices 17, 24 and 26
are loosened in the vibration screen type grain size-
regulating device 28. The grains having a grain size of 10
to 5 mm are fed from an outlet 31 above the screen having
the screen opening of 5 mm in the vibration screen type
grain size regulating device 28 through the conveyer belts
32, 33 and 34 to the first dryer 35 where they are dried.
On the other hand, the granulate grains having a grain
size smaller than 5 mm are fed to the mixture transporting
screw conveyer 11 by the screened grain transporting
conveyer 30 for transporting grains having a grain size
capable of being passed through the screen having an
opening of 5 mm, and are then returned to the granulating
25' device 12, where they are granulated again.
The temperature of the first dryer 35 for drying
the granulate is maintained at a level of 80°C or more.
The dried granulate is fed to a spraying device 39 for
spraying a diluted solution of polyvinyl alcohol in order
to prevent the nappiness or the like of the covering
-24-
22~~~~~
material portion in the surface of the covered granulate.
In the spraying device 39, a diluted solution of polyvinyl
alcohol is sprayed from a spraying diluted polyvinyl
alcohol solution tank 40. The covered granulate sprayed
with the diluted solution of polyvinyl alcohol is
delivered from a covered-granulate transporting conveyer
belt 41 to a second dryer 42 which is a hot air drying
machine.
The second dryer dries the covered granulate
under a lower drying temperature condition, as compared
with the first dryer. The covered granulate dried in the
above manner is fed into a product hopper 46. The covered
granulate placed into the product hopper 46 is regulated
in grain size in the grain size regulating device 48 and
fed to a granulate packing device 51, where it is packed
into a sack and shipped.
In this embodiment, the volatile empenthrine,
the germicide and the like are not illustrated, but a
solution of volatile empenthrine in a non-alcoholic
organic solvent and a solution of a germicide may be
sprayed along with the diluted solution of polyvinyl
alcohol after drying in the first dryer. In this case, the
diluted solution of polyvinyl alcohol and the solutions of
empenthrine and germicide in solvents may be formed
separately and may be sprayed separately or in the form of -
a mixture. In this embodiment, no insecticide is
incorporated in the granular core section, but for
example, a solution of empenthrine in a non-alcoholic
organic solvent may be blended in the water-absorbable
resin; supplied through the water supplying pipe 17 and
-25-
zz~~~~~
incorporated in the granulate. When the empensrine is
blended in the highly water-absorbable resin, it is
preferable that the blending is carried out with an
increased amount of the highly water-absorbable resin, and
the blend is dried.
Fig.2 is a schematic illustration for explaining
a process for producing a mammalian excrement treating
article according to an embodiment of the present
invention different from the embodiment shown in Fig.1.
Referring to Fig.2, a metering hopper 52 for a
paper diaper waste powder is located on a transporting
path on a conveyer belt 53 of a conveyer system, so that
the paper diaper waste powder can be supplied to the
conveyer belt 53. A used-tea leaf hopper 54 is located on
a transporting path on a conveyer belt 55 of the conveyer
system, so that used teas leaves can be supplied to the
conveyer belt 55. An outlet portion 56 of the conveyer
belt 53 and an outlet portion 57 of the conveyer belt 55
are provided in an opposed relation to each other on a
conveyer belt 58 of the conveyer system for transporting
the mixture of the paper diaper waste powder and the used
tea leaves. An outlet portion 59 of the conveyer belt 58
for transporting the mixture of the paper diaper waste
powder and the used tea leaves is located on a mixing
device 60.
In this embodiment, a metering hopper 61 for a
reburnt-pulp sludge ash product powder is located on a
transporting path on a conveyer belt 62 of the conveyer
system, so that the reburnt-pulp sludge ash product powder
can be supplied to the conveyer belt 62 of the conveyer
-26-
' 2200810
system. An outlet
portion 63 of the conveyer belt 62 for
the reburnt-pulp sludge ash product powder is located on
the mixing device 60.
To transport a mixture produced in the mixing
device 60, a mixture transporting conveyer belt 65 is
mounted at a mixture outlet 64 of the mixing device 60.
The paper diaper waste powder, the used tea leaves and the
reburnt-pulp sludge ash product powder are mixed in the
mixing device 60, and the resulting mixture is supplied
from the outlet 64 of the mixing device 60 to the mixture
transporting conveyer belt 65 of the conveyer system and
then from the mixture transporting conveyer belt 65 to a
pre-mixing device 67 in an extruding-type granulating
device 66.
Water is supplied from a supply pipe 68 to the
pre-mixing device 67, where the paper diaper waste powder,
the used tea leaves and the reburnt-pulp sludge ash
product powder are uniformly mixed.
The mixture of the paper diaper waste powder,
the used tea leaves and the reburnt-pulp sludge ash
product powder is introduced into the extruding-type
granulating device 66 and extruded from a die 69 to form a
columnar granulate. A granulate transporting conveyer belt
71 of the conveyer system for feeding the granulate formed
by extrusion to a circular screen 70 is mounted below the
die 69 of the extruding-type granulating device 66.
In this embodiment, the circular screen 70 has a
screen opening of 4 mm, and grains unscreened by this
screen are discharged from an outlet 72 above the screen
and supplied to an unscreened-grain transporting conveyer
-27-
belt 73 of the conveyer system connected to the outlet 72.
