Abstract:
A particulate clumping animal litter composition is disclosed. The composition comprises water-swellable smectite clay particles bound to magnetically-attractable metal particles such that substantially all particles of the animal litter composition are attracted to a magnetic surface. The animal litter composition exhibits favorable properties such as absorbency, resiliency, homogeneity, clump strength, and particle size. Methods of production for clumping animal litter compositions are also disclosed that employ sufficient shear to bind the water-swellable smectite clay particles to the magnetically-attractable metal particles such that the animal litter compositions exhibit favorable properties. A method and apparatus for the collection of magnetically-attractable animal litter particles are also disclosed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a magnetically-attractable scoopable clumping absorbent animal dross composition and its method of manufacture and use. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an absorbent composition that is a combination of a clumpable, water-swellable smectite clay, such a bentonite clay, and magnetically-attractable metal-containing particles adhered together by high-shear mixing or extrusion to provide particles having a size capable of clumping together when wetted, while maintaining magnetism in essentially every particle. 
       BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART  
       [0002]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,060 B1 (&#39;060) describes a magnetic pet litter apparatus that includes a magnetically-attractable pet litter contained within a pet litter box, or other litter containment structure, and includes one or more permanent magnets positioned externally to the litter box to inagnetically attract and collect particles of the litter brought outside the litter box by a pet, such as a cat. As described in the &#39;060 patent, the pet litter is a mixture of a bentonite clay containing sodium and 5% or more by weight of iron or a ferrous alloy. As described in the &#39;060 patent, a preferred method of forming the litter particles is to blend iron or iron oxide in slurry form with the bentonite clay, such as the bentonite clay described in this assignee&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,111. 
         [0003]    As described in the &#39;060 patent, pets such as cats that use litter boxes tend to scatter particles of litter outside of the litter box leaving an unsanitary mess for the pet owner to clean. This typically happens when, upon exiting the litter box, the pet scatters litter with its feet. The magnetically-attractable litter particles described herein are scoopable, as described in this assignee&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,111, and are combined with a magnetically-attractable metal so that the litter particles also are capable of being magnetically removed from a pet&#39;s feet upon exiting the litter box. The magnetically-attractable scoopable clumping animal litter particles described herein are particularly suitable for use in the magnetic apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,060 B1, or any other magnetic litter apparatus capable of attracting magnetically-attractable metal-containing litter particles. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0004]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a magnetic sweeper in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of a hand-held electromagnetic collector in accordance with the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     SUMMARY  
       [0006]    Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. 
         [0007]    In brief, the compositions described herein are clumpable when wetted and are magnetically attracted to a confined magnetic area when scattered from their intended location by a pet. Substantially all of the particles in the present composition are attracted to a static, horizontal magnetic surface. The composition comprises discrete particles of a combined/adhered combination of a magnetically-attractable metal and a water-swellable smectite clay, preferably a bentonite clay, that effectively absorbs animal dross and simultaneously agglomerates into a sufficiently large, stable mass, thereby permitting physical separation of the solid and wetted agglomerated clumps of water-swellable smectite clay/magnetically-attractable metal particles from discrete particles of the unsoiled and unwetted particles, even after partial drying of about 1 to about 24 hours at room temperature. The water-swellable smectite clay is combined with magnetically-attractable metal particles, preferably iron-containing particles, using a high-shear mixer, such as a pin mixer or extruder, to form magnetically-attractable particles which maintain their clumpability. If extrusion is used, pellets are formed, and the pellets are divided into discrete, magnetically-attractable particles, e.g., in a suitable grinder or mill. 
         [0008]    The process of manufacturing a scoopable clumping animal litter that is magnetically-attractable is not a matter of simply combining a bentonite clay with iron or an iron alloy, as outlined in the &#39;060 patent, particularly from the standpoint of obtaining sufficient magnetic attraction of essentially all of the particles and maintaining the scoopability of the bentonite clay litter particles. Clay particles and magnetically-attractable metal particles cannot simply be slurried together to obtain a magnetically-attractable litter composition, as described in the &#39;060 patent. 
         [0009]    In accordance with the method described herein, in order to provide magnetically-attractable scoopable clumping pet litter particles, it has been found that it is necessary to combine particles containing a metal that is attracted to a magnet, such as iron, nickel or cobalt, of a particular size distribution, together with water-swellable smectite clay particles of a particular size distribution; provide each in a particular percentage by weight; mix the clay and metal-containing particles in a high-shear mixer; dry the particles to less than 15 weight % water (relative to the total weight of solid material and water); and size the dried particles or pellets to a particular size distribution. In one embodiment, a suitable binder is combined with the clay and metal-containing particles. The resulting magnetically-attractable scoopable clumping pet litter particles, surprisingly, have increased clump strength and a lower clump weight (indicating a higher absorbency) when wetted, in comparison to known clumping cat litters, such as that described in this assignee&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,111, and essentially all of the litter particles are magnetically attracted for use in magnetic apparatus such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,060. 
         [0010]    Therefore, one aspect of the compositions and methods described herein is to provide an improved absorbent, magnetically-attractable litter composition for animal waste products and related waste products. 
         [0011]    Another aspect of the compositions and methods described herein is to provide a magnetically-attractable litter composition that effectively absorbs liquid animal dross and simultaneously agglomerates into a mass of sufficient size and cohesive strength for physical removal from unwetted portion of the litter box absorbent composition. 
