Clumping animal litter and method thereof
A clumpable animal litter comprises composite particles of filler materials, such as limestone and sand, and sodium bentonite. The filler materials have a lower bulk density as compared to a granular mixture of the same percentage of filler and sodium bentonite clay and contain up to eighty-five percent less clay.
1. A method of making a clumping animal litter comprising:
a) forming composite particles by an agglomeration process, wherein the composite particles are comprised of a filler material and sodium bentonite, wherein the filler material comprises from about 50% to about 80% by weight of the composite particles and wherein the sodium bentonite comprises from about 20% to about 50% by weight of the composite particles; and
b) combining the composite particles with granular clay particles or other litter additives.
2. The method of making an animal litter recited in claim 1 , wherein the animal litter has a clump strength of at least 90% as measured by the Clump Strength Test Method.
3. The method of making an animal litter recited in claim 1 , wherein the composite particles are combined with at least one of granular sodium bentonite or a binder.
4. The method of making an animal litter recited in claim 3 , wherein the composite particles are combined with granular sodium bentonite.
5. The method of making an animal litter recited in claim 1 , wherein the composite particles further comprise powdered activated carbon.
6. The method of making an animal litter recited in claim 1 , wherein the filler material comprises at least one of limestone, dolomite, calcite, calcium carbonates, sand, shale, gravel, or slate.
7. The method of making an animal litter recited in claim 6 , wherein the filler material is limestone.
8. The method of making an animal litter recited in claim 1 , wherein the composite particles have a bulk density greater than 60 lb/ft 3 .
9. The method of making an animal litter recited in claim 1 , wherein the composite particles have a mean particle size from about 0.4 mm to about 2 mm.
10. The method of making an animal litter recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
(i) the filler material has a mean particle size of 0.5 mm or less; or
(ii) the sodium bentonite has a mean particle size of 0.25 mm or less.
11. The method of making an animal litter recited in claim 1 , wherein the composite particles comprise at least about 2% by weight of the animal litter.