The unscreened-grain transporting conveyer belt
73 is connected to a vibration-type grain size regulating
device 74. The vibration-type grain size regulating device
74 is adapted to loosen the grains adhered to one another
by vibration and mounted in order to reduce the
pulverization of the granulate in service to the utmost.
The grains unscreened by the screen are supplied to the
vibration-type grain size regulating device 74 by the
unscreened-grain transporting conveyer belt 73.
On the other hand, the grains screened by the
circular belt 70 are returned via the mixture transporting
conveyer belt 65 to the extrusion-type granulating device
66 by a screened-grain transporting conveyer belt 76
mounted at an outlet 75 below the screen, where they are
granulated again.
The grains fed to the vibration-type grain size
regulating device 74 are loosened one by one into
individual grains by the vibration of the vibration-type
grain size regulating device 74 and then delivered from
the latter. In this embodiment, a screen 77 having a
screen opening of 4 mm is mounted at an outlet of the
vibration-type grain size regulating device 74. A
screened-grain transporting conveyer belt 78 is mounted
below an outlet below the screen 77 and connected to the
mixture transporting conveyer belt 65, so that grains
screened by the screen 77 are returned via the mixture
transporting conveyer belt 65 to the extrusion-type
granulating device 66 by the screened-grain transporting
conveyer belt 78, where they are granulated again.
-28-
' ' 2200870
v
In the vibration-type grain size regulating
device 74, grains having a grain size of 4 mm or more are
taken out from an unscreened-grain transporting conveyer
belt 80 of the conveyer system connected to an outlet 79
above the screen. An outlet of the unscreened-grain
transporting conveyer belt 80 is connected to a first
granulate covering device 81.
In the vibration-type grain size regulating
device 74, the grains having the grain size of 4 mm or
more are taken out from the unscreened-grain transporting
conveyer belt 80 connected to the outlet 79 in order to
cover the highly water-absorbable resin and the paper
powder on a surface thereof. The grains are supplied to a
screen 82 of a first granulate covering device 81
connected to the unscreened-grain transporting conveyer
belt 80.
In this embodiment, both of first and second
granulate covering devices 81 and 83 are vibration-type
covering devices, respectively and mounted in series. An
outlet of a screen classifier 84 at an outlet of the first
granulate covering device 81 is connected to the second
granulate covering device 83.
A first scattering screen 85 is mounted with an
outlet on a vibratable covering transporting path of the
first granulate covering device 81, and a second
scattering spray device 86 is mounted with a spray nozzle
which opens into a vibratable covering transporting path
of the second granulate covering device 83. The mixture of
the highly water-absorbable resin and the paper powder is
3o scattered from the first scattering screen 85, and the
-29-
' 2200870
diluted solution of polyvinyl alcohol is sprayed from the
second scattering spray device 86.
In each of the granulate covering devices, the
covering material is scattered onto the vibrated granulate
to cover the granulate. The first scattering screen 85 is
connected to a first covering material scattering hopper
87 in which the mixture of the highly water-absorbable
resin and the paper powder is accommodated, and the second
scattering spray device 86 is connected to a covering
liquid tank 88 containing the diluted solution of
polyvinyl alcohol accommodated therein.
The scattering screen and the scattering spray
device are formed so that the covering material to be
scattered can be scattered to the aranulate constantlv at
a given ratio.
A covered-granulate transporting conveyer belt
89 of the conveyer system is connected to the second
granulate covering device 83, so that the granulate
covered in the second granulate covering device 83 is fed,
by the covered-granulate transporting conveyer belt 89, to
a dryer 90 to which the covered-granulate transporting
conveyer belt 89 is connected.
The covered granulate is introduced into the
dryer 90 which is a hot air drying machine, where it is
dried. The dried granulate is fed to a product tank 93 by
a dried-granulate transporting conveyer belt 92 connected
to a dried granulate outlet 91. A dried granulate product
is taken out into a packing area 95 by a product
transporting conveyer belt 94 of the conveyer system
mounted below an outlet provided below the product tank
-30-
A
2200870
93, where it is packed and shipped.
The apparatus used in this embodiment is
constructed in the above manner, so that a predetermined
amount of the paper diaper waste powder is placed into the
metering hopper 52; a predetermined amount of the used tea
leaves are placed into the metering hopper 54, and a
predetermined amount of a powder of burnt-pulp sludge ash
product is placed into the metering hopper 61.
Then, the paper diaper waste powder supplying
conveyer belt 53, the used-tea leaf supplying conveyer
belt 55, the conveyer belt 58 and the burnt-pulp sludge
ash product powder supplying conveyer belt 62 are operated
to supply the predetermined amounts of the paper diaper
waste powder, the used tea leaves and the burnt-pulp
sludge ash product powder to the mixing device 60, where
they are mixed together.
A resulting mixture of the paper diaper waste
powder, the used tea leaves and the reburnt-pulp sludge
ash product is delivered to the mixture transporting
conveyer belt 65 which is in operation and thus, the
mixture is fed to the pre-mixing device 67. Further, water
is supplied through the supply pipe 68 to the pre-mixing
device 67. In the pre-mixing device 67, the paper diaper
waste powder, the used tea leaves, the reburnt-pulp sludge
ash product and the water are uniformly mixed together. A
mixture resulting from the uniform mixing is fed to the
extrusion-type granulating device 66.