         [0012]    Another aspect of the compositions and methods described herein is to provide a magnetically-attractable litter composition that effectively absorbs liquid while having a relatively dry, non-adherent surface so that the cohesive masses formed eliminate or reduce odors associated with animal dross deposited in a litter box. 
         [0013]    Another aspect of the compositions and methods described herein is to provide a magnetically-attractable litter composition that economically eliminates or reduces odors associated with animal dross deposited in a litter box. 
         [0014]    Another aspect of the compositions and methods described herein is to provide a magnetically-attractable litter composition that facilitates and reduces cleaning and maintenance of animal litter boxes and animal cages, particularly in areas surrounding the litter boxes and cages. 
         [0015]    Still another aspect of the compositions and methods described herein is to provide a magnetically-attractable litter composition that overcomes the cleaning disadvantages of prior art animal litter box absorbent compositions, when the litter is scattered by the pet outside of the litter box. 
         [0016]    Another aspect of the compositions and methods described herein is to provide a magnetically-attractable litter composition that, when scattered outside of a confined area, e.g., a litter box, is magnetically attracted to a defined magnetic collection area for easy disposal and/or reuse. 
         [0017]    Still another aspect of the compositions and methods described herein is to provide a magnetic or electromagnetic clean-up method of removing the scattered magnetically-attractable litter particles from the magnetic collection area for re-use or discarding. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]    The litter box absorbent composition described herein comprises, in one embodiment, a water-swellable smectite clay, combined with magnetically-attractable metal-containing particles under pressure and/or high-shear, optionally with a suitable binder, preferably without a binder other than water. The absorbent composition contains preferably about 50 to 98 weight % (more preferably about 80 to 97 weight %) of a water-swellable smectite clay and preferably about 2 to 50 weight % (more preferably about 3 to 20 weight %) of magnetically-attractable metal particles. 
       Clays 
       [0019]    The water-swellable smectite clays useful in the magnetically-attractable animal dross absorbent compositions described herein include, for example, exchangeable cations such as sodium, calcium, and magnesium in clays such as bentonite and montmorillonite. To achieve the full advantage of the compositions and methods described herein, the smectite clays should have a particle size such as that at least 25%, preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 65% of the particles, by weight, pass through a 50-mesh (U.S. Sieve Series) screen, and will sufficiently swell and hydrate in the presence of water. 
         [0020]    The smectite clays useful in accordance with the compositions and methods described herein (1) have sodium as the predominant exchangeable cation, although sodium smectite clays often include a variety of other exchangeable cations such as calcium, magnesium, and small amounts of lithium and/or potassium; (2) have calcium as the predominant exchangeable cation, wherein the amount of calcium does not exceed 80% of all exchangeable cations; or (3) have substantial proportions of sodium, calcium, and magnesium exchangeable interlayer cations, wherein calcium or magnesium, not sodium, is the predominant exchangeable cation. The smectite clay having substantial proportions of sodium, calcium, and magnesium exchangeable interlayer cations (item (3), above) is referred to herein as a “mixed-ion” smectite clay and is the preferred smectite clay. Preferably, the smectite clay is a bentonite clay that contains at least about 20% exchangeable sodium in relation to all interlayer exchangeable cations, more preferably about 20-50% exchangeable sodium, and most preferably about 20-40% exchangeable sodium. While the balance of the exchangeable ions in the mixed-ion smectite clay contains at least about 90% calcium and magnesium exchangeable cations, the particular amount of exchangeable calcium as compared to the amount of exchangeable magnesium in the smectite clay is not critical. To achieve the full advantage of the compositions described herein, the mixed-ion smectite clays should have exchangeable cations in the following percentages, based on all interlayer exchangeable cations: sodium at about 20-50%, calcium at about 20-60%, and magnesium at about 15-35%. One mixed-ion smectite clay found to be particularly effective contains about 30% sodium, 39% calcium, and 27% magnesium, with the remaining exchangeable cations, such as lithium and potassium, amounting to about 4%. 
         [0021]    Optionally, other clay additives, in amounts of about 1% to about 49%, can be added to the high-shear-mixed smectite clay. Examples of additional clay additives include alganite, attapulgite, beidellite, diatomite, gypsum, hectorite, nontronite, saponite, sepiolite, and tobermorite, or combinations thereof. Examples of other optional additives include fragrances, color agents, anti-microbial agents, odor-control agents, odor-masking agents, bactericides, or combinations thereof. 
         [0022]    The magnetic litter box absorbent compositions also can optionally include other typically used litter box absorbents such as other clays, sand, corn husks, paper, straw or other cellulose-based absorbent materials. However, any optionally-added ingredient cannot be present in an amount that materially and adversely affects the ability of the sodium and/or calcium smectite clays to be attracted to a magnet and to absorb liquid dross products and simultaneously agglomerate into a monolithic mass of sufficient size and cohesive strength for essentially complete physical removal of the soiled and wetted mass from the litter box. Any optional ingredients and additional absorbents may be blended into the smectite clay and magnetically-attractable metal absorbent compositions described herein when mixed together using a high-shear mixer. 
         [0023]    It should be noted that the animal dross absorbent compositions described herein can be used in litter boxes or in cages of animals including, among others, household pets such as cats, dogs, gerbils, guinea pigs, mice and hamsters; other pets such as rabbits, ferrets and skunks; or laboratory animals such as monkeys, mice, rats, goats, horses, cows and sheep. The animal litter absorbent compositions described herein are especially useful for smaller animals, such as cats. Furthermore, the high-shear mixed or extruded smectite clay-based compositions described herein are suitable for other uses in addition to absorbing urine, such as absorbing vomit or adsorbing waste liquids in appropriate areas of slaughter houses and meat packing plants. 
       Magnetically-Attractable Metal Particles 
       [0024]    Magnetically-attractable metal particles suitable for the compositions described herein preferably contain iron, cobalt, and/or iron. Examples of elements, alloys, compounds, and minerals that all fall within the definition of“metal” as used in this disclosure include: iron, nickel, cobalt, awaruite, wairauite, magnetite, taconite, maghemite, jacobsite, trevorite, magnesioferrite, pyrrhotite, greigite, and feroxyhyte. Preferably, the magnetically-attractable metal particles are iron-containing particles. Preferred iron-containing particles are taconite and/or magnetite. To achieve the full advantage of the compositions and methods described herein, the taconite particles should have an iron content of at least about 20 weight %, preferably at least about 40 weight %, and more preferably at least about 50 weight %. To achieve the full advantage of the compositions and methods described herein, the magnetically-attractable metal-containing particles should preferably have a particle size such that at least 25 weight % of the particles, more preferably 50 weight %, even more preferably 65 weight %, are of size to pass through a 50-mesh screen (U.S. Sieve Series). The concentration of the magnetically-attractable metal particles in the absorbent composition should be in the range of about 2% to about 50% by weight, preferably about 3% to about 20% by weight. 
