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.

Abstract: A system and method for treating or processing granular absorbent while the granular absorbent is being transported in a fluid stream that preferably is a stream of air. The system includes a pneumatic conveyor with a conduit that draws pellets exiting an extruder into the conduit drying the pellets as they are transported through the conduit. Material can be introduced that dries, coats or otherwise treats the pellets while the pellets are transported through the conduit. Coating material, e.g., powdered bentonite can coat and also dry pellets during transport. A conduit can have inner pellet treating surface that abrades pellets transported through the conduit producing smaller fines that can be packaged with pellets forming a granular absorbent product that forms clumps on top that extend generally horizontally.

Abstract: A water absorption treatment material includes a first grain and a second grain that absorb a liquid. The first grain includes a first core portion and a first coating portion. The first core portion has a grain-like shape. The first coating portion contains an adhesive material, and entirely covers the first core portion. The second grain includes a second core portion and a second coating portion. The second core portion has a grain-like shape. The second coating portion contains an adhesive material, and partially covers the second core portion.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and storage media for dynamically identifying visual media capture formats based upon at least one of capture device, resultant visual medium, and/or application-supported conditions are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may: query a visual media capture device for at least a portion of the device-supported visual media capture formats; receive information regarding one or more capture device, resultant visual medium, and/or application-supported conditions relevant to capture of a resultant visual medium; execute an ordered plurality of rules to dynamically identify one or more device-supported visual media capture formats of the device-supported visual media capture formats that is configured to optimize the resultant visual medium; and cause the visual media capture device to initiate capture of the resultant visual medium using one of the identified device-supported visual media capture formats.

Abstract: Compacting expanded perlite fines in the presence of a clay and water, followed by drying, produces particles with low density, good integrity, and surprisingly higher absorption by volume than non-compacted expanded perlite or non-swelling clay. Furthermore, addition of a clumping agent to the compacted granules results in a clumping litter with low density, good integrity and comparable clumping ability to traditional clay clumping litter.

Abstract: Litter formed of extruded pellets containing water soluble binder sufficient to self-clump when wetted producing pellet clumps having a clump retention rate of at least 90% and which shrink after clump formation during drying producing a clump pulls away from any contacting solid surface minimizing adhesion therebetween. Such clumps preferably also have a crush strength of at least 15 PSI when dry. Pellets preferably contain water-soluble binder formed of starch physically modified during extrusion that solubilizes when wetted to facilitate clumping while opening the interior of the pellet improving absorption capacity. A preferred litter is formed of a mixture of extruded pellets of different sizes producing litter composed of extruded pellets falling within a plurality of different size ranges with the smaller sized pellets being fines that cause horizontally extending clumps to form on top of the litter.

Abstract: A waste treatment process utilizes a two-stage digestion process with a thermophilic digester, a heat exchanger, and a mesophilic digester. The pH of the thermophilic digestate is increased by removal of carbon dioxide with an air stripper, or by adding a pH increasing reagent upstream of the heat exchanger. The pH adjustment of the digestate protects the heat exchanger and downstream equipment and processes from struvite formation. A struvite reactor may be located in various locations downstream of the heat exchanger to produce a treated digestate or effluent that contains struvite, which can optionally be recovered for beneficial use.

Abstract: A clumping litter is provided that includes a hydrophilic light weight material, a clumping agent, and a mineral particulate combined to form pellets sized to from 4 to 40 US mesh in diameter. A clumping litter is also provided in which the hydrophilic light weight material is wood flour, the mineral particulate is dolomite or limestone is also provided that also includes sodium bicarbonate, a clumping agent, and solubilized citric acid combined to form the pellets. A clumping litter is also provided in which the hydrophilic light weight material is a paper pulp and powdered clay that are combined with mineral particulate combined to form the pellets.