In this embodiment, the extrusion-type
granulating device 66 has a section which is adapted to
3o push the mixture to be granulated, by the rotation of the
-31-
M
2200870
screw, and which corresponds to a hole in the die 69. In
this embodiment, a cylindrical granulate having a diameter
of 6 mm and a length of 10 mm is produced.
Grains of the granulate produced by extrusion
from the die 69 of the extrusion-type granulating device
66 are fed to the granulate transporting conveyer belt 70,
for example, the circular screen 70 having a screen
opening of 4 mm, where they are subjected to a screening.
Screened grains having a grain size of 4 mm or less are
returned to the mixture transporting conveyer belt 65 by
the screened-grain transporting conveyer belt 76 and thus
fed to the granulating device 66, where they are
granulated again.
Unscreened grains having a grain size of 4 mm or
more are fed to the vibration-type grain size regulating
device 74 by the screened-grain transporting conveyer belt
73, where they are loosened. The grains having a grain
size of 4 mm or more are fed to the first granulate
covering device 81 by the unscreened-grain transporting
conveyer belt 80 above.the screen 77, where the covering
material comprised of the highly water-absorbable resin
and the paper powder blended at a predetermined ratio is
coated on such grains to cover them.
On the other hand, the grains loosened into a
grain size smaller than 4 mm in the vibration-type grain
size regulating device 74 are fed from the outlet below
the screen 77 to the mixture transporting conveyer belt 65
by the screened-grain trar~sporting conveyer belt 78 and
thus returned to the granulating device 66, where they are
granulated again.
-32-
2200810
The granulate grains covered with the first
covering material in the first granulate covering device
81 are fed from the screen classifier 84 at the outlet of
the first granulate covering device 81 to the second
granulate covering device~83, where a diluted solution of
a second covering material is sprayed onto such grains.
The granulate grains having the covering diluted solution
sprayed thereon are fed from the conveyer 89 at the outlet
of the second granulate covering device 83 to the dryer
90, where they are dried. The temperature of the dryer 90
is maintained at a level of 85°C or more. The dried grains
are fed to the product tank 93 by the dried-granulate
transporting conveyer belt 92 to provide a product which
is to be shipped.
In this embodiment, the product is provided
after drying of the grains, but a solution of volatile
empenthrine in a non-alcoholic organic solvent and a
diluted solution of polyvinyl alcohol may be sprayed after
the drying of the grains. In this case, the diluted
2o solution of polyvinyl alcohol and the solution of volatile
empenthrine in the non-alcoholic organic solvent may be
formed separately and sprayed.
In addition, in this embodiment, no insecticide
is incorporated in the granular core section, but for
example, the solution of empenthrine in the non-alcoholic
organic solvent may be blended in the water-absorbable
resin and fed through the water supplying pipe 68, whereby
it may be incorporated in the granulate. When the
empenthrine is blended in the highly water-absorbable
resin, it is preferable that the blending is carried out
-33-
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
75462-3
with an increased amount of the highly water-absorbable
resin, and the mixture is dried under a weaker drying
condition.
Example 1
This example is a case where a kitty litter was
produced using the apparatus shown in Fig.l. 86 parts by
weight of a PET bottle powder resulting from pulverization
into a particle size of 1 mm or less and 4 parts by weight
,,;:
of a highly water-absorbable resin were placed into a
l0 ribbon mixer, and water was added to the mixture, where
they were mixed together to provide a mixture having a
water content of 40% by weight. The mixture was placed
into an extruding zone in the extrusion-type granulating
device, where the mixture was extruded through a die
15 including an opening having a diameter of 5.5 mm and a
plate thickness of 30 mm, and a resulting material was
properly chipped and granulated in a chopper. A produced
granule was regulated in grain size in the grain size
regulating device and placed into the vibration-type
20 covering disc device, where a covering material comprised
of a mixture of 65 parts by weight of a paper powder
having a particle size of 0.4 mm or less and 35 parts by
weight of a highly water-absorbable resin having a
particle size of 150 um or less was scattered onto a
25 surface of the granule at a proportion of 10% by weight
based on the granule to cover the granule , while
vibrating the dish-like disc. The covered ~ granule was
loosened in the grain size regulating device and dried in
the hot air drying machine, until the water content
30 reached 13%.
-34-
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
' ' 754.62-3
A resulting kitty litter product was a granule
having a grain size of 10 to 5 mm. This granule had a
calorific value of 5,219 kcal/kg upon drying, and a
calorific value of 4,457 kcal/kg when the water content
was of 13$. The calorific value of 10 g of kitty litter
having 21 g of water absorbed thereinto, i.e., in a so-
called wetted state after being used was 1,004 kcal/kg,
which showed that the product after being used can be
incinerated or burnt up. These grains were collected to
provide sands for a cat toilet.
In a room, 30 ml of pseudo urine made by
dissolving 10 g of table salt and 10 ml of aqueous ammonia
into 1,000 ml of tap water was added to 20 g of the sands
for the cat toilet, and a sand portion coagulated by the
pseudo urine was removed. In the toilet sands in this
example, the amount of a toilet sand portion which was not
coagulated by the pseudo urine was 4.5 g. Therefore, the
amount of the cat sands required for forming a coagulated
mass by the pseudo urine was 15.5 g.
