Coated clumping litter
View Patent ↗A clumping animal litter is disclosed which includes non-swelling particles and a swelling agent coated on the non-swelling particles. In one embodiment, the non-swelling particles are manufactured by agglomerating clay fines.
1. A method for manufacturing an animal litter composition, the method comprising: agglomerating clay fines and bentonite fines to form an absorbent particle; and coating the absorbent particle with a swelling agent.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the swelling agent comprises bentonite powder.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the absorbent particle has an outer surface and the swelling agent is coated on the outer surface of the absorbent particle.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the clay fines and the bentonite fines are agglomerated in a pin mixer.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein coating the absorbent particle comprises coating the absorbent particle with a bentonite powder and a guar gum powder blend.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein coating the absorbent particle comprises coating the absorbent particle using at least one of a fluidized bed dryer, a semi-continuous centrifugal coater, and a rotary coating and drying system.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the absorbent particle has a size in the range of −10 to +50 mesh.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising drying the coated particle.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein drying the coated particle comprises drying the coated particle to a moisture content from about 5% to about 15%.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein coating the absorbent particle comprises applying a swelling agent in an amount of about 20% to about 40% by weight of a coated particle.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein coating the absorbent particle comprises applying a swelling agent in an amount of about 25% to about 35% by weight of a coated particle.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein the swelling agent comprises bentonite powder.