Abstract: An attrition-resistant superabsorbent polymer and a preparation method thereof are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, an attrition resistant superabsorbent polymer includes a superabsorbent polymer having a crosslinked surface, water, particles, a multivalent metal salt, an organic acid and a polyhydric alcohol, wherein the particles having a BET specific surface area of 300 to 1500 m2/g and a porosity of 50% or more.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solid composition which comprises at least one amorphous silica gel, at least one cellulosic agent, at least one binder, and optionally at least one neutralizing agent, and is characterized in that the solid composition has a grain size of 100 ?m to 2 mm.

Abstract: A litter for animals includes a plurality of granular materials including a high-bulk density granular material and a low-bulk density granular material at a ratio by mass of 60:40-40:60. The high-bulk density granular material contains bentonite as a main component, and the low-bulk density granular material is configured of a core layer and a skin layer, the skin layer coating the surface of the core layer and containing a binder by which grains of the plurality of granular materials are bound to each other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding livestock is presented. The method includes feeding livestock using a mobile feed preparation apparatus comprising a processor and a first non-transitory computer readable medium in communication with the processor, wherein the mobile feed preparation apparatus can dispense a plurality of feed rations, each feed ration comprising a base feed and at least one of a plurality of feed additives. The method includes dispensing from the mobile feed preparation apparatus a first feed ration comprising the base feed and a first feed additive, wherein the dispensed first feed ration comprises a dispensed amount of the first feed additive.

Abstract: Provided is a water absorption treatment material and a method for manufacturing the same, according to which separation of a coating layer portion is not likely to occur. A water absorption treatment material includes a granular core portion and a coating layer portion. A recessed portion is formed on the surface of the granular core portion. The recessed portion is intentionally formed on the surface of the granular core portion. The coating layer portion is provided so as to cover the surface of the granular core portion. A portion of the coating layer portion enter the recessed portion.

Abstract: Animal litter compositions having relatively low densities are described herein. Methods of manufacturing such litter compositions are also described.

Abstract: Compacting expanded perlite fines in the presence of a clay and water, followed by drying, produces particles with low density, good integrity, and surprisingly higher absorption by volume than non-compacted expanded perlite or non-swelling clay. Furthermore, addition of a clumping agent to the compacted granules results in a clumping litter with low density, good integrity and comparable clumping ability to traditional clay clumping litter.

Abstract: A composition comprising a physical blend of discrete particulates such that the liquid absorbency is greater than the individual components and is greater than the expected absorbency based on the rule of mixtures. A composition comprising diatomaceous earth which may have a clump strength greater than 75% and in which the dry density may be less than 880 kg/m3 (55 lb/ft3). The compositions exhibit synergistic absorbance, light density, high clump strength, low dustiness, and are suitable for industrial and household absorption and solidification, animal litter, and soil amendment.

Abstract: A clumpable animal litter comprises composite particles of filler materials, such as limestone and sand, and sodium bentonite. The filler materials have a lower bulk density as compared to a granular mixture of the same percentage of filler and sodium bentonite clay and contain up to eighty-five percent less clay.

Abstract: Animal litter having up to a sixty percent reduction in bulk density can be produced by combining flat-shaped cellulosic materials and sodium bentonite clay. Not only is the resulting litter lighter, but it also maintains a high clump strength as compared to clay-based animal litters that contain greater than ninety percent by weight sodium bentonite clay.

Abstract: Animal litter having up to a sixty percent reduction in bulk density can be produced by combining flat-shaped cellulosic materials and sodium bentonite clay. Not only is the resulting litter lighter, but it also maintains a high clump strength as compared to clay-based animal litters that contain greater than ninety percent by weight sodium bentonite clay.

Abstract: Animal litter compositions having relatively low densities are described herein. Methods of manufacturing such litter compositions are also described.

Abstract: Litter compositions are provided comprising sodium bentonite and various fillers. These litter compositions have substantially the same clumpability properties as a composition consisting of only the sodium bentonite.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides dry compositions and methods for using the dry compositions to treat animal facilities. In particular, a dry composition comprises an acid, which provides an immediate source of protons, and a process residue comprising alum and a material comprising reactive aluminum, each of which provides a delayed source of protons.