Thus, the amount of water absorbed in the toilet
sands in this example was 30 g/15.5 g, i.e., the water
absorbing ability was 1.95 times.
The sands for the cat toilet were laid at a
thickness of 3 cm in a toilet and used. The cat used the
sands as a toilet as usual, and as a result, there was no
hindrance for use.
After the cat used the sands for excretion, that
portion of the sands for cat toilet in which the cat
excreted could be easily removed. Moreover, the sands for
the cat toilet in this example had water-absorbing and
-35-
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
75462-3
deodorizing properties and hence, the generation of an
uncomfortable odor in the room could be avoided.
Example 2
This example is a case where the cat sands
produced~using the apparatus shown in Fig.1. In this
example, 55 parts by weight of a PET bottle powder
resulting from pulverization into a particle size of 1 mm
or less, 20 parts by weight of used tea leaves, 20 parts
by weight of a computer paper and 5 parts by weight of a
highly water-absorbable resin ( Haimo Sub 500, from Haimo
Co.) were placed in a ribbon mixer, and water was added to
the mixture, where they were mixed together to provide a
mixture having a water content of 40% by weight. The
mixture was placed into an extruding zone in the
extrusion-type granulating device, where the mixture was
extruded through a die including an opening having a
diameter of 5.5 mm and a plate thickness of 30 mm, and a
resulting material was.properly chipped and granulated in
a chopper. A produced granule was regulated in grain
size in the grain size regulating device and placed into
the vibration-type covering disc device, where a covering=
material comprised of a mixture of 65 parts by weight or a
paper powder having a particle size of 0.4 mm or less and
35 parts by weight of a highly water-absorbable resin
having a particle size of 150 um or less was scattered
onto a surface of the granule at a proportion of 10% by
weight based on the granule to cover the granule ,
while vibrating the dish-like disc. The covered granule
was loosened in the grain size regulating device and dried
3o in the hot air drying machine, until the water content
*Trade-mark
- 36-
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
75462-3
reached 13$.
A resulting kitty litter product was a granule
having a grain size of 10 to 5 mm. This granule had a
calorific value of 5,008 kcal/kg upon drying, and a
calorific value of 4,274 kcal/kg when the water content
was of 13%. The qalorific value of 10 g of cat sands
having 19.5 g of water absorbed thereinto, i.e., in a so-
called wetted state after being used was 1,026 kcal/kg,
which showed that the product after being used can be
incinerated or burnt up. These grains were collected to
provide sands for a cat toilet.
In a room, 30 ml of pseudo urine made by
dissolving 10 g of table salt and 10 ml of aqueous ammonia
into 1,000 ml of tap water was added to 20 g of the sands
for the cat toilet, and a sand portion coagulated by the
pseudo urine was removed. In the toilet sands in this .
example, the amount of a toilet sand portion which was not
coagulated by the pseudo urine was 4.5 g. Therefore, the
amount of the cat sands required for forming a coagulated
mass by the pseudo urine was 15.5 g.
Thus, the amount of water absorbed in the toilet
sands in this example was 30~g/15.5 g, i.e., the water
absorbing ability was 1.95 times.
The sands for the cat toilet were laid at a
thickness of 3 cm in a toilet and used. The cat used the
sands as a toilet as usual, and as a result, there was no
hindrance for use.
After the cat used the sands for excretion, that
portion of the sands for cat toilet in which the cat
excreted could be easily removed. Moreover, the sands for
-37-
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
75462-3
the cat toilet in this example had water-absorbing and
deodorizing properties and hence, the generation of an
uncomfortable odor in the room could be avoided.
Example 3
This example is a case where the cat sands
produced using the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. In this
example, 76.5 parts by weight of a pET bottle powder
resulting from pulverization into a particle size of 1 mm
or less,
9 parts by weight of alpha starch and 4.5 parts by
weight of a highly water-absorbable resin ( Haimo Subs 500,
from Haimo Co.) were placed in a mixer, and water was
added tn the mixture, where they were mixed together to
provide a mixture having a water content of 40~ by weight.
The mixture was placed into an extruding zone in the
extrusion-type granulating device, where the mixture was
extruded through a die including an opening having a
diameter of 5.5 mm and a plate thickness of 30 mm, and a
resulting material was properly chipped and granulated in
a chopper. The produced granule was regulated in grain
size in the grain size regulating device and placed into
the vibration-type covering disc device, where a covering
material comprised of the pulverized computer paper, a
mixture of 30 parts by weight of a paper powder having a
particle size of 0.4 mm or less and. 70 parts by weight of
a highly water-absorbable resin (Haimo Sub*500, from Haimo
Co.) having a particle size of 150 um or less was
scattered onto a surface of the granule at a proportion
of 10% by weight based on the ~ granule to cover the
3p granule , while vibrating the dish-like disc. The covered
*Trade-mark
_ 38 _
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
' 75462-3
granule was loosened in the grain size regulating device
and dried in the hot air drying machine, until the water
content reached 13%.
A resulting cat sands product was a granule
having a grain size of 10 to 5 mm. This granule had a
calorific value of 5,170 kcal/kg upon drying, and a
calorific value of 4,313 kcal/kg when the water content
was of 13%. The calorific value of 10 g of kitty litter
having 21 g of water absorbed thereinto, i.e., in a so-
called wetted state after being used was 1,770 kcal/kg,
which showed that the product after being used can be
incinerated or burnt up. These grains were collected to
provide sands for a cat toilet.