       Binders (Optional) 
       [0025]    The magnetically-attractable metal particles can be adhered to the smectite clay particles with or without a suitable binder. If a binder is used, the preferred binder is water, which surprisingly irreversibly adheres the metal-containing particles to the clay particles via high-shear mixing. When an additional binder is used, the preferred binders are water-soluble adhesives including, but not limited to, water-soluble polysaccharides, particularly a water-soluble cellulosic ether adhesive, such as carboxyrnethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, hydroxybutylmethyl cellulose, or mixtures thereof. The best clumping strength in adhesive-bound particles has been achieved using a small percentage of about 0.025 to less than about 0.1 weight % carboxymethyl cellulose. Aqueous sodium silicate (available as product N® from PQ Corporation, Valley Forge, Pa.) is also a preferred binder at concentrations of up to about 5 weight %, more preferably from about 0.5 to 2 weight %, and most preferably at about 1 weight %. Other useful water-soluble adhesives include alignates and starches, such as wheat paste (a pregelatinized starch); gums, such as xanthan gum or guar gum; sodium or calcium lignosulfonate; glycerin; sucrose; lactose; dextrose; dextrin; water-soluble polymers, such as polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, or polyvinyl acetate, and those water-soluble polymers disclosed in this Assignee&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,532, hereby incorporated by reference. 
       High-Shear Mixing 
       [0026]    When mixed in a high-shear mixer, the magnetically-attractable metal/clay composition provides increased clump strength, increased individual particle resiliency, and increased mixture homogeneity as compared to the same smectite material without high-shear mixing. High-shear mixers are characterized by local velocity gradients and mixing patterns that compress clay and metal fines together, thereby binding them in a stable, well-mixed aggregate of particles. It has been found that without these aspects of high-shear mixing, the clay/metal combination suffers from being dusty (because the fine clay particles are not sufficiently agglomerated) and from a tendency of the final clay/metal particles to break apart during handling and storage, thereby separating the clay from the magnetically-attractable metal. Examples of high-shear mixers appropriate for the present disclosure include pin mixers, pug mills, extruders, and counter-current mixers. 
         [0027]    Generally, the water content of the clay/metal particle composition during mixing should be in the range of about 10-45 weight %, preferably about 15-40 weight %, and more preferably about 18-35 weight %, based on the dry weight of the smectite clay and other, optional water-absorbent material, when the clay/metal particle composition is mixed with a high-shear mixer. If the clay is too dry, it would be forced through, for example, the die openings of an extruder or the exit of the pin-mixer, in a powdery form without sufficient adherence to the metal particles, resulting in insufficient agglomeration of clay and metal particles. If too wet when mixed, the clay/metal particle composition becomes very sticky and may very well clog the high-shear mixer. 
       Pin-Mixer 
       [0028]    A pin mixer is a high-shear mixing device that is also called a micro-pelletizing device and is the preferred high-shear apparatus for combining the clay and metal particles. It compresses the clay and metal particles together to form small particles that require no further grinding to provide a substantial percentage of permanently combined clay/metal particles that have the desired particle size. When removed from the pin-mixer, the particles are dried to less than about 15 weight % water, preferably to about 8-12 weight % water and then screened to collect particles having a preferred size distribution, e.g., between 8 and 50 mesh, preferably 10 to 40 mesh, U.S. Sieve Series. The finer and larger particles may be recycled to the pin mixer. Preferably, at least about 60 weight %, and more preferably at least about 80 weight % of the particles exiting the pin mixer are within the desired size distribution. The dried particles having the desired size distribution are tested for absorbency, clump strength, attraction to a magnet, resiliency, and inhomogeneity. 
         [0029]    The pin-mixers include an outer shell and a central, horizontal internal axis that includes a number of impeller pins extending radially outwardly that are closely spaced from an internal, cylindrical surface of the shell. An exemplary pin mixer is the model 8D32L mixer (available from Mars Mineral, Mars, Pa.), which has an 8″ internal diameter, a 32″ internal length, and about ½″-diameter impeller pins. In this mixer, the clay and metal particles enter the pin mixer at an upper end (inlet) of the cylindrical shell and are whipped by the pins at an impeller tip speed of at least about 20 ft/sec (600 rpm), preferably about 25-75 ft/sec (700-2200 rpm), and more preferably at about 35-70 ft/sec (1000-2000 rpm), as the clay and metal particles move toward an opposite end of the pin mixer toward a bottom outlet. Alternative geometries and/or operating conditions for the pin mixer that increase the residence time of the feed mixture may allow a reduction in the preferable impeller tip speed that yields sufficiently bound aggregates of clay and metal particles. As a fine spray of water is added with the clay and metal particles at the inlet and distributed throughout the clay and metal particles, high-shear mixing and micro-agglomeration of the clay and metal particles occurs as a result of the high-speed pins compressing and/or shearing the clay and metal particles together to provide homogeneous mixing of the clay and metal particles and to form micro-pellets. The size of the clay and metal particles added to the pin mixer, the percentage of water added, and the speed of rotation of the pins, can be varied to provide micro-pellets that provide a high percentage of clay/metal particles within the desired particle size distribution. 
       Pug Mill 
       [0030]    Compression and/or shearing of the smectite clay and metal particle composition also can be conveniently carried out by using a pug mill, commonly used in the production of bricks and other ceramic materials. In general, conventional pug-mills include a tubular housing having one end open for receiving materials and the other end closed with a flat wall including one or more die openings for extruding the material therethrough. Pug-mills useful in accordance with the compositions and methods described herein may be further provided with a longitudinal axis having one or more blades disposed radially thereon. In operation, the central axis is rotated to provide shearing forces to the material within the pug-mill. The blades are inclined to a slight degree so that, as they turn, they force the clay material forward, toward the exit or extruding end. In this way, shear pressure forces are applied to the smectite clay material and metal particles within the pug-mill. The amount or intensity of shearing forces imparted by the extrusion may be varied by changing the feed rate of smectite clay and metal particles, blade size and/or blade angle, or the size of the extruding or die opening. Also, the rotation speed of the central axis driving the mixing or auger blades and speed of the wiping blade may be varied to change shear forces. The particular operating conditions and pug mill or extruder dimensions may be varied widely. 
