# US 12,108,737 B2 · Low density pet litters and methods of making and using such pet litters

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- Number: US 12,108,737 B2
- Document ID: US12108737B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/548,930
- Filed: 2021-12-13
- Published: 2022-06-23
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2020-12-17
- Assignees: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
- Applicants: Société des Produits Nestlé S.A.
- Inventors: Nathan Foster Huck
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12108737B2

## CPC

- A01K 1/0152: {Litter}
- A01K 1/0155: {comprising organic material}
- A01K 1/0154: {comprising inorganic material}
- B01J 20/106: {Perlite}
- B01J 20/2803: {Sorbents comprising a binder, e.g. for forming aggregated, agglomerated or granulated products}
- B01J 20/3021: {Milling, crushing or grinding}
- B01J 20/3042: {Use of binding agents; addition of materials ameliorating the mechanical properties of the produced sorbent}
- B01J 20/3204: {Inorganic carriers, supports or substrates}
- B01J 20/3234: {Inorganic material layers}
- A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS

## Abstract

Litter compositions comprising a blend of compacted granules comprising expanded perlite fines and coated granules, each coated granule comprising a non-agglomerated particle and a coating comprising a clumping agent on an outer surface of the particle are disclosed herein.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An animal litter comprising a blend of:
i) compacted granules comprising expanded perlite fines and
ii) coated granules, each coated granule comprising a non-agglomerated particle and a coating comprising a clumping agent on an outer surface of the non-agglomerated particle, wherein
the compacted granules are present in an amount from about 5 wt. % to about 25 wt. %.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The animal litter of claim 1, wherein the expanded perlite fines have a particle size of about 30 mesh or smaller.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The animal litter of claim 1, wherein the compacted granules further comprise expanded perlite particles having a size of about 8 mesh or larger.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The animal litter of claim 1, wherein the compacted granules have a density from about 25 lb/ft3 to about 45 lb/ft3.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The animal litter of claim 1, wherein the compacted granules further comprise a binder.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The animal litter of claim 5, wherein the binder is selected from the group consisting of (i) a starch, (ii) a clay, and (iii) a starch and a clay.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The animal litter of claim 1, wherein the non-agglomerated particle comprises expanded perlite.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The animal litter of claim 1, wherein the coated granules have a density from about 22 lb/ft3 to about 26 lb/ft3.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The animal litter of claim 1 having a density less than about 30 lb/ft3.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The animal litter of claim 1, wherein dried compacted granules comprise about 1 wt. % to about 5.0 wt. % of water.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The animal litter of claim 1, wherein the clumping agent is selected from the group consisting of bentonite, guar gum, starches, xanthan gum, gum Arabic, gum acacia, silica gel, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The animal litter of claim 11, wherein the clumping agent comprises sodium bentonite.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The animal litter of claim 1, wherein the animal litter has a clump formation absorption volume from about 40% to about 50%.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The animal litter of claim 1, wherein the animal litter has a clump formation absorption volume from about 43% to about 45%.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The animal litter of claim 1, wherein the animal litter has a clump volume from about 50 mL to about 60 mL.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The animal litter of claim 1, wherein the animal litter has a clump volume from about 55 mL to about 59 mL.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The animal litter of claim 1, wherein the animal litter has a clump thickness from about 29 mm to about 34 mm.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The animal litter of claim 1, further comprising an additive selected from the group consisting of an odor control agent, a fragrance, an anti-microbial agent, an anti-sticking agent, an agent for controlling pH, a dye, a coloring agent, a de-dusting agent, a disinfectant, and combinations thereof.