COMPOSITION FOR PRODUCING CAT LITTER USING COFFEE GROUNDS, CAT LITTER, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING CAT LITTER

Abstract

Proposed are a composition for production of cat litter, cat litter, and a method for production of cat litter, the composition including: 45% to 58% by weight of coffee grounds; 40% to 50% by weight of natural polymer; 0.03% to 3% by weight of polymer gum; and 0.5% to 5% by weight of sodium alginate.

Claims

1. A composition for production of cat litter, the composition comprising: 45% to 58% by weight of coffee grounds; 40% to 50% by weight of natural polymer; 0.03% to 3% by weight of polymer gum; and 0.5% to 5% by weight of sodium alginate.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the natural polymer is at least one selected from the group consisting of gelatin, alginate, and starch.

3. The composition of claim 2, wherein the natural polymer is starch.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polymer gum is at least one selected from the group consisting of sodium polyacrylate, propylene glycol alginate, methyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, calcium carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl starch, guar gum, xanthan gum, gum arabic, gum ghatti, gum locust bean, gum dammar, gum gellan, gum rosin, gum karaya gum copal, gum tara, gum tamarind, and gum tragacanth.

5. The composition of claim 4, wherein the polymer gum is propyleneglycol alginate.

6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the coffee grounds have a moisture content of 10% to 35% by weight.

7. The composition of claim 1, the composition further comprising: 30 to 50 parts by weight of water based on 100 parts by weight of the solid content.

8. The composition of claim 1, wherein the coffee grounds are decaffeinated using microorganisms.

9. The composition of claim 8, the composition further comprising: 30 to 50 parts by weight of water based on 100 parts by weight of the solid content comprising the coffee grounds, the natural polymer, the polymer gum, and the sodium alginate.

10. A cat litter made of the composition of according to claim 1.

11. The cat litter of claim 10, wherein the cat litter has an average diameter of 0.1 to 2 mm.

12. A method for production of a cat litter, the method comprising: (a) mixing a composition for production of cat litter, the composition comprising: 45% to 58% by weight of coffee grounds; 40% to 50% by weight of natural polymer; 0.03% to 3% by weight of polymer gum, and 0.5% to 5% by weight of sodium alginate; (b) granulating the composition by supplying the composition of step (a) to a granulator; and (c) drying the granules produceded in step (b).

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the polymer gum is at least one selected from the group consisting of sodium polyacrylate, propylene glycol alginate, methyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, calcium carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl starch, guar gum, xanthan gum, gum arabic, gum ghatti, gum locust bean, gum dammar, gum gellan, gum rosin, gum karaya, gum copal, gum tara, gum tamarind, and gum tragacanth.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the polymer gum is propyleneglycol alginate.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the coffee grounds in the composition in step (a) have a moisture content of 10% to 35% by weight.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the composition further comprises 30 to 50 parts by weight of water per 100 parts by weight of the solid content thereof.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the coffee grounds are decaffeinated through fermentation by microorganisms.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the composition further comprises 30 to 50 parts by weight of water based on 100 parts by weight of the solid content of the composition comprising the coffee grounds, the natural polymer, the polymer gum, and the sodium alginate.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 is a photograph showing the shape of cat litter according to the starch content of the present disclosure and the state after adding water;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a photograph showing the results of a water absorption test according to the starch content of cat litter of the present disclosure;

[0025] FIG. 3 is a photograph showing the shape and water absorption state of cat litter of the present disclosure; and

[0026] FIG. 4 is a photograph showing another form of cat litter of the present disclosure.

BEST MODE

[0027] Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in detail.

[0028] The present disclosure relates to a composition for production of cat litter, the composition includes: 45% to 58% by weight of coffee grounds; 40% to 50% by weight of natural polymer; 0.03% to 3% by weight of polymer gum; and 0.5% to 5% by weight of sodium alginate.

[0029] The use of the coffee grounds is preferable in terms of resource recycling and the environment because the coffee grounds are obtained from residues discarded after making coffee.

[0030] The coffee grounds may be included in 45 to 58% by weight. When the amount of coffee grounds is less than 45% by weight, it is not preferable because the deodorizing power is reduced, and when the amount of coffee grounds exceeds 58% by weight, the coagulability is weakened while the content of starch is insufficient, so it is not preferable.