       Extruder 
       [0031]    Application of shear pressure forces also conveniently may be applied utilizing a conventional auger extruder. Auger extruders are similar to pug mills except that the central rotating axis has a single or double screw-type mixing blade which, when rotated in the appropriate direction, mixes and conveys the smectite clay and magnetically-attractable particles toward and then through one or more die openings at the extruding end of the extruder housing. Sodium and calcium bentonite are composed of layers, sheets or platelets (crystals) with the exchangeable cations occurring between the layers. The smectite clay and magnetically-attractable particles, when extruded, exit from the die opening in pellet form, and the pellets break off from an exit end of the die opening when the pellet increases in length sufficiently to provide enough weight that the pellet breaks at the die opening exit. The pellets then are ground and sieved to the appropriate particle size distribution. As with the pug-mill, the particular dimensions, including the extruder port or die hole size and shape and/or wiper design and operating conditions may be varied widely to provide the smectite clay with differing degrees of clay platelet alignment and separation. 
       Counter-Current Mixer 
       [0032]    High-shear mixing is also possible with a counter-current mixer. A counter-current mixer is a batch mixer that generates large internal shear fields with multiple rotating surfaces. Exemplary counter-current mixers include the Lancaster® K-Series mixers (available from Lancaster Products, Lebanon, Pa.). The outer wall of the circular mixing vessel rotates in one direction and an interior, high-speed mixing impeller rotates in the opposite direction, thereby increasing the local velocity gradients. The high-speed mixing impeller simultaneously meanders throughout the entire mixer volume while secondary, low-speed scrapers prevent material from settling outside of the mixing zones. The specific geometry and operating conditions of the mixer (e.g., rotation rate of the high-speed impeller, etc.) may be varied according the amounts and size distributions of water-swellable clay and magnetically-attractable particles added to the mixer as well as the desired homogeneity, resiliency, and size distribution of the final animal litter composition. For example, with sufficient mixing time (e.g., in the range of about 5 minutes to about 1 hour), stable aggregates of clay and metal particles can be formed at impeller tip speeds of at least about 2 ft/sec, and more preferably at impeller tip speeds of at least about 5 ft/sec. 
         [0033]    The batch nature of the counter-current mixer permits multistage mixing. For instance, the water-swellable clay and magnetically-attractable particles may be blended in a first mixing stage. Once thoroughly blended, a binder may be added in a second mixing stage that creates bound litter particles containing both water-swellable clay and magnetically-attractable particles in the desired size distribution. A third, post-processing mixing stage may then be used to add surface coatings such as, for example, fragrances, color agents, anti-microbial agents, odor-control agents, odor-masking agents, bactericides, or combinations thereof. 
       Apparatus for the Collection of Magnetically-Attractable Animal Litter 
       [0034]    It is desirable to have a convenient apparatus for the collection of magnetically-attractable animal litter according to the present disclosure. Magnetically-attractable animal litter outside the litter box may result from accidental spills by the pet owner or from individual litter particles being tracked out of the litter box by the pet. A magnetic mat may be used to surround the litter box and collect litter particles. An example of such a magnetic mat includes a flexible ferrite magnetic sheet (available under the name Flexmag™ from Arnold Magnetic Technologies, Marietta, Ohio) preferably having a magnetic energy of about 0.6 to 1.6 MG·Oe, more preferably of about 0.8 to 1.4 MG·Oe, and most preferably of about 1.0 to 1.2 MG·Oe. However, even if a magnetic mat is used to collect and contain litter particles, the pet owner still needs a means for removing the particles from the magnetic mat without resorting to vigorous scraping. Accordingly,  FIGS. 1 and 2  present devices able to remove errant litter particles in such situations. 
         [0035]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a magnetic sweeper  100  in accordance with the present disclosure. The magnetic sweeper  100  has a base  140 , the top surface of which has a hinge  130 . One end of a stem  120  is attached to the base  140  via the hinge  130  and the other end is fitted with a handle  110  for gripping. A magnetic plate  150  is attached to the bottom of the base  140 , and may be a permanent magnet. The bottom surface  152  of the magnetic plate  150  may be used to collect free-standing litter particles by brushing the magnetic sweeper  100  across the littered area and attracting the magnetically-attractable litter particles to the bottom surface  152 . Additionally, the bottom surface  152  of the magnetic plate  150  may be fitted with sliding pads (not shown), rollers (not shown), or brushes (not shown) to facilitate the brushing movement. 
         [0036]    In an alternate embodiment of the magnetic sweeper  100 , the magnetic plate  150  may be an electromagnet. In this case, batteries (not shown) to operate the electromagnet may be contained, for example, in the handle  110 , and a switch  112  on the stem  120  is used to selectively power on and power off the electromagnet. This embodiment has the advantage that the electromagnet may be used to collect stray magnetically-attractable litter particles that have been captured by a magnetic mat surrounding the litter box, provided that the strength of the electromagnet is stronger than that of the magnetic mat. Additionally, this embodiment simplifies cleaning of the magnetic sweeper  100 , because the particles collected by the magnetic plate  150  may be simply removed by powering off the electromagnet. 
         [0037]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of a hand-held electromagnetic collector  200  in accordance with the present disclosure. The electromagnetic collector  200  has a handle  210 , the front of which is attached to stem  230 . The front of the stem  230  has a hinge  240  that is attached an electromagnetic plate  250 . Batteries (not shown) to operate the electromagnetic plate  250  may be contained, for example, in the handle  210 , and a trigger  220  on the stem  230  is used to selectively power on and power off the electromagnetic plate  250 . When powered on, the bottom surface  252  of the magnetic plate  250  may be used to collect litter particles by brushing the electromagnetic collector  200  across the littered area and attracting the magnetically-attractable litter particles to the bottom surface  252 . In this way, animal litter particles may be removed from either magnetic or non-magnetic surfaces, provided that the strength of the electromagnet is stronger than that of any magnetic surfaces. 
