Composite Absorbent Particles with Superabsorbent Material

• US 20080022940A1
• Filed: 10/12/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Clorox Company
• Original Assignee: Clorox Company
• Inventors: Fritter, Charles, Kirsch, Bradley, Strack, David, Privitera, Marc, Lestage, David, Jenkins, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US11/871,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20080022940A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/173
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0152 Litter
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0154 comprising inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0155 comprising organic material
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/12 Naturally occurring clays or bleaching earth
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/26 Synthetic macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/2803 Sorbents comprising a binder, e.g. for forming aggregated, agglomerated or granulated products
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3293 Coatings on a core, the core being particle or fiber shaped, e.g. encapsulated particles, coated fibers
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2220/46 Materials comprising a mixture of inorganic and organic materials materials coated or impregnated on a carrier B01J20/32
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2220/68 Superabsorbents

Abstract

Composite particles suitable for use as a clumping animal litter according to one embodiment include an absorbent material, and a superabsorbent polymer coupled to the absorbent material, where a ratio of rates of absorption of the superabsorbent polymer and absorbent material is at least about 1:1. Composite particles suitable for use as a clumping animal litter according to another embodiment include an absorbent material and a superabsorbent polymer coupled to the absorbent material, where the superabsorbent polymer has a greater Jenkins osmotic potential than the absorbent material.

Claims

1. Composite particles suitable for use as a clumping animal litter, comprising:

a liquid-absorbing absorbent material suitable for use as an animal litter; and

a superabsorbent polymer coupled to the absorbent material, wherein a ratio of rates of absorption of the superabsorbent polymer and absorbent material is at least about 1;

1.

2. Composite particles as recited in claim 1, wherein the composite particles tend to clump together in the presence of a liquid

3. Composite particles as recited in claim 1, wherein the absorbent material is sodium bentonite clay.

4. Composite particles as recited in claim 1, further comprising a performance-enhancing active selected from a group consisting of an antimicrobial, an odor reducing material, a binder, a fragrance, a health indicating material, a color altering agent, a dust reducing agent, a nonstick release agent, a superabsorbent material, cyclodextrin, zeolite, activated carbon, a pH altering agent, a salt forming material, a ricinoleate, silica gel, crystalline silica, activated alumina, a clump enhancing agent, a reinforcing fiber material and mixtures thereof.

5. Composite particles as recited in claim 1, further comprising a boron-containing compound.

6. Composite particles as recited in claim 5, wherein the boron-containing compound is present in an antimicrobially effective amount, wherein the boron containing compound is selected from a group consisting of borax pentahydrate, borax decahydrate, boric acid, polyborate, tetraboric acid, sodium metaborate, anhydrous, boron components of polymers, and mixtures thereof.

7. Composite particles as recited in claim 1, wherein a clump of the particles is at least 90% retained according to a clump strength test.

8. Composite particles as recited in claim 1, wherein the superabsorbent polymer has a greater Jenkins osmotic potential than the absorbent material.

9. Composite particles as recited in claim 1, wherein an average particle size of the superabsorbent polymer is smaller than an average particle size of the absorbent material.

10. Composite particles as recited in claim 1, further comprising a humectant coupled to particles of the superabsorbent polymer.

11. Composite particles as recited in claim 1, further comprising a desiccant coupled to particles of the superabsorbent polymer.

12. Composite particles as recited in claim 1, further comprising a deliquescent coupled to particles of the superabsorbent polymer.

13. Composite particles as recited in claim 1, wherein the superabsorbent polymer is substantially homogeneously dispersed throughout at least a portion of the absorbent material.

14. Composite particles as recited in claim 1, wherein the superabsorbent polymer is physically dispersed in pockets in the particle.

15. Composite particles as recited in claim 1, wherein the superabsorbent polymer is physically dispersed in at least one position selected from along surfaces of the particle and contained within pores of the particle.

16. Composite particles as recited in claim 1, wherein the composite particles have been formed by an agglomeration process.

17. Composite particles as recited in claim 1, wherein at least some of the composite particles are hollow.

18. Composite particles as recited in claim 1, wherein at least some of the composite particles naturally form a general bagel shape.

19. Composite particles suitable for use as a clumping animal litter, comprising:

an absorbent material; and

a superabsorbent polymer coupled to the absorbent material, wherein a ratio of rates of absorption of the superabsorbent polymer and absorbent material is at least about 1;

1, wherein the composite particles tend to clump together in the presence of a liquid, wherein an average particle size of the superabsorbent polymer is smaller than an average particle size of the absorbent material.

20. Composite particles suitable for use as a clumping animal litter, comprising:

an absorbent material; and

a superabsorbent polymer coupled to the absorbent material, wherein the superabsorbent polymer has a greater Jenkins osmotic potential than the absorbent material.