In a room, 30 ml of pseudo urine made nY
dissolving 10 g of table salt and 10 ml of aqueous ammonia
into 1,000 ml of tap water was added to 20 g of the sands
for the cat toilet, and a sand portion coagulated by the
pseudo urine was removed. In the toilet sands in this
example, the amount of a toilet sand portion which was not
coagulated by the pseudo urine was 4.5 g. Therefore, the
amount of the cat sands required for forming a coagulated
mass by the pseudo urine was 15.5 g.
Thus, the amount of water absorbed in the toilet
sands in this example was 30 g/15.5 g, i.e., the water
absorbing ability was 1.95 times.
The sands for the cat toilet were laid at a
thickness of 3 cm in a toilet and used. The cat used the
sands as a toilet as usual, and as a result, there was no
hindrance for use.
After the cat used the sands for excretion, that
-39-
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
' 75462-3
portion of the sands for cat toilet in which the cat
excreted could be easily removed. Moreover, the sands for
the cat toilet in this example had water-absorbing and
deodorizing properties and hence, the generation of an
uncomfortable odor in the room could be avoided.
Example 4
This example is a case where the cat sands
produced using the apparatus shown in Fig.2. In this
example, 75 parts by weight of PET bottle powder
resulting from pulverization into a particle size of 1 mm
or less,
5 parts by weight of a highly water-absorbable resin
Haimo Sub*500, from Haimo Co.) and 10 parts by weight of
alpha starch were placed in a ribbon mixer, and water
was added to the mixture, where they were mixed together
to provide a mixture having a water content of 40% by
weight. The mixture was placed into an extruding zone in
the extrusion-type granulating device, where the mixture
was extruded through a die including an opening having a
diameter of 5.5 mm and a plate thickness of 30 mm, and a
resulting material was properly chipped and granulated in
a chopper. The produced granule was regulated in grain
size in the grain size regulating device and placed into
the vibration-type covering disc device, where a covering
material comprised of a mixture of 6.5 parts by weight of
a paper powder having a particle size of 0.4 mm or less
pulverized from computer paper and 3.5 parts by weight of
a highly water-absorbable resin (Haimo Sub 500, from Haimo
Co.) having a particle size of 150 um or less was
scattered onto a surface of the granule at a proportion
*Trade-mark
-40-
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
75462-3
of 15% by weight based on the granule to cover the
granule , while vibrating the dish-like disc. The covered
granule was loosened in the grain size regulating device
and dried in the hot air drying machine, until the water
content reached 13%.
A resulting kitty litter product was a granule
having a grain size of 10 to 5 mm. This granule had a
calorific value of 4;644 kcal/kg upon drying, and a
calorific value of 3,957 kcal/kg when the water content
was of 13%. The calorific value of 10 g of cat sands
having 15 g of water absorbed thereinto, i.e., in a so-
called wetted state after being used was 1,770 kcal/kg,
which showed that the product after being used can be
incinerated or burnt up. These grains were collected to
provide sands for a cat toilet,
In a room, 30 ml of pseudo urine made by
dissolving 10 g of table salt and 10 ml of aqueous ammonia
into 1,000 ml of tap water was added to 20 g of the sands
for the cat toilet, and a sand portion coagulated by the
pseudo urine was removed: In the toilet sands in this
example, the amount of a toilet sand portion which was not
coagulated by the pseudo urine was non-existent.
Therefore, the amount of the cat sands required for
forming a coagulated mass by the pseudo urine was 20 g.
Thus, the amount of water absorbed in the toilet
sands in this example was 30 g/20 g, i.e., the water
absorbing ability was 1.5 times.
The sands for the cat toilet were laid at a
thickness of 3 cm in a toilet and used. The cat used the
3o sands as a toilet as usual, and as a result, there was no
-41-
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
75462-3
hindrance for use.
After the cat used the sands for excretion, that
portion of the sands for cat toilet in which the cat
excreted could be easily removed. Moreover, the sands for
the cat toilet in this example had water-absorbing and
deodorizing properties and hence, the generation of an
uncomfortable odor in the room could be avoided.
Example 5
This example is a case where the cat sands
produced using the apparatus shown in Fig.2. In this
example, 30 parts by weight of a polypropylene woven
fabric powder resulting from pulverization into a particle
size of 1 mm or less, 30% by weight of a polyethylene film
powder, 15 parts by weight of a paper powder having a
particle size of 0.4 mm or less pulverized from a computer
paper and 5 parts by weight of a highly water-absorbable
resin ( Haimo Sub*500, from Haimo Co.) were placed in a
ribbon mixer, and water was added to the mixture, where
they were mixed together to provide a mixture having a
2o water content of 40% by weight. The mixture was placed
into an extruding zone in the extrusion-type granulating
device, where the mixture was extruded through a die
including an opening having a diameter of 5.5 mm and a
plate thickness of 30 mm, and a resulting material was
properly chipped and granulated in a chopper. The produced
granule was regulated in grain size in the grain size
regulating device and placed into the vibration-type
covering disc device, where a covering material comprised
of a mixture of 12 parts by weight of a paper powder
having a particle size of 0.4 mm or less pulverized from
*Trade-mark
-42-
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
75462-3
computer paper, and 8 parts by weight of a highly water-
absorbable resin (Haimo Sub 500, from Haimo Co.) having a
particle size of 150 pm or less was scattered onto a
surface of the granule at a proportion of 20% by weight
based on the granule to cover the granule, while
vibrating the dish-like disc. The covered granule was
loosened in the grain size regulating device and dried in
the hot air drying machine, until the water content
reached 13~.