         [0038]    In an alternate embodiment, the batteries (not shown) of the electromagnetic collector  200  may be removed and replaced with voltage/current regulators (not shown) in the handle  210 . In this case, an external power cord (not shown) is attached to the handle  210  to provide power to the electromagnetic plate  250 . 
       Methods for Composition Characterization 
       [0039]    [Particle Size Distribution] The size distribution of a population of particles, whether water-swellable clay fines individually, magnetically-attractable metal particles individually, or the aggregate composition of the present disclosure, is determined using standard sieves from the U.S. Sieve Series. A sample may also be classified using two standard sieves, with the mesh numbers of the sieve representing the upper and lower particle sizes of the classification operation. The D50 size of a population is the particle size above which 50 weight % of the population is contained. 
         [0040]    [Clump Test] The clump test measures the relative strength of aggregate litter clumps formed upon absorption of a simulated urine solution of 2 weight % aqueous sodium chloride. Each individual clump is analyzed once at a specified amount of time after its formation (the “clump time”). A litter sample is typically characterized by measurements at clump times of 0.25, 1, 4, and 24 hours. A clump is formed by adding a 10-ml aliquot of the sodium chloride solution to a 2″ sample layer of litter from a height of about 3″. After the elapsed clump time, a clump is removed and weighed to determine clump weight (which represents the combined weight of dry litter used to absorb the dispensed liquid and the weight of the dispensed liquid itself). A clump is also analyzed with a force gauge to determine the force required to break the clump, which is called the clump strength. The force gauge is selected from the Chatillon® DPP line of gauges, and it is used in conjunction with the Chatillon® TCM-201 motorized test stand (both available from Ametek Test and Calibration Instruments, Largo, Fla.). When using the force gauge, a clump is typically mounted on a U-shaped metal brace (about 2.1″ long, 1.0″ wide, and 0.76″ high with the U-shaped element being about 0.05″ thick) and impacted by a metal break foot (about 1.75″ long, 0.5″ wide, and 0.25″ high with an impact surface area of about 0.88 in 2 ). The accuracy and precision of a specific measurement is improved by selecting a specific force gauge having a capacity greater than, but near to, the expected clump strength measurement. For example, the Chatillon® DPP-5 (5 lb capacity with 0.05 lb gradations) is appropriate for clump times of 0.25 and 1 hours, the Chatillon® DPP-10 (10 lb capacity with 0.1 lb gradations) is appropriate for clump times of 4 hours, and the Chatillon® DPP-30 (30 lb capacity with 0.25 lb gradations) is appropriate for clump times of 24 hours. The test stand is used to control the impact speed of the test apparatus break foot such that the break foot impacts a clump after traveling an initial ½″ clearance in about 3-5 seconds. Both the clump weight and clump strength are reported at a given clump time based on the arithmetic mean of three clump samples at the specified clump time. The clump strength is typically expressed as a force (e.g., in lb), but may also be expressed as a force per unit area (e.g., in psi) by normalizing the break force with the impact surface area of the break foot (e.g., about 0.88 in 2  with this disclosed apparatus). 
         [0041]    [Magnetic Cohesion Drop Test] The magnetic cohesion drop test measures the ability of individual litter particles to adhere to a magnetic mat upon application of dynamic forces to the mat. A magnetic mat (3″×3″ mat having a magnetic energy of about 1 MG·Oe) is loaded with about 200 g of litter sample and then tipped vertically to remove any individual litter particles not in sufficient contact with the mat to adhere to the mat. The particles removed from the mat in this way are not considered in the subsequent calculations of the magnetic retention rate. The particle-laden mat is vertically dropped 1″ using a trap door onto a ¾″ test sieve, dislodging some of the particles from the mat. The ratio of the weight of the particles on the mat post-drop to the weight of the particles on the mat immediately pre-drop is averaged over five successive tests to determine the magnetic retention rate (generally expressed as a percent). The magnetic retention rate may be determined after consecutive drops to characterize the effect of particle size and loading on the litter sample&#39;s ability to adhere to the magnetic mat upon application of dynamic forces. 
         [0042]    [Attrition Test—Resiliency] The resiliency attrition test measures the ability of a litter particle population to retain its particle size characteristics when subjected to the simulated trauma of post-production litter handling that can result in particle fragmentation and fines formation. An initial 50 g litter sample having particle sizes between 12 and 40 mesh (i.e., between about 425 μm and 1.68 mm) is fragmented in the pan of a rotary test sieve shaker containing ten (10) ⅝″-diameter ball bearings for 5 minutes. The rotary test sieve shaker used simultaneously swirls (at about 280 rpm) and taps (at a frequency of about 150 min −1 ) the sample particles, and is available under the name Ro-Tap® 8″ RX-29, Model B (available from W.S. Tyler, Mentor, Ohio). After fragmentation of the litter particles by the ball bearings, the litter sample is reanalyzed with the rotary test sieve shaker by rotating, without ball bearings, the fragmented particles for another 5 minutes in a 40-mesh sieve. After this step, the weight fraction of litter particles retained on the 40-mesh sieve post-fragmentation is reported as the resiliency of the sample (generally expressed as a percent). 
         [0043]    [Attrition Test—Inhomogeneity] The inhomogeneity attrition test measures the ability of a litter particle population to retain its degree of attraction to a magnetic surface when subjected to the simulated trauma of post-production litter handling that can result in particle fragmentation and fines formation. The particle size distribution of a 5 g litter sample is determined and then the litter sample is evenly spread across a 2″-diameter circular area on a magnetic mat (3″×3″ mat having a magnetic energy of about 1 MG·Oe). The mat is then rotated to a vertical position, thereby allowing any particles insufficiently adhered to the mat surface to fall, and the fraction of litter sample retained is calculated gravimetrically. The entire 5 g litter sample is then recovered (i.e., the particles remaining on the mat are scraped from the mat and recombined with the particles that fell from the mat) and hand-crushed on a hard surface until the D50 of the litter sample is reduced by at least about ⅓ (as verified by measurement of the particle size distribution). The crushed sample is then evenly spread across the 2″-diameter circular area of the magnetic mat, the mat is rotated to a vertical position, and the fraction of litter sample retained is calculated gravimetrically. The inhomogeneity (generally expressed as a percent) of the litter sample is calculated as the difference between the average fraction retained on the mat of the three median values from five successive tests pre-crushing and the same average post-crushing. 
