Biodegradable waste pad or litter including nutrients for promoting microbial populations
View Patent ↗A waste absorbent material for the treatment of animal waste is provided which may comprise a non-woven pad or litter granules which include micronutrients which may stimulate specific microorganisms and reduce the gases produced by the aerobic and/or anaerobic decomposition of organic matter. The non-woven pad and/or litter may also comprise biodegradable fibers or biodegradable particulate and the micronutrients may be uniformly distributed over the pad surface or within the particulate and be incorporated at a selected thickness.
1. An odor adsorbing pad for collecting animal waste, comprising fibers coated or impregnated with micronutrients at a level of between about 0.1% to about 25% by weight, wherein said micronutrients are configured to promote the growth of bacteria that are capable of metabolizing waste by aerobic respiration and/or anaerobic respiration wherein said pad has a thickness and a surface for receipt of animal waste, wherein said micronutrients are uniformly distributed across said surface and at a thickness of about 1.0%-25.0% of said pad thickness.
2. The odor absorbing pad of claim 1 wherein said fibers comprise a polymeric fiber capable of hydrolysis or ultraviolet degradation.
3. The odor absorbing pad of claim 1 including activated charcoal at a level of about 0.1-10 percent by weight.
4. The odor absorbing pad of claim 1 wherein said pad includes a fragrance at a level of about 0.1-5.0 percent by weight.
5. The odor absorbing pad of claim 1 wherein said pad includes a polymeric backing liner configured to control leakage or flow-through of fluids.
6. The odor absorbing pad of claim 1 wherein said micronutrients comprise one or more of an inorganic salt and one or more of a trace metal.
7. The odor absorbing pad of claim 6 wherein said inorganic salts-comprise one or more of ferric chloride, ferrous chloride, calcium chloride, ammonium chloride, nickel chloride, copper sulfate, cobalt chloride or zinc sulfate.
8. The odor absorbing pad of claim 6 wherein said trace metal comprises one or more of iron, magnesium, calcium, copper, zinc, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, selenium or tungsten.
9. An odor adsorbing pad for collecting animal waste, comprising non-woven biodegradable fibers wherein said fibers are coated or impregnated with micronutrients containing one or more inorganic salts and one or more trace metals, said micronutrients present at a level of between about 0.1% to about 25% by weight, wherein said micronutrients are configured to promote the growth of bacteria that are capable of metabolizing waste by aerobic respiration and/or anaerobic respiration;
wherein said pad has a thickness and a surface for receipt of animal waste, wherein said micronutrients are uniformly distributed across said surface and at a thickness of about 1-25% of said pad thickness.
10. The odor absorbing pad of claim 9 wherein said fibers comprise a polymeric fiber capable of hydrolysis or ultraviolet degradation.
11. The odor absorbing pad of claim 9 wherein said fibers comprise one or more of a polysaccharide, a protein and a polyester.
12. The odor absorbing pad of claim 9 wherein said fibers comprise one or more of a polyalkylene esters, polylactic acid and its copolymers, polyamide esters, polyvinyl alcohol and/or a polyanhyrdride.
13. The odor absorbing pad of claim 9 wherein said one or more inorganic salts comprise one or more of ferric chloride, ferrous chloride, calcium chloride, ammonium chloride, nickel chloride, copper sulfate, cobalt chloride or zinc sulfate.
14. The odor absorbing pad of claim 9 wherein said one or more trace metal comprises one or more of iron, magnesium, calcium, copper, zinc, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, selenium or tungsten.
15. The odor absorbing pad of claim 9 including activated charcoal at a level of about 0.1-10 percent by weight.
16. A method for controlling odor caused by the decomposition of animal waste comprising:
supplying a substrate material having a surface and thickness;
incorporating micronutrients into said substrate material, said micronutrients configured to promote the growth of bacteria wherein said bacteria are capable of metabolizing waste by aerobic respiration and/or anaerobic respiration;
packaging said substrate material to preserve said micronutrients; wherein said micronutrients are uniformly distributed across said pad surface and are present at a selected thickness in said substrate material wherein said pad has a thickness and a surface for receipt of animal waste, wherein said micronutrients are uniformly distributed across said surface and at a thickness of about 1.0%-25.0% of said pad thickness.
17. An odor adsorbing litter for collecting animal waste, comprising particulate coated or impregnated with micronutrients at a level of between about 0.1% to about 25% by weight, wherein said micronutrients are configured to promote the growth of bacteria that are capable of metabolizing waste by aerobic respiration and/or anaerobic respiration wherein said particulate has a diameter and a surface for receipt of animal waste, wherein said micronutrients are uniformly distributed across said surface and at a thickness of about 1.0%-25.0% of said particulate diameter.
18. The litter of claim 17 , wherein said particulate has a diameter and a surface for receipt of animal waste, wherein said micronutrients are impregnated at a thickness of about 1.0%-25.0% of said particle diameter.
19. The litter of claim 17 wherein said micronutrients comprise one or more of an inorganic salt and a trace metal.