A resulting kitty litter product was a granule
having a grain size of 10 to 5 mm. This granule had a
calorific value of 7,945 kcal/kg upon drying, and a
calorific value of 6,829 kcal/kg when the water content
was of 13%. The calorific value of 10 g of kitty litter
having 15 g of water absorbed thereinto, i.e., in a so-
called wetted state after being used was 1,623 kcal/kg,
which showed that the product after being used can be
incinerated or burnt up. These grains were collected to
provide sands for a cat toilet.
In a room, 30 ml of pseudo urine made by
dissolving 10 g of table salt and 10 ml of aqueous ammonia
into 1,000 ml of tap water was added to 20 g of the sands
for the cat toilet, and a sand portion coagulated by the
pseudo urine was removed. In the toilet sands in this
example, the amount of a toilet sand portion which was not
coagulated by the pseudo urine was non-existent.
Therefore, the amount of the cat sands required for
forming a coagulated mass by the pseudo urine was 20 g.
Thus, the amount of water absorbed in the toilet
sands in this example was 30 g/20 g, i.e., the water
-43-
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
75462-3
absorbing ability was 1.5 times.
In a room, 30 ml of pseudo urine made by
dissolving 10 g of table salt and 10 ml of aqueous ammonia
into 1,000 ml of tap water was added to 20 g of the sands
for the cat toilet, and a sand portion coagulated by the
pseudo urine was removed. In the toilet sands in this
example, the amount of a toilet sand portion which was not
coagulated by the pseudo urine was 4 g. Therefore, the
amount of the cat sands required for forming a coagulated
mass by the pseudo urine was 16 g.
Thus, the amount of water absorbed in the toilet
sands in this example was 30 g/16 g, i.e., the water
absorbing ability was 1.9 times.
The sands for the cat toilet were laid at a
thickness. of 3 cm in a toilet and used. The cat used the
sands as a toilet as usual, and as a result, there was no
hindrance for use.
After the cat used the sands for excretion, that
portion of the sands for cat toilet in which the cat
excreted could be easily removed. Moreover, the sands for
the cat toilet in this example had water-absorbing and
deodorizing properties and hence, the generation of an
uncomfortable odor in the room could be avoided.
Example 6
49 parts by weight upon drying of polyethylene
terephthalate, 2 parts by weight upon drying of a highly
water-absorbable resin and 49 parts by weight upon drying
of bentonite powder were placed in a ribbon mixer, and
water was added to the mixture, where they were mixed
together to provide a mixture having a water content of
-44-
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
75462-3
40% by weight. The mixture was placed into an extruding
zone in the extrusion-type granulating device, where the
mixture was extruded through a die including an opening
having a diameter of 5.5 mm and a plate thickness of 25
mm, and a resulting material was properly chipped and
granulated. The produced bentonite powder of 17 parts by
weight were sprinkled and covered in the same manner as on
the surface of the granule. The covered granule was
dried by the hot air drying machine, until the water
content reached 13%, thereby providing a granule having
an average diameter of 6 mm and a length of 7 to 10 mm.
The granule had a calorific value of 2,287 kcal/kg upon
drying, a calorific value of 1,907 kcal/kg when the water
content was of 13%, and the grains of the granule were
collected to provide sands for a cat toilet.
In a room, pseudo urine containing 1% of
sodium chloride having a temperature of 35~ was added to
the sands for the cat toilet. The sands could absorb an
amount of water 1 to 1.5 times the entire amount of the
sands.
After the cat used the sands for excretion, that,
portion of the sands for cat toilet in which the cat
excreted could be easily removed. Moreover, the sands for
the cat toilet in this example had water-absorbing and
deodorizing properties and hence, the generation of an
uncomfortable odor in the room could be avoided.
Example 7
49 parts by weight of polyethylene
terephthalate; 1 part by weight of Haimo Sub 500, from
Haimo Company (brand name) and 49 parts by weight upon
*Trade-mark
. -45-
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
75462-3
drying of bentonite powder were placed in a mixer, and
mixed with water to provide a mixture having a water
content of 40% by weight. The mixture was placed into an
extruding zone in the extrusion-type granulating device,
where the mixture was extruded through a die including an
opening having a diameter of 5.5 mm and a plate thickness
of 25 mm, and a resulting material was properly chipped
and granulated. A covering material comprised of a mixture
of 20 parts by weight of a paper powder having a particle
size of 0.4 mm, 10 parts by weight of a highly water-
absorbable resin and 70 parts by weight of bentonite
powder was scattered onto a surface of the granule ~ at a
proportii~n of 20% by weight in the same manner as the
granule. A diluted solution of polyethylene glycol
diluted ten times is sprayed over the mixture covered by
the bentonite powder. The covered granule was dried by
the hot air drying machine, until the water content
reached 13%, thereby providing a granule having an
average diameter of 6 mm and a length of 6 to 15 mm. The
granule had a calorific value of 2,497 kcal/kg upon
drying, a calorific value of 2,088 kcal/kg when the water
content was of 13%, and the grains of the granule were
collected to provide sands for a cat toilet.
