Method of making agglomerated cellulosic particles using a substantially horizontal rotating drum

• US 4,560,527 A
• Filed: 04/24/1984
• Issued: 12/24/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kadant Fibergen, Inc. (Kadant Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
• Inventors: Johnson, Russell L., Harke, Elwood W., Sokolowski, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): SILBAUGH, JAN H
• Application Number:
  US06/603,391
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 264/117, 264/15, 264/500, 162/9, 162/231, 162/DIG. 9, 119/1
• US Class Current: 264/500
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0155 comprising organic material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 162/09 Uses for paper making sludge

Abstract

A method of making agglomerated cellulosic particles, particularly useful as a cat litter, comprises agglomerating a moist blend of fibers, aggregates of fibers, and/or fiber-sized pieces of a fibrous cellulosic material in a substantially horizontal rotating drum to form agglomerated particles; compacting surfaces of the particles; and drying the particles.

Claims

1. A method for making cellulosic particles comprising:

(a) agglomerating a moist blend of fibers, aggregates of fibers, and/or fiber-sized pieces of a fibrous cellulosic material in a substantially horizontal rotating drum to form individual agglomerated particles;

(b) compacting the surface of the agglomerated particles to form a densified skin substantially free of protruding fibrils; and

(c) drying the agglomerated particles.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the surfaces of the agglomerated particles are compacted by bouncing and rolling the agglomerated particles in a fluidized bed dryer provided with upwardly flowing air.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the surfaces of the agglomerated particles are compacted by rolling the particles in a second substantially horizontal rotating drum.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the surface-compacted agglomerated particles are formed into platelets prior to being dried.

5. A method for making cellulosic particles comprising:

(a) agglomerating a moist blend of fibers, aggregates of fibers, and/or fiber-sized pieces of a fibrous cellulosic material in a substantially horizontal rotating drum to form individual agglomerated particles, said moist blend having from about 75 to about 85 weight percent moisture;

(b) compacting the surface of the agglomerated particles;

(c)partially drying the surface-compacted particles to from about 30 to about 50 weight percent moisture;

(d) forming the partially-dried particles into platelets; and

(e) drying the particles to a moisture content of about 10 weight percent or less.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the surfaces of the agglomerated particles are compacted in a second substantially horizontal rotating drum.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the surface-compacted particles are partially dried in a fluidized bed dryer.

8. The process of claim 7 wherein the partially dried particles are deposited on a moving belt and flattened in a nip between the moving belt and a press roll.

9. The process of claim 8 wherein the flattened particles are dried in a fluidized bed dryer to a moisture content of about 5 weight percent.

10. The process of claim 9 wherein the fibrous cellulosic material is selected from the group consisting of wastepaper, paper mill sludge, and combinations thereof.