Lightweight clumping animal litter and method thereof

摘要

Animal litter having up to a sixty percent reduction in bulk density can be produced by combining flat-shaped cellulosic materials and sodium bentonite clay. Not only is the resulting litter lighter, but it also maintains a high clump strength as compared to clay-based animal litters that contain greater than ninety percent by weight sodium bentonite clay.

主权项

1. An animal litter comprising a dry blend of:
(i) composite particles comprising
(a) a flat-shaped cellulosic material component having a mean particle size ranging from 0.2-3 mm and having an aspect ratio of at least 2;(b) a powdered sodium bentonite component having a mean particle size less than 0.25 mm, wherein the ratio of cellulosic material to sodium bentonite ranges from 1:4 to 4:1 and wherein the mean particle size of the composite particles ranges from 0.4-4 mm;(c) optionally a spacer material, and(d) optionally a binder; (ii) granular sodium bentonite having a mean particle size in the range of 0.4-2 mm; (iii) optionally granular calcium bentonite having a mean particle size in the range of 0.4-2 mm; and (iv) at least 0.2% by weight powdered kaolinite having a particle size less than 0.25 mm; and wherein the animal litter has a clump strength of at least 80% and is substantially free of a static charge.