Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Lightweight Animal Litter
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
An animal litter composition is presented that is lightweight and cost
effective while
preserving superior clumping properties
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Animal litters are typically kept in boxes for the purposes of collecting and
disposing of
urine and feces of domestic animals. Materials as rudimentary as sand have
been used
as an animal litter. Early versions of commercial animal litter included clay.
Clay litter is
.. much more absorbent than sand, and its larger grain makes it less likely to
be tracked
from the litter box. Non-clumping animal litters are made of materials such as
zeolite,
diatomite and sepiolite.
Clumping animal litter is the most used animal litter product on the market.
It has the
advantage that the entire litter box doesn't need to be emptied after use, as
the wetted
area agglomerates and can easily be separated from the rest of the litter. The
majority
of these types of litters utilize sodium bentonite, a swelling clay known to
absorb up to
ten times its own weight in water. Due to the diminishing availability of good
quality
sodium bentonite, the cost has dramatically increased. Therefore, in order to
make this
form of litter more cost effective it is highly desirable to replace a
significant portion of
the sodium bentonite with another lower cost material.
Limestone is a good option as it is readily available and abundant. However,
limestone
is non-swelling, and therefore it can only replace a small amount of the
sodium
bentonite in order for the litter to maintain its excellent clumping
properties. Another
component is therefore required in order to provide a lightweight and cost
effective
animal litter composition that maintains excellent clumping strength.
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There is therefore a need for a lightweight and cost effective animal litter
that has
superior clumping properties.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An animal litter composition is provided that includes an absorbent clumping
clay and a
non-swelling ground mineral that acts as an aerator preferably in the form of
a course
ground material. The composition includes a lightweight fibrous material such
as wood
particles.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a light weight
animal litter
composition comprising an absorbent clumping clay, a non-swelling ground
mineral;
and an absorbent organic fiber.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a light weight
animal
litter composition comprising from about 50% by weight to about 90% by weight
of
sodium bentonite; from about 5% to about 75% by weight of limestone; from
about
5% to about 50% by weight of wood particles; from about 0.1% to about 2% by
weight of mineral oil; from about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of sodium
alginate;
from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of bacterial enzyme; and from about
0.1% to
about 10% by weight of baking soda.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention is a light weight animal litter composition that forms
clumps upon
wetting from waste material by the animal. The animal litter composition
comprises an
absorbent clumping clay, a non-swelling ground mineral and organic fibers.
Preferably,
the composition includes an antibacterial, pH neutralizer, deodorizer and an
organic
clumping agent distributed over the individual particles of the composition,
preferably in
an oleaginous vehicle such as mineral oil. The wetted animal litter
composition
simultaneously agglomerates into a sufficiently large and stable mass
therefore
permitting physical separation and removal of the wetted mass of particles
from
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unwetted particles of the composition. Removing the wetted agglomerated
composition
particles from the remaining unwetted composition reduces or eliminates
offensive
odors produced by dross soaked particles.
The composition includes an absorbent clumping clay. This can also be referred
to as a
particulate swelling clay. The absorbent clumping clay is preferably sodium
bentonite.
Other acceptable absorbent clumping clays include calcium bentonite, Fuller's
Earth and
montmorillonite (non clumping). Other clays that form clumps when contacted
with
water may be used as an absorbent clumping clay for the purposes of the
present
invention.
The absorbent clumping clay is present in the composition in an amount of
about 50%
by weight to about 90% by weight of the composition. The preferred content of
the
absorbent clumping clay is about 65% by weight of the composition.
The light weight animal litter composition of the present invention includes a
course
non-swelling ground mineral that functions as an aerator in increasing the
porosity of
the blended ingredients of the composition. The preferred course non-swelling
ground
mineral is limestone. The limestone particles increase the physical
granulometry of the
composition by forming a pathway or tunnels throughout the composition. The
pathway
created enables urine to flow through the composition in order to come into
contact
with unwetted absorbent clumping clay. This has the effect of maximizing the
surface
area of absorbent clumping clay that is available for contact with the urine
and resultant
clumping.
Dolomite can also be used as the non-swelling ground mineral for the purposes
of the
present invention. Other acceptable non-swelling ground minerals for the
purposes of
the present invention include carbon, graphite and gravel.
The non-swelling ground mineral is present in the composition in an amount of
about
5% by weight to about 75% by weight of the composition. The preferred content
of the
non-swelling ground mineral is about 25% by weight of the composition.
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The light weight animal litter composition of the present invention further
includes
absorbent organic fibers in the form of wood particles. The wood particles are
preferably pine, cedar or a combination thereof. Other light weight organic
fiber wood
particles are also suitable for the present invention. These may include soft
wood,
cedar, pine, spruce, fir, balsam, aspen, locust, bearcone. The wood particles
provide
lightweight bulk to the composition and would typically have the consistency
of a saw
dust. The wood particles become compact when blended with the absorbent
clumping
clay.
The wood fibers are present in the composition in an amount of about 5% by
weight to
about 50% by weight of the composition. The preferred content of the wood
fibers is
about 10% by weight of the composition.
The absorbent clumping clay, non-swelling ground mineral and wood particles
are each
present in the animal litter composition in the form of particles. A preferred
embodiment of the animal litter composition includes sodium bentonite,
limestone and
wood particles. Table 1 sets out the preferred physical properties of the
particles
including ideal size distribution, density and moisture levels.