       PRODUCT EXAMPLES  
     Example 1 
     (Sample L-2) 
       [0044]    368.0 g of bentonite fines (having the size distribution illustrated in Table 1) were mixed with 32.0 g of taconite fines using a kitchen aid mixer for one minute. 100.0 g of water was added to the bentonite-taconite mixture and mixed for another three minutes. The mixture was extruded three times using a laboratory-scale extruder with a die-plate and the extrudates were oven-dried at 110° C. to a moisture content of about 8 to 12 weight %. The dried extrudates were ground and resulting particles between 12 and 40 mesh were collected and tested for their performance as illustrated in Table 5. 
       Example 2 
     (Sample L-4) 
       [0045]    368.0 g of bentonite fines (having the size distribution illustrated in Table 1) were mixed with 32.0 g of taconite fines using a kitchen aid mixer for one minute. 21.6 g of sodium silicate solution (37.11 weight % aqueous sodium silicate, product N® from PQ Corporation, Valley Forge, Pa.) and 86.4 g of water were added to the bentonite-taconite mixture and mixed for another three minutes. The resulting mixture was oven-dried at 110° C. to a moisture content of about 8 to 12 weight %. Dried particles between 12 and 40 mesh were collected and tested for their performance as illustrated in Table 4. 
       Example 3 
     (Sample L-5) 
       [0046]    368.0 g of bentonite fines (having the size distribution illustrated in Table 1) were mixed with 32.0 g of taconite fines using a kitchen aid mixer for one minute. 21.6 g of sodium silicate solution (37.11 weight % aqueous sodium silicate, product N® from PQ Corporation, Valley Forge, Pa.) and 86.4 g of water were added to the bentonite-taconite mixture and mixed for another three minutes. The mixture was extruded three times using a laboratory-scale extruder with a die-plate and the extrudates were oven-dried at 110° C. to a moisture content of about 8 to 12 weight %. The dried extrudates were ground and resulting particles between 12 and 40 mesh were collected and tested for their performance as illustrated in Tables 4 and 5. 
       Example 4 
     (Sample M-3) 
       [0047]    A mixture of bentonite fines (having the size distribution illustrated in Table 1) and magnetite fines were blended in a ratio of 92:8 by weight and then fed into an 8″-diameter pin mixer at a feed rate of 485 lb/hr. About 8 gallon/hr of water was also fed into the pin-mixer through a separate port. The pin mixer was operated at a shaft rotation rate of 1500 rpm and had an impeller pin tip speed of about 52 ft/sec. The discharge particles from the pin-mixer were collected and oven-dried at 110° C. to a moisture content of about 8 to 12 weight %. Dried particles exiting the pin mixer were tested for their size distribution: 77.1 weight % of the particles had sizes between 10 and 40 mesh (i.e., 425 μm to 2.00 mm) and 87.2 weight % had sizes between 8 and 50 mesh (i.e., 300 μm to 2.36 mm). A litter sample of dried particles between 12 and 40 mesh (i.e., 425 μm to 1.70 mm) was further tested for inhomogeneity. Prior to being hand-crushed, the litter sample had a D50 of about 1100 μm and 80.4 weight % of the sample was retained on the vertical magnetic mat. Subsequent to being hand-crushed, the litter sample had a D50 of about 670 μm and 78.4 weight % of the sample was retained on the vertical magnetic mat, resulting in an inhomogeneity of about 2 weight %. 
       Example 5 
     (Sample M-4) 
       [0048]    A mixture of bentonite fines (having the size distribution illustrated in Table 1) and magnetite fines were blended in a ratio of 92:8 by weight and then fed into an 8″-diameter pin mixer at a feed rate of 485 lb/hr. About 9 gallon/hr of water was also fed into the pin-mixer through a separate port. The pin mixer was operated at a shaft rotation rate of 1800 rpm and had an impleller pin tip speed of about 63 ft/sec. The discharge particles from the pin-mixer were collected and oven-dried at 110° C. to a moisture content of about 8 to 12 weight %. Dried particles exiting the pin mixer were tested for their size distribution: 48.5 weight % of the particles had sizes between 10 and 40 mesh and 64.6 weight % had sizes between 8 and 50 mesh. Dried particles between 12 and 40 mesh were further tested for their performance as illustrated in Tables 2, 3, and 5. 
       Example 6 
     (Sample M-7) 
       [0049]    A mixture of bentonite fines (having the size distribution illustrated in Table 1) and magnetite fines were blended in a ratio of 90:10 by weight and then fed into an 8″-diameter pin mixer at a feed rate of 490 lb/hr. About 8.5 gallon/hr of water was also fed into the pin-mixer through a separate port. The pin mixer was operated at a shaft rotation rate of 1800 rpm and had an impeller pin tip speed of about 63 ft/sec. The discharge particles from the pin-mixer were collected and oven-dried at 110° C. to a moisture content of about 8 to 12 weight %. Dried particles between 12 and 40 mesh were collected and tested for their performance as illustrated in Tables 2 and 3. 
       Example 7  
     (Sample M-8) 
       [0050]    A mixture of bentonite fines (having the size distribution illustrated in Table 1) and magnetite fines were blended in a ratio of 94:6 by weight and then fed into an 8″-diameter pin mixer at a feed rate of 400 lb/hr. About 7.5 gallon/hr of water was also fed into the pin-mixer through a separate port. The pin mixer was operated at a shaft rotation rate of 1800 rpm and had an impellar pin tip speed of about 63 ft/sec. The discharge particles from the pin-mixer were collected and oven-dried at 110° C. to a moisture content of about 8 to 12 weight %. Dried particles between 12 and 40 mesh were collected and tested for their performance as illustrated in Tables 2 and 3. 
       Example 8  
     (Samples M-14A, M-14B, and M-14C) 
       [0051]    A mixture of bentonite fines (having the size distribution illustrated in Table 1) and magnetite fines were blended in a ratio of 92:8 by weight and then fed into an 8″-diameter pin mixer at a feed rate of 445 lb/hr. About 58 lb/hr of water and 26.4 lb/hr of sodium silicate solution (about 18.6 weight % aqueous sodium silicate, created by diluting product N® from PQ Corporation, Valley Forge, Pa.) were also fed into the pin-mixer simultaneously. The pin mixer was operated at a shaft rotation rate of 1800 rpm and had an impleller pin tip speed of about 63 ft/sec. The discharge particles from the pin-mixer were collected and oven-dried at 110° C. to a moisture content of about 8 to 12 weight %. Dried particles between 12 and 40 mesh (sample M-14A), between 10 and 30 mesh (sample M-14B), and between 8 and 30 mesh (sample M-14C) were collected and tested for their performance as illustrated in Tables 5 and 6. 
       Comparative Examples  
     (Commercial Products A and B) 
       [0052]    Commercial products A and B were analyzed for clump strength and clump weight, as illustrated in Table 3. Commercial product A is a non-metallic, clumpable, bentonite-clay cat litter having particle sizes between about 10 and 40 mesh, and is available under the name Special Kitty® Scented Scoopable Cat Litter (available from Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Bentonville, Ariz.). Commercial product B is a non-metallic, clumpable, bentonite-clay cat litter having particle sizes between about 8 and 40 mesh, and is available under the name Tidy Cats® Small Spaces (available from Nestlé Purina PetCare Company, St. Louis, Mo.). 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Particle Size Distribution for Bentonite Fines 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Sieve/Mesh 
                   