Abstract: An animal litter, process for preparing the animal litter and a method for removal of animal waste using the animal litter are provided. The animal litter generally includes at least about 10 weight % finely ground pine wood powder. Further the animal litter includes a lubricant and a cohesiveness agent. The animal litter is in the form of discrete plural particles which lend to agglomerate when wetted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medium material for eliminating arsenic pollution from groundwater, which is a granular material having an average particle diameter of 1 to 3 cm, prepared from manganese ore, meerschaum, straws, animal excrements, active sludge and active bacterium agent in a mass ratio of 1:0.2˜0.5:0.5˜1:0.2˜0.4:0.2˜0.4:0.0005˜0.002 via mixing, composting, carbonizing and crushing. The prevent invention also discloses a process for producing the above-mentioned medium material. The medium material of the present invention can eliminate multivalent arsenic from groundwater, has a long service life, and does not cause secondary pollution to groundwater.

Abstract: To provide animal toilet sand that can prevent an aggregate from growing depth-wise upon absorption of liquid such as urine, and can suppress scattering. An animal toilet sand composed of a plurality of particulates mainly composed of bentonite, wherein: the particulates include smaller diameter particulates of at least 0.8 mm and no greater than 2 mm in grain size, and larger diameter particulates of at least 2 mm and no greater than 10 mm in grain size; and the particulates include the smaller diameter particulates in a range of at least 20% and no greater than 100% of the larger diameter particulates in ratio by weight. In addition, it is preferable that the proportion of the smaller diameter particulates and the larger diameter particulates with respect to the animal toilet sand is at least 90% in ratio by weight.

Abstract: Low-dust animal litters made from one or more ingredients that function as an animal litter and one or more polyols that function to control dust in the litter are described herein. The low-dust animal litters are made by selecting one or more litter ingredients suitable for making an animal litter and combining the litter ingredients with one or more polyols, generally by applying the polyols to the surface of one or more ingredients before or during the process of combining the ingredients to produce the litter.

Abstract: Litter compositions are provided comprising sodium bentonite and various fillers. These litter compositions have substantially the same clumpability properties as a composition consisting of only the sodium bentonite.

Abstract: A slightly puffed, low density, moisture-adsorbing and odor-absorbing additive that can readily remove undesirable odors from a confined space is produced from re-purposed spent carbon materials obtained from other processes. The product is particularly suitable as an addition to animal litters and the like with possible uses in human applications. An aspect of the method includes a step of extruding a spent carbon mixture, optionally containing diatomaceous earth to obtain the additive. Also disclosed are de-germinated corn flour, of grits, that aid process flow and can serve as a substrate for the spent carbon materials.

Abstract: Composite particles and methods for making the same. An absorbent material is formed into a particle. An optional performance-enhancing active is coupled to the absorbent material before, during, or after the particle-forming process, homogeneously and/or in layers. Additionally, the composite absorbent particle may include a core material. Preferred methods for creating the absorbent particles include a pan agglomeration process, a high shear agglomeration process, a low shear agglomeration process, a high pressure agglomeration process, a low pressure agglomeration process, a rotary drum agglomeration process, a mix muller process, a roll press compaction process, a pin mixer process, a batch tumble blending mixer process, an extrusion process, and a fluid bed process.

Abstract: A litter and litter making method producing cat litter from a carbohydrate starch-containing cereal grain, e.g., corn, based admixture extruded from a single screw or twin screw extruder forming pellets having a clumping agent formed during extrusion composed at least in part of carbohydrate polymer binder. Each pellet is extruded under conditions that cause formation of carbohydrate polymer binder clumping agent at least some of which is water soluble. One preferred method of extruding cat litter causes starch dextrinization to occur such that at least some of the carbohydrate polymer binder clumping agent in each pellet is formed of dextrin. Each pellet can be coated such as with a smectite that preferably is bentonite. During use, pellet extrusion formed clumping agent in a pellet wetted with urine dissolves and flows in between and along adjacent pellets causing them to clump together without the presence of any clumping agent additive.