Table 1
Ingredient +10 +40 +50 +70 Pan Density Moisture
USMesh USMesh USMesh USMesh
2.00mm 425 p.m 300p.m 212 um (lbs/ ft3) (%)
0.0787" 0.0165" 0.0117" 0.0033"
Sodium
<20.0% >98.5% <1.5% <0.5% <0.2% 60-64 8-12%
Bentonite
Wood
<10.0% >85.0% <5.0% <2.0% <2.0% 5-10 4-15%
Particles
Limestone <5.0% >90.0% - <2.0% <1. 0% 80-90 8-12%
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The animal litter composition preferably includes an oleaginous vehicle such
as mineral
oil. The mineral oil acts as a de-dusting agent and helps to keep the
particles in
adhesion. The mineral oil is preferably present in amount of about 1% by
weight of the
composition.
The animal litter composition preferably further includes an additional
clumping agent
to improve the clumping qualities of the composition. Preferred additional
clumping
agents are carbohydrates. These include sodium alginate, corn starch, xanthan
gum,
tapioca starch and wheat starch.
The additional clumping agent is present in the composition in an amount of
about
0.1% by weight to about 20% by weight of the composition. The preferred
content of
the additional clumping agent is about 1-3% by weight of the composition.
The composition preferably includes a bacterial enzyme that catalyzes the
destruction of
the cell membranes of bacteria thereby destroying bacteria present in the
composition.
This has the result of reducing the amount of bacteria in the composition and
the
resultant odor caused thereby. The bacterial enzyme is present in an amount of
about
0.1% by weight to about 10% by weight of the composition. The preferred
content of
the bacterial enzyme is about 0.5% by weight of the composition.
The composition preferably includes a pH neutralizer that acts as a buffer to
maintain
the pH of the composition that avoids the formation of ammonia from urine
which
forms at higher pH levels producing unpleasant smells. The preferred pH
neutralizer is
baking soda. However, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that other
pH
neutralizers can be used. The pH neutralizer is present in an amount of about
0.1% by
weight to about 10% by weight of the composition. The preferred content of the
pH
neutralizer is about 0.5% by weight of the composition.
The composition further preferably includes a deodorizer. The deodorizer can
be cedar
scent for example or essential oils. Preferred deodorizers include cedar scent
and are
present in an amount of about 0.001% by weight to about 10% by weight of the
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composition. The preferred content of the pH neutralizer is about 0.05% by
weight of
the composition.
A preferred animal litter formulation of the present invention is set out in
Table 2:
Table 2
Ingredient Inclusion (%w/w)
Sodium Bentonite 67.23%
Limestone 20.00%
Wood Particles 10.00%
Mineral Oil 1.00%
Sodium Alginate 1.00%
Bacterial Enzyme 0.20%
Baking Soda 0.50%
Scent 0.07%
The components of the animal litter formulation are blended together to form
the
composition. After blending the composition is preferably granular.
In processing the components of the animal litter formulation, the sodium
bentonite is
transported via conveyor belt; limestone is dispensed onto the conveyor belt
at a speed
that would deliver the required inclusion rate (w/w basis); wood particles,
baking soda
and other dry ingredients are dispensed in the same manner. The liquid
ingredients are
dispensed by pumping the liquid through hoses and nozzles to deliver the
required rate
of inclusion.
Example 1: Physical Properties of Lighweight Clumping Cat Litter Formulation
The physical properties of the preferred animal litter formulation set out in
Table 2 were
determined as follows.
MATERIALS:
1. Lightweight Clumping Scoop Litter
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2. Container
3. Saline Solution (0.9%)
4. Ammonia Solution (10%)
5. Syringe
PROCEDURE:
1. Absorbance Procedure
2. Clump Strength Procedure
3. Odour Control
4. Airborne Dust Procedure
RESULTS:
1. Absorbance 231%
Absorbance Calculation:
= (Final Weight ¨ Initial Weight) X 100%
Initial Weight
2. Clump Strength 98.7%
Clump Strength Calculation:
= ifinal Weight ¨ Initial Weight) X 100%
Initial Weight
3. Clump Size: A Without Aerator 6.3mm x
4.7mm x 2.6mm
(Ixwxh) B With Aerator 6.1mm x 5.9mm x 4.5mm
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4. Odour Control: Without Baking Soda 5 (1-10, 1 being strong and
10
being week odour)
With Baking Soda 8 (1-10, 1 being strong and 10 being week odour)
5. Airborne Dust: Without Mineral Oil 7 seconds dust
With Mineral Oil 4 seconds dust
CONCLUSION:
Absorbance: Lightweight formulation has the ability to absorb liquid
greater than
200%.
Clump Strength: Lightweight formulation has the ability to produce a
strong intact
clump comparable to 100% pure sodium bentonite.
Clump Size: Lightweight formulation has the ability to produce a
strong intact
clump comparable to 100% pure sodium bentonite when the limestone (10/50) is
added.
Odour Control: Lightweight formulation has the ability to control odour.
Airborne Dust: Lightweight formulation when mixed with mineral oil
has
very little airborne dust.
It will be appreciated that a person skilled in the art can make various
changes and
modifications to the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.
As such,
these changes and modifications are within the scope of the present invention.
The
scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set
forth in the
preferred embodiments, but should be given the broadest interpretation
consistent with
the description as a whole.
