Clumping, non-dusting calcium carbonate-based animal litter
A particulate, free flowing but clumpable animal litter composition is composed of discrete, non-swelling, non-absorptive, calcium carbonate particles, and a fluid retention and clumping agent of at least one water-soluble polysaccharide. A non-toxic, biodegradable mineral oil can be used to partially coat the calcium carbonate particles.
1 . A particulate, free flowing but clumpable animal litter composition comprising discrete, non-swelling, non-absorptive, calcium carbonate particles and a fluid retention and clumping agent of at least one water-soluble polysaccharide.
2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the calcium carbonate particles are derived from crushed marble.
3 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the calcium carbonate particles are present with a lower limit amount of 50 wt % based on the total weight of the composition.
4 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the calcium carbonate particles are present with a lower limit amount of 70 wt % based on the total weight of the composition.
5 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the calcium carbonate particles are present with an upper limit amount of 99 wt % based on the total weight of the composition.
6 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the calcium carbonate particles are present with an upper limit amount of 95 wt % based on the total weight of the composition.
7 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the calcium carbonate particles have particle sizes in the range of about 4 to 60 mesh, based on U.S. sieve series.
8 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein a nontoxic, biodegradable enrobing agent is further present.
9 . The composition of claim 8 , wherein the enrobing agent is selected from the group consisting of light mineral oil, sorbitol, glycerin, polyethylene glycol, and mixtures thereof.
10 . The composition of claim 8 , wherein the enrobing agent is light mineral oil.
11 . The composition of claim 8 , wherein the lower limit amount of the nontoxic, biodegradable enrobing agent is 0.1 wt %.
12 . The composition of claim 8 , wherein the lower limit amount of the nontoxic, biodegradable enrobing agent is 0.2 wt %.
13 . The composition of claim 8 , wherein the upper limit amount of the nontoxic, biodegradable enrobing agent is 2.0 wt %.
14 . The composition of claim 8 , wherein the upper limit amount of the nontoxic, biodegradable enrobing agent is 1.0 wt %.
15 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of methylcellulose (MC), MC derivatives, guar gum, guar gum derivatives, and mixtures thereof.
16 . The composition of claim 15 , wherein the MC derivatives are selected from the group consisting of methylhydroxyethylcellulose (MHEC) and methylhydroxypropylcellulose (MHPC).
17 . The composition of claim 15 , wherein a secondary polysaccharide is further present selected from the group consisting of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), ethylhydroxyethylcellulose (EHEC), hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), carrageenan, xanthan gum, alginate, and mixtures thereof.
18 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble polysaccharide is present in a lower limit amount of 0.5 wt %.
19 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble polysaccharide is present in a lower limit amount of 1.0 wt %.
20 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble polysaccharide is present in an upper limit amount of 4.0 wt %.
21 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble polysaccharide is present in an upper limit amount of 1.5 wt %.
22 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises 10 to 20 wt % of a light weight filler.
23 . The composition of claim 22 wherein the light weight filler is selected from the group consisting of pelletized corn cob biomass, rice hulls, peanut hulls, alfalfa, cedar sawdust, and mixtures thereof.
24 . A method for preparing a free flowing particulate animal litter composition that clumps upon contact with an aqueous liquid comprising
a). providing coarse, non-swelling, non-absorptive calcium carbonate particles,
b) adding a sufficient amount of a water retention and clumping agent of at least one water-soluble polysaccharide to the calcium carbonate particles to form a mixture, and
c) blending the mixture to the desired uniformity to form the composition.
25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the calcium carbonate particles are derived from crushed marble.
26 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the calcium carbonate particles are present with a lower limit amount of 50 wt % based on the total weight of the composition.
27 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the calcium carbonate particles are present with a lower limit amount of 70 wt % based on the total weight of the composition.
28 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the calcium carbonate particles are present with an upper limit amount of 99 wt % based on the total weight of the composition.
29 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the calcium carbonate particles are present with an upper limit amount of 95 wt % based on the total weight of the composition.
30 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the calcium carbonate particles have particle sizes in the range of about 4 to 60 mesh, based on U.S. sieve series.
31 . The method of claim 24 , further comprising distributing substantially uniformly a sufficient amount of a nontoxic, biodegradable enrobing agent over the calcium carbonate particles.
32 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the water-retention and clumping agent and enrobing agent is first made into a suspension and then distributed substantially uniformly over the calcium carbonate particles.
33 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the enrobing agent is first distributed over the calcium carbonate particles before the water-retention and clumping agent is added to the calcium carbonate particles.
34 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the nontoxic, biodegradable enrobing agent is selected from the group consisting of light mineral oil, sorbitol, glycerin, polyethylene glycol, and mixtures thereof.
35 . The method of claim 34 , wherein the enrobing agent is light mineral oil.
36 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the water-retention and clumping agent is selected from the group consisting of methylcellulose (MC), MC derivatives, guar gum, guar gum derivatives, and mixtures thereof.
37 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the MC derivatives are selected from the group consisting of methylhydroxyethylcellulose (MHEC) methylhydroxypropylcellulose (MHPC), and mixtures thereof.
38 . The method of claim 36 , wherein a secondary polysaccharide is further present selected from the group consisting of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), ethylhydroxyethylcellulose (EHEC), hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), carrageenan, xanthan gum, alginate, and mixtures thereof.
39 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the sufficient amount of the water retention and clumping agent has a lower limit of 0.5 wt %.
40 . The method of claim 24 . wherein the sufficient amount of the water retention and clumping agent has a lower limit of 1.0 wt %.
41 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the sufficient amount of the water retention and clumping agent has an upper limit of 4.0 wt %.
42 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the sufficient amount of the water retention and clumping agent has an upper limit of 1.5 wt %.
43 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the sufficient amount of the enrobing agent has a lower limit of 0.1 wt %.
44 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the sufficient amount of the enrobing agent has a lower limit of 0.2 wt %.
45 . The method of claim 31 . wherein the sufficient amount of the enrobing agent has an upper limit of 2.0 wt %.
46 . The method of claim 31 . wherein the sufficient amount of the enrobing agent has an upper limit of 1.0 wt %.
47 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the composition further comprises 10 to 20 wt % of a light weight filler.
48 . The method of claim 47 , wherein the light weight filler is selected from the group consisting of pelletized corn cob biomass, rice hulls, peanut hulls, alfalfa, cedar sawdust, and mixtures thereof.