Abstract: A litter and litter making method producing cat litter from a carbohydrate starch-containing cereal grain, e.g., corn, based admixture extruded from a single screw or twin screw extruder forming pellets having a clumping agent formed during extrusion composed at least in part of carbohydrate polymer binder. Each pellet is extruded under conditions that cause formation of carbohydrate polymer binder clumping agent at least some of which is water soluble. One preferred method of extruding cat litter causes starch dextrinization to occur such that at least some of the carbohydrate polymer binder clumping agent in each pellet is formed of dextrin. Each pellet can be coated such as with a smectite that preferably is bentonite. During use, pellet extrusion formed clumping agent in a pellet wetted with urine dissolves and flows in between and along adjacent pellets causing them to clump together without the presence of any clumping agent additive.

Abstract: A litter and litter making method producing cat litter from a carbohydrate starch-containing cereal grain, e.g., corn, based admixture extruded from a single screw or twin screw extruder forming pellets having a clumping agent formed during extrusion composed at least in part of carbohydrate polymer binder. Each pellet is extruded under conditions that cause formation of carbohydrate polymer binder clumping agent at least some of which is water soluble. One preferred method of extruding cat litter causes starch dextrinization to occur such that at least some of the carbohydrate polymer binder clumping agent in each pellet is formed of dextrin. Each pellet can be coated such as with a smectite that preferably is bentonite. During use, pellet extrusion formed clumping agent in a pellet wetted with urine dissolves and flows in between and along adjacent pellets causing them to clump together without the presence of any clumping agent additive.

Abstract: The present invention relates to sodium carboxylmethylcellulose (CMC), xanthan gum or combinations thereof and uses thereof, particularly as a clumping additive for cat litter.

Abstract: An animal litter with increased moisture retention and accelerated absorbency, a method of manufacture and method of use for indoor urine and feces disposal. An animal litter with a greater surface area and higher moisture retention intended for animals as small as mice, gerbils and hamsters, as well as larger domestic animals. The animal litter is a paper and wood composition treated with a surfactant, which increases moisture retention four to five times its weight.

Abstract: Test method for structures, e.g., such as carriers and/or catalysts. The methods may be used to select the carriers and/or catalysts for future use. Carriers and catalysts so selected, and processes making use of these, are also provided.

Abstract: There is provided an absorbent composition for water-based liquids, wherein dusting normally associated with handling of powdered absorbent materials is significantly reduced. The composition can be an animal litter, such as cat litter. The composition is formed by mixing a filler with a de-dusting agent and spraying an aqueous slurry of a deodorizing agent onto the mixture. The mixture is then added to a water absorbing material such as clay to uniformly mix the deodorizing agent with the water absorbing material.

Abstract: A clump-forming hygiene granulate has individual granules, each granule having: at least one inner carrier grain of a porous, mineral, non-swelling carrier material; an intermediate layer mantling the carrier grain or grains including a mixture containing at least one powder of a non-swelling, mineral, porous material, and a gel matrix composed at least of starch that swells in cold water, and a hydrocolloid different from starch, which swells in cold water; bentonite powder or superabsorber meal disposed between the carrier grain or grains and the intermediate layer; an outer mantle layer sheathing the intermediate layer, having a mantle layer surface including a mixture containing at least a powder of a non-swelling, mineral, porous material, and bentonite powder; hydrocolloid gel that swells in cold water, disposed between outer mantle layer and intermediate layer; and hydrocolloid grains of a hydrocolloid that swells in cold water, distributed on the mantle layer surface.

Abstract: A chemically modified animal litter that is comprised of at least one acid-activated liquid absorbing material and at least one peroxide, wherein the litter provides a surprisingly steady and consistent malodor inhibition.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a lightweight hybrid clumping animal litter made from organic core particles combined with small amounts of clumping agent, and methods for making the litter.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards an absorbent composition and its method of production and use. More specifically, the present invention relates to an absorbent composition comprising a liquid absorbing material, at least one alkaline earth metal peroxide, and an acidic material. The acid maintains a high hydrogen peroxide release profile under acidic conditions, such that the composition is found surprisingly effective in mitigating fecal odor.