In a room, pseudo urine containing 1% of
sodium chloride having a temperature of 35°C was added to
the sands for the cat toilet. The sands could absorb an
amount of water 1 to 1.5 times the entire amount of the
sands.
The sands for the cat toilet were laid at a
thickness of 3 cm in a toilet and used. The cat used the
-46-
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
75462-3
sands as a toilet as usual, and as a result, there was no
hindrance for use.
After the cat used the sands for excretion, that
portion of the sands for cat toilet in which the cat
excreted could be easily removed. Moreover, the sands for
the cat toilet in this example had water-absorbing and
deodorizing properties and hence, the generation of an
uncomfortable odor in the room could be avoided.
Example 8
50 parts by weight (on a dry basis) of a plastic
waste from a paper diaper obtained by pulverization and
classification by screening inedible paper diaper containing
polyethylene, polypropylene, release paper and an elastic
rubber, 47 parts by weight (on a dry basis) of a reburnt-
pulp sludge ash product and 3% by weight of a highly water-
absorbable resin are placed in a mixer, and mixed with water
to provide a mixture having a water content of 40% by weight.
A mixture having a water content of 35.5% by weight, was
placed into an extruding zone in the extrusion-type
granulating device, where the mixture was extruded through a
die including an opening having a diameter of 5.5 mm and a
plate thickness of 25 mm, and a resulting material was
properly chipped and granulated. A covering material
comprised of a mixture of 55 parts by weight of a paper
powder and 45 parts by weight of a highly water-absorbable
resin was uniformly scattered onto a surface of the granule
at a proportion of 13% by weight. The covered granule was
dried by the hot air drying machine, until the water content
reached 13%, thereby providing a granule having an average
diameter of 6 mm and a length of 7 to 10 mm. The granule
had a calorific value of 4,944 kcal/kg upon drying, a
- 47 -
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
75462-3
calorific value of 4,218 kcal/kg when the water content was
of 13%, and the grains of the granule were collected to
provide sands for a cat toilet.
In a room, pseudo urine containing 1% of sodium
chloride having a temperature of 35°C was added to the sands
for the cat toilet. The sands could absorb an amount of
water 1 to 3 times the entire amount of the sands.
The sands for the cat toilet were laid at a
thickness of 3 cm in a toilet and used. The cat used the
sands as a toilet as usual, and as a result, there was no
hindrance for use.
After the cat used the sands for excretion, that
portion of the sands for cat toilet in which the cat
excreted could be easily removed. Moreover, the sands for
the cat toilet in this example had water-absorbing and
deodorizing properties and hence, the generation of an
uncomfortable odor in the room could be avoided.
Example 9
parts by weight upon drying of the plastic
20 waste from a paper diaper in example 3, 60 parts by weight
of used tea leaves with a water content of 65% by weight, 17
parts by weight upon drying of a reburnt-pulp sludge ash
product and 3% by weight of a highly water-absorbable resin
are placed in a mixer, and mixed with water to provide a
mixture having a water content of 39% by weight. A mixture
was placed into an extruding zone in the extrusion-type
granulating device, where the mixture was
- 48 -
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
75462-3
extruded through a die including an opening having a
diameter of 5.5 mm and a plate thickness of 25 mm, and a
resulting material was properly chipped and granulated. A
covering material comprised of a mixture of 50 parts by
weight of a paper powder, 10 parts by weight of a reburnt-
pulp sludge ash product and 40 parts by weight of a highly
water-absorbable resin was uni:fo.rerily,scattered onto at ,
surface of the granule at a proportion of 13% by weight.
The covered granule was dried by the hot air
drying machine, until the water content
reached 13%, thereby providing a granule having an
average diameter of 6 mm and a length of 7 to 10 mm. The
granule had a calorific value of 5,,064 kcal/kg upon
drying, a calorific value of 4,323 kcal/kg when the water
content was of 13%, and the grains of the granule were
collected to provide sands for a cat toilet.
In a room, pseudo urine containing 1% of
sodium chloride having a temperature of 35°~C. was added to
the sands for the cat toilet. The sands could absorb an
amount of water 1 to 3 times the entire amount of the
sands.
The sands for the cat toilet were laid at a
thickness of 3 cm in a toilet and used. The cat used the
sands as a toilet as usual, and as a result, there was no
hindrance for use.
After the cat used the sands for excretion, that
portion of the sands for cat toilet in which the cat
excreted could be easily removed. Moreover, the sands for
the cat toilet in this example had water-absorbing and
deodorizing properties and hence, the generation of an
-49-
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
75462-3
uncomfortable odor in the room could be avoided.
