Absorbent compositions, methods of forming the same, and animal litter prepared with such compositions
AssigneeU.S. Silica Company
InventorsQun Wang, Jonas Reid Pearce, David Reyes, Tim Meredith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An absorbent composition includes composite granules formed from at least diatomaceous earth and sodium bentonite. The diatomaceous earth can include greater than 50 weight % of the composition, based on the total weight of the composition, and a weight ratio of the diatomaceous earth to the sodium bentonite can be within a range of from 51:49 to 95:5. The individual particles of diatomaceous earth composed of the composite granules have a d90 particle size of 500 μm or smaller and the individual particles of sodium bentonite composed of the composite granules have a d90 particle size of 250 μm or smaller.
Claims21
An absorbent composition comprising:
- composite granules comprising diatomaceous earth and sodium bentonite,
- wherein the diatomaceous earth comprises greater than 50 weight % of the composition, based on the total weight of the composition, and a weight ratio of the diatomaceous earth to the sodium bentonite is within a range of from 51:49 to 95:5, and
- wherein the individual particles of diatomaceous earth composed of the composite granules have a d90 particle size of 500 μm or smaller and the individual particles of sodium bentonite composed of the composite granules have a d90 particle size of 250 μm or smaller.
A method of forming an absorbent composition, the method comprising:
- mixing diatomaceous earth and sodium bentonite to form a mixture;
- spraying the mixture with water to form wet granules;
- drying the wet granules;
- and
- crushing and sieving the dried granules to obtain composite granules comprising the diatomaceous earth and the sodium bentonite having desired granular sizes,
- wherein the diatomaceous earth comprises greater than 50 weight % of the composition, based on the total weight of the composition, and a weight ratio of the diatomaceous earth to the sodium bentonite is within a range of from 51:49 to 95:5, and
- wherein the individual particles of diatomaceous earth composed of the composite granules have a d90 particle size of 500 μm or smaller and the individual particles of sodium bentonite composed of the composite granules have a doo particle size of 250 μm or smaller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.