[0031] The coffee gonads may have a moisture content of 10% to 35% by weight. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0032] The coffee grounds may be fermented being decaffeinated. The decaffeinated fermentation means microbial fermentation of coffee grounds (refer to Korean Patent No. 10-1801655 for fermentation method). The fermented coffee grounds may have a moisture content of less than 5%.

[0033] As the natural polymer, for example, at least one selected from gelatin, alginate, starch etc., may be used, and in particular, starch may be preferably used.

[0034] When the natural polymer is included in an amount of less than 40% by weight, cat litter is not solidified as one lump, and absorption power is not good when moisture is added, and when the natural polymer is included in an amount of more than 50% by weight, coagulation power is improved, but deodorization power is degraded.

[0035] As the starch, any starch known in the art may be used without limitation. For example, wheat, corn, cassava, rice, potato starch, etc., are mentioned. Starch has different properties, such as viscosity, depending on the raw material. Comparing only the viscosity, wheat<corn<cassava<rice<potato starch has the highest viscosity, and rice has the smallest molecular size. All of the highest viscosities appear at a high temperature of 70 degrees or higher, but there are some types in which the viscosity rapidly decreases when heated above a certain level.

[0036] When the starch is included in an amount of less than 40% by weight, cat litter is not solidified as one lump, and absorption power is not good when moisture is added, and when the natural polymer is included in an amount of more than 50% by weight, coagulation power is improved, but deodorization power is degraded.

[0037] As the polymer gum may use, far example, at least one selected from the group consisting of sodium polyacrylate, propylene glycol alginate, methyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, calcium carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl starch, guar gum, xanthan gum, gum arabic, gum ghatti, gum locust bean, gum dammar, gum gellan, gum rosin, gum karaya, gum copal, gum tara, gum tamarind, and gum tragacanth.

[0038] The composition for production of cat litter may further include 30 to 50 parts by weight of water based on 100 parts by weight of the solid content.

[0039] In addition, the present disclosure

[0040] relates to cat litter made of the composition for production of cat litter.

[0041] The cat litter may have an average diameter of 0.05 to 5 mm, more preferably 0.1 to 2 mm.

[0042] In addition, the present disclosure

[0043] relates to a composition for production of cat litter, the composition includes: (a) mixing a composition for production of cat litter including: 45% to 58% by weight of coffee grounds; 40% to 50% by weight of natural polymer; 0.03% to 3% by weight of polymer gum; and 0.5% to 5% by weight of sodium alginate;

[0044] (b) granulating the mixed composition for production of cat litter by supplying the mixed composition of step (a) to the granulator; and

[0045] (c) drying the granules molded in step (b).

[0046] Since the contents described in the composition for production of cat litter can be applied to all methods for production of cat litter, overlapping contents will be omitted.

[0047] The composition for production of cat litter in step (a) may further include 30 to 50 parts by weight of water based on 100 parts by weight of the solid content.

[0048] The coffee grounds included in the composition for production of cat litter of step (a) may have a moisture content of 10% to 35% by weight.

[0049] The drying in step (c) may be performed using a hot air dryer.

[0050] Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in more detail through examples. However, the following examples are provided to explain the present disclosure in more detail, and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited by the following examples. The following examples can be appropriately modified and changed by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present disclosure.

Example 1: Production of Cat Litter Composition

[0051] 10 kg of a composition for production of cat litter including 5.78 kg of coffee grounds (decaffeinated fermentation) having a water content of 3% by weight, 4 kg of starch, 20 g of propyleneglycol alginate, and 200 g of sodium alginate was produced.

Example 2: Production of Cat Litter Composition

[0052] 10 kg of a composition for production of cat litter including 4.78 kg of coffee grounds having a water content of 10% to 35% by weight, 5 kg of starch, 20 g of propyleneglycol alginate, and 200 g of sodium alginate was produced.

Comparative Example 1: Production of Cat Litter Composition

[0053] 10 kg of a composition for production of cat litter including 7.78 kg of coffee grounds having a water content of 10% to 35% by weight, 2 kg of starch, 20 g of propyleneglycol alginate, and 200 g of sodium alginate was produced.

Comparative Example 2: Production of Cat Litter Composition

[0054] 10 kg of a composition for production of cat litter including 6.78 kg of coffee grounds having a water content of 10% to 35% by weight, 3 kg of starch, 20 g of propyleneglycol alginate, and 200 g of sodium alginate was produced.

