Back to results
US 2010/0136336 A1Published application
Method of Agglomeration
AssigneeThe Clorox Company
InventorsChristina Borgese, Marc Privitera, Kristine Tippit, Charles Fritter, Amanda Walker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed herein is an improved pan agglomeration process for forming porous absorbent particles suitable for use as an animal litter. The process eliminates the need for a pre-wetting step, while forming agglomerates that are up to 65% lighter in weight than the raw material feed. In addition, the agglomerates can incorporate performance-enhancing actives, such as odor-controlling carbon.
Claims15
A method for forming porous agglomerated particles comprising:
- (a) providing feed particles less than 5000 microns without pre-wetting the feed particles;
- (b) feeding said feed particles into a pan agglomerator such that the feed particles enter substantially at the back of the pan to significantly reduce dust formation;
- (c) forming a falling curtain comprising growing agglomerate particles, wherein the growing agglomerate particles fall over the entering feed particles;
- (d) providing a uniform distribution of uniformly-sized liquid droplets onto the curtain of feed particles and growing agglomerate particles;
- (e) rotating and tilting the pan such that the liquid droplets are not applied directly to the bed of the pan;
- and
- (f) forming porous agglomerated particles that have a moisture content between 0-75 percent.
4 more elements
A method for forming porous agglomerated absorbent particles suitable for use as an animal litter comprising:
- (a) providing feed particles less than 5000 microns without pre-wetting the feed particles;
- (b) feeding said feed particles into a pan agglomerator such that the feed particles enter substantially at the back of the pan to significantly reduce dust formation, wherein said feed particles comprise an absorbent material suitable for use as an animal litter;
- (c) forming a falling curtain comprising growing agglomerate particles, wherein the growing agglomerate particles fall over the entering feed particles;
- (d) providing a uniform distribution of uniformly-sized liquid droplets onto the curtain of feed particles and growing agglomerate particles;
- (e) rotating and tilting the pan such that the liquid droplets are not applied directly to the bed of the pan;
- and
- (f) forming porous agglomerated absorbent particles suitable for use as an animal litter that have a moisture content between 0-75 percent.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.