                 Weight 
               
               
                 No. 
                 Size 
                 Fraction 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 16 
                 1.18 
                 mm 
                 0.20% 
               
               
                 20 
                 850 
                 μm 
                 0.31% 
               
               
                 30 
                 600 
                 μm 
                 1.04% 
               
               
                 40 
                 425 
                 μm 
                 13.42% 
               
               
                 50 
                 300 
                 μm 
                 20.90% 
               
               
                 60 
                 250 
                 μm 
                 10.17% 
               
               
                 70 
                 212 
                 μm 
                 7.16% 
               
               
                 100  
                 150 
                 μm 
                 10.48% 
               
               
                 140  
                 106 
                 μm 
                 9.90% 
               
               
                 200  
                 75 
                 μm 
                 7.69% 
               
               
                 325  
                 45 
                 μm 
                 7.64% 
               
               
                 Pan 
                 −45 
                 μm 
                 11.09% 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
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                 TABLE 2 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Magnetically-attractable Litter Magnetic Properties 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Magnetic Retention Rate 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 % Magnetite 
                 After 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Sample 
                 Concentration 
                 1 st  Drop 
                 After 2 nd  Drop 
                 After 3 rd  Drop 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 M-8 
                 6% 
                 34.8% 
                 56.3% 
                 66.6% 
               
