Sorbent composition with polysaccharide clumping agent and boron-based cross-linking agent

• US 5,762,023 A
• Filed: 11/15/1996
• Issued: 06/09/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alterlink, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alterlink, Inc.
• Inventors: Carter, Walter H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swiatek, Robert P.
• Application Number:
  US08/749,405
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 119/171, 119/173
• 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

Abstract

A sorbent litter composition comprising a dry mix of a particulate earth substrate, polysaccharide in an amount sufficient to improve the inherent clumping ability of the particulate earth substrate upon contact with liquid, and at least one boron-based cross-linking agent in an amount substantially less than the polysaccharide. The invention further comprises a method for preparation of a sorbent litter composition.

Claims

1. A substantially dry sorbent litter composition consisting essentially of a dry mix of a particulate earth substrate, a polysaccharide in an amount sufficient to improve the inherent clumping ability of the particulate earth substrate upon contact with liquid, and at least one boron-based cross-linking agent in an amount in the range of from about 0.01 to about 0.5% by weight based on the weight of the composition.

2. The sorbent litter composition of claim 1 wherein said polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of galactomannan gums.

3. The sorbent litter composition of claim 1 wherein said polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of guar gum, xanthan gum, locust bean gum, and ether derivatives thereof.

4. The sorbent litter composition of claim 3 comprising from about 0.08% to about 9% of said guar gum.

5. The sorbent litter composition of claim 3 comprising from about 0.2% to about 2% of said guar gum.

6. The sorbent litter composition of claim 3 comprising about 1.3% of said guar gum.

7. The sorbent litter composition of claim 1 wherein said polysaccharide is guar gum.

8. The sorbent litter composition of claim 1 wherein said at least one boron-based cross-linking agent is a borate compound.

9. The sorbent litter composition of claim 1 wherein said at least one boron-based cross-linking agent is selected from the group consisting of borates, perborates and metaborates.

10. The sorbent litter composition of claim 1 wherein said at least one boron-based cross-linking agent is borax.

11. The sorbent litter composition of claim 10 comprising from about 0.015% to about 0.5% of borax.

12. The sorbent litter composition of claim 10 comprising from about 0.03% to about 0.3% of borax.

13. The sorbent litter composition of claim 10 comprising about 0.2% of borax.