Abstract: Animal litter having up to a sixty percent reduction in bulk density can be produced by combining flat-shaped cellulosic materials and sodium bentonite clay. Not only is the resulting litter lighter, but it also maintains a high clump strength as compared to clay-based animal litters that contain greater than ninety percent by weight sodium bentonite clay.

Abstract: The invention provides animal litters that have an increased absorption rate and methods of making and using such litters. The animal litters comprise one or more animal litter particles that have been produced by fragmenting extruded animal litter particles that have a film on the surface of the particle that adversely affects the absorption rate. The fragmenting exposes the interior of the extruded animal litter particles, which does not have this film, to the external environment and increases the absorption rate.

Abstract: An animal litter sand that effectively prevents scattering of particles without increasing the weight or density of the litter sand. The animal litter sand includes particulates each of which is configured in a manner so as to contain a particle substrate configured from an inorganic porous material, a hydraulic solidification material, and a water-soluble thickener.

Abstract: A clump-forming hygiene granulate has individual granules, each granule having: at least one inner carrier grain of a porous, mineral, non-swelling carrier material; an intermediate layer mantling the carrier grain or grains including a mixture containing at least one powder of a non-swelling, mineral, porous material, and a gel matrix composed at least of starch that swells in cold water, and a hydrocolloid different from starch, which swells in cold water; bentonite powder or superabsorber meal disposed between the carrier grain or grains and the intermediate layer; an outer mantle layer sheathing the intermediate layer, having a mantle layer surface including a mixture containing at least a powder of a non-swelling, mineral, porous material, and bentonite powder; hydrocolloid gel that swells in cold water, disposed between outer mantle layer and intermediate layer; and hydrocolloid grains of a hydrocolloid that swells in cold water, distributed on the mantle layer surface.

Abstract: The invention provides animal litters that have an increased absorption rate and methods of making and using such litters. The animal litters comprise one or more animal litter particles that have been produced by fragmenting extruded animal litter particles that have a film on the surface of the particle that adversely affects the absorption rate. The fragmenting exposes the interior of the extruded animal litter particles, which does not have this film, to the external environment and increases the absorption rate.

Abstract: Animal litter compositions having relatively low densities are described herein. Methods of manufacturing such litter compositions are also described.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a lightweight hybrid clumping animal litter made from organic core particles combined with small amounts of clumping agent, and methods for making the litter.

Abstract: Animal litters and methods of making and using such litters are disclosed herein. The animal litters comprise (a) a plurality of absorbent particles comprising (i) a non-swelling particle and (ii) a clumping material coated on the non-swelling particle and (b) a plurality of one or more filler particles that are not associated with the absorbent particles. The filler particles provide additional functionality to the litters, e.g., controlling odor, absorbing moisture, releasing fragrance, controlling microorganisms, controlling dust, reducing density, reducing weight, and combinations thereof. The litters are made by producing the absorbent particles using conventional means and combining the absorbent particles with one or more filler particles that impart the desired characteristic to the litters.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward a high performance clay-based animal litter that is comprised of a clay-based liquid-absorbing material, and at least one filler coated with at least one clumping agent. The particle size of the liquid-absorbing material is small and provides the litter with a “sandy” appearance. The high performance litter is found to be surprisingly effective in containing odors and reducing tracking and dusting. It does not contain foaming agents and/or acids to trigger foaming, and does not utilize foams to block odors.

Abstract: A clumping agent composition is provided that includes a pre-gelled starch divided to a starch size with at least 70% by weight of said starch being ?200 mesh. An polyoxygenated moiety is present and includes at least one of borax, bicarbonate, or aluminate. The starch and the polyoxygenated moiety combined to form the clumping agent composition with a rapid build of viscosity when wet. A litter is formed when the clumping agent composition is present from 1 to 10 total weight percent decorating the surface of a particulate. Divided carboxymethylcellulose is included in some embodiments along with the starch and the oxygenated moiety.