Example 10
37 parts by weight (on a dry basis) of the plastic
waste from a paper diaper in example 3, 37 parts by weight
of used tea leaves with a water content of 65% by weight,
23 parts by weight (on a dry basis) of bentonite and 3% by
weight of a highly water-absorbable resin are placed in a
mixer, and mixed with 36 kg of water to provide a mixture
having a water content of 44% by weight. The mixture was
placed into an extruding zone in the extrusion-type
granulating device, where.the mixture was extruded through
a die including an opening having a diameter of 5.5 mm and
a plate thickness of 25 mm, and a resulting material was
properly chipped and granulated. A covering material
comprised of a mixture of 20 parts by weight of bentonite
powder, 50 parts by weight of a paper powder that have
passed through a screen with an opening of 0.4 mm, and 30
parts by weight of a highly water-absorbable resin was
uniformly scattered onto a surface of the granule at a
proportion of 13% by weight. The covered granule
was dried by the hot air drying machine, until the
water content reached 12%, thereby providing a
granule having an average diameter of 6 mm and a length
of 7 to 10 mm. The granule had a calorific value of
5,667 kcal/kg upon drying, a calorific value of 4,847
kcal/kg when the water content was of 12%, and the grains
of the gz'~ule were collected to provide sands for a cat
toilet.
In a room, pseudo urine containing 1% of
sodium c~oride having a temperature of 35°C was added to
-50-
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
75462-3
the sands for the cat toilet. The sands could absorb an
amount of water 1 to 3 times the entire amount of the
sands.
The sands for the cat toilet were laid at a
thickness of 3 cm in a toilet and used. The cat used the
sands as a toilet as usual, and as a result, there was no ,
hindrance for use.
After the cat used the sands for excretion, that
portion of the sands for cat toilet in which the cat
excreted could be easily removed. Moreover, the sands for
the cat toilet in this example had water-absorbing and
deodorizing properties and hence, the generation of an
uncomfortable odor in the room could be avoided.
Example 11
37 parts by weight (on a dry basis) 4f a PET - bottle
powder, 20 parts by weight (on a dry basis) ~6f a reburnt-pulp
sludge ash product, 40 parts by weight of used tea leaves
with a water content of 65% by weight, 23 parts by weight
(on a dry basis) of bentonite and 3% by weight of a highly
water-absorbable resin are placed in a mixer, and mixed
with water to provide a mixture having a water content of
32% by weight. The mixture was placed into an extruding
zone in the extrusion-type granulating device, where the
mixture was extruded through a die including an opening
having a diameter of 5.5 mm and a p ate thickness of 25
mm, and a resulting material was properly chipped and
granulated. A covering material comprised of a mixture of
25 parts by weight of bentonite powder, 25 parts by weight
of a reburnt-pulp sludge ash product and 50 parts by weight
of a highly water-absorbable resin was uniformly scattered
-51-
CA 02200870 2004-10-21
75462-3
onto a surface of the granule at a proportion of 15% by
weight. The covered granule was dried by
the hot air drying machine, until the water
content reached 12%, thereby providing a granule
having an average diameter of 6 mm and a length
of 7 to 10 mm. The granule had a calorific value of
3,595 kcal/kg upon drying, a calorific value of 3,045
kcal/kg when the water content was of 12%, and the grains
of the granul a were collected to provide sands ~~or ~a cat
toilet.
In a room, pseudo urine containing 1% of
sodium ~,ari~ having a temperature of 35°~C was added to
the sands for the cat toilet. The sands could absorb an
amount of water 1 to 3 times the entire amount of the
sands.
The sands for the cat toilet were laid at a
thickness of 3 cm in a toilet and used. The cat used the
sands as a toilet as usual, and as a result, there was no
hindrance for use.
After the cat used the sands for excretion, that
portion of the sands for cat toilet in which the cat
excreted could be easily removed. Moreover, the sands for
the cat toilet in this example had water-absorbing and
deodorizing properties and hence, the generation of an
uncomfortable odor in the room could be avoided.
These embodiments use a plastic waste powder
such as polyethylene terephthalate and a paper diaper
plastic waste as a starting material, but it is possible
to substitute one part of the polyethylene terephthalate
with another plastic waste. When a wetted plastic waste is
-52-
2200810
used as a starting material, water need not be supplied
from the outside, if the contained water enables
granulation. However, if the amount of the contained water
is larger than required, then it is preferable that the
same type of plastic waste or another type of paper diaper
waste is added in the dehydrated or dried form to adjust
the water content.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
1o The mammalian excrement treating article,
according to the present invention, is a mammalian
excrement treating article with an inorganic compounding
material added to the plastic waste powder, which in
comparison to the conventional mammalian excrement
15 treating article, is suitable for treatment of
incineration, making it possible to produce an inexpensive
mammalian excrement treating article.
Also, according to the present invention, the
mammalian excrement treating article can effectively
20 utilize said plastic waste for treatment of waste as it
is, and, furthermore, can decrease the calorific value of
the high calorific value plastic waste and consequently
the high calorific value waste as it is in the mammalian
excrement treating article, thus it has the function for
25 treating incineration with a less amount of heat. As
compared with the conventional mammalian excrement
treating article, it is easier to treat the waste.
As described above, with the present invention,
as compared with the conventional mammalian excrement
30 treating article, it is possible to solve a problem
-53-
' 220010
concerning the discarding of the plastic waste and a
problem concerning the non-burnability of the
conventionally used mammalian excrement treating article
at one time, and to expel the insects living in the skin
of a mammal or animal. The mammalian excrement treating
article according to the present invention is
significantly useful in respect of an effective
utilization of resources, a reduction in cost for disposal
of the plastic waste powder, an alleviation in dealing
with environmental wastes and the like.
-54-