Comparative Example 3: Production of Cat Litter Composition

[0055] 10 kg of a composition for production of cat litter including 5 kg of coffee grounds having a water content of 10% to 35% by weight, 1 kg of alpha starch, and 4 kg of beta starch was produced.

Comparative Example 4: Production of Cat Litter Composition

[0056] 10 kg of a composition for production of cat litter including 5 kg of coffee grounds having a water content of 10% to 35% by weight, 1.5 kg of alpha starch, and 3.5 kg of beta starch was produced.

Examples 3 to 4 and Comparative Examples 6 to 9: Production of Cat Litter Composition

[0057] The composition for production of cat litter produced in Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Examples 1 to 4 was evenly mixed with 4 liters of water and mixed without agglomeration and then supplied to a granulator to mold granules having an average particle diameter of 0.5 to 1 mm. Next, the molded granules were dried using a hot air dryer.

Comparative Example 10: Cat Litter

[0058] Cat litter was produced with bentonite and used as a Comparative Example.

Comparative Example 11: Cat Litter

[0059] Cat litter was produced from super absorbent polymer (SAP) and used as a Comparative Example.

Experimental Example 1: Performance Evaluation of Cat Litter

[0060] The performance of the cat litter of Examples 3 and 4 and the cat litter of Comparative Examples 6 to 11 was checked, and the results are shown in Table 1 below.

[0061] (1) Evaluation Method

[0062] Coagulation force: Evaluated based on whether the lumps solidified within 1 minute when 20° C. to 35° C. of moisture has been dropped is dropped from a position of 30 cm or more to maintain its shape.

[0063] Moldability: Evaluated based on whether the shape remains even and constant

[0064] Desertification: Evaluated based on whether the grains of sand are smaller than 1 mm, so the cat gets the grains on its feet can carry the grains outside the cat litter box

[0065] Deodorizing power: Lay sand on a 25 cm.sup.3 cube acrylic board and drop ammonia water (10 times diluted) at 20° C. to 35° C. to smell it and evaluate the deodorizing power.

[0066] Dusting: Evaluated based on whether the sand is broken into small pieces due to weak durability or the occurrence of powder flying due to the small size of the sand.

[0067] Price: Evaluated based on the average price of commercial products

[0068] Absorption: Evaluated based on the rate at which water is absorbed when water at 20° C. to 35° C. is dropped.

[0069] (2) Evaluation Criteria

[0070] ◯ Excellent, Δ Normal, X insufficient

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Comparative Comparative Comparative Comparative Comparative Comparative Cat litter Example 3 Example 4 Example 6 Example 7 Example 8 Example 9 Example 10 Example 11 Composition for Example 1 Example 2 Comparative Comparative Comparative Comparative — — production of cat Preparation Preparation Example 1 Example Example 3 Example 4 litter Preparation Preparation Preparation Preparation Propylene Propylene Propylene Propylene Alpha Alpha Bentonite Super glycol glycol glycol glycol starch starch absorbent alginate alginate alginate alginate (10%) + (15%) + polymer (0.2%) + (0.2%) + (0.2%) + (0.2%) + starch starch (sop) Starch Starch Starch Starch (40%) (35%) (40%) (50%) (20%) (30%) Coagulation power ∘ ∘ x x x x x x Moldability ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Δ ∘ x Desertification Occur Occur Occur Occur Occur Occur Occur Occur Not occur Not occur Not occur Not occur Not occur Not occur Not occur Not occur Deodorizing power ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ Dust blowing Occur Occur Occur Occur Occur Occur Occur Occur Not occur Not occur Not occur Not occur Not occur Not occur Not occur Not occur Price ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ x ∘ Δ Absorption power ∘ ∘ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ ∘

Experimental Example 2: Performance Evaluation of Cat Litter

[0071] For the composition for production of cat litter of Example 1, cat litter was produced using various devices, and the physical properties and characteristics of the produced cat litter were evaluated, and the results are shown in Table 2 below.

[0072] <Evaluation Criteria>

[0073] ◯ Excellent, Δ Normal, X insufficient

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Noodle Double making screw machine Granulator (pellet) Coagulation Δ x ∘ x x power Moldability ∘ ∘ ∘ x ∘ Desertification Not Not Occur Not Not occur occur None occur occur Deodorizing ∘ x ∘ x x power Dust blowing Not Occur Occur Occur Occur occur None Color Brown Dark Grayish Black Dark brown brown brown

[0074] As shown Table 2 above, it was confirmed that cat litter was most preferably produced using a granulator.