               
                 M-4 
                 8% 
                 39.3% 
                 61.6% 
                 69.3% 
               
               
                 M-7 
                 10% 
                 47.3% 
                 70.7% 
                 80.3% 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
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                 TABLE 3 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Magnetically-attractable Litter Clumping Properties 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Magnetite 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Sample 
                 Concentration 
                 Property 
                 15 Minute 
                 1 Hour 
                 4 Hour 
                 24 Hour 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 M-8 
                 6% 
                 Clump Strength (lb) 
                 2.75 
                 3.40 
                 4.90 
                 22.25 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Clump Weight (g) 
                 34.9 
                 36.9 
                 38.8 
                 29.7 
               
               
                 M-4 
                 8% 
                 Clump Strength (lb) 
                 2.00 
                 2.80 
                 3.50 
                 14.38 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Clump Weight (g) 
                 40.8 
                 37.6 
                 37.8 
                 32.9 
               
               
                 M-7 
                 10% 
                 Clump Strength (lb) 
                 2.95 
                 3.80 
                 4.90 
                 20.50 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Clump Weight (g) 
                 37.8 
                 36.1 
                 35.8 
                 32.5 
               
               
                 Commericial 
                 0% 
                 Clump Strength (lb) 
                 1.77 
                 2.40 
                 3.73 
                 14.30 
               
               
                 Product A 
                   
                 Clump Weight (g) 
                 n.a. 
                 n.a. 
                 n.a. 
                 n.a. 
               
               
                 Commericial 
                 0% 
                 Clump Strength (lb) 
                 1.03 
                 1.42 
                 3.4 
                 15.92 
               
               
                 Product B 
                   
                 Clump Weight (g) 
                 31.1 
                 31.7 
                 31.0 
                 25.9 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
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                 TABLE 4 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Impact of Mixing Process on Clumping Properties and Resiliency 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Mixing 
                   
                 15 
                   
                   
                 24 
                   
               
               
                 Sample 
                 Method 
                 Property 
                 Minute 
                 1 Hour 
                 4 Hour 
                 Hour 
                 Resiliency 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 L-4 
                 Low Shear 
                 Clump Strength (lb) 
                 0.65 
                 0.75 
                 0.80 
                 3.00 
                 42.4% 
               
               
                   
                 Agglomeration 
                 Clump Weight (g) 
                 28.8 
                 29.35 
                 29.16 
                 22.55 
               
               
                 L-5 
                 High Shear 
                 Clump Strength (lb) 
                 1.35 
                 1.80 
                 3.30 
                 13.75 
                 83.8% 
               
               
                   
                 Extrusion 
                 Clump Weight (g) 
                 30.31 
                 30.70 
                 30.87 
                 27.86 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
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                 TABLE 5 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Impact of Additive on Clumping Properties 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 Mixing 
                   
                 15 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Sample 
                 Additive 
                 Method 
                 Property 
                 Minute 
                 1 Hour 
                 4 Hour 
                 24 Hour 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 L-2 
                 None 
                 High Shear 
                 Clump Strength (lb) 
                 1.05 
                 1.45 
                 1.60 
                 6.75 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Extrusion 
                 Clump Weight (g) 
                 45.5 
                 40.2 
                 41.5 
                 41.2 
               
               
                 L-5 
                 2% Sodium 
                 High Shear 
                 Clump Strength (lb) 
                 1.35 
                 1.80 
                 3.30 
                 13.75 
               
               
                   
                 Silicate 
                 Extrusion 
                 Clump Weight (g) 
                 30.3 
                 30.7 
                 30.9 
                 27.9 
               
               
                 M-4 
                 None 
                 High Shear 
                 Clump Strength (lb) 
                 2.00 
                 2.80 
                 3.50 
                 14.38 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Pin Mixing 
                 Clump Weight (g) 
                 40.8 
                 37.6 
                 37.8 
                 32.9 
               
               
                 M-14A 
                 1% Sodium 
                 High Shear 
                 Clump Strength (lb) 
                 2.05 
                 2.90 
                 5.00 
                 12.25 
               
               
                   
                 Silicate 
                 Pin Mixing 
                 Clump Weight (g) 
                 33.0 
                 32.7 
                 32.2 
                 26.6 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
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                 TABLE 6 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Impact of Particle Size Distribution on Clumping Properties 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Sample 
                 Particle Size 
                 Property 
                 15 Minute 
                 1 Hour 
                 4 Hour 
                 24 Hour 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 M-14A 
                 12 × 40 mesh 
                 Clump Strength (lb) 
                 2.05 
                 2.90 
                 5.00 
                 12.25 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Clump Weight (g) 
                 32.97 
                 32.68 
                 32.24 
                 26.64 
               
               
                 M-14B 
                 10 × 30 mesh 
                 Clump Strength (lb) 
                 3.40 
                 4.30 
                 6.80 
                 19.25 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Clump Weight (g) 
                 36.02 
                 35.46 
                 32.67 
                 31.91 
               
               
                 M-14C 
                  8 × 30 mesh 
                 Clump Strength (lb) 
                 3.60 
                 4.80 
                 6.70 
                 19.25 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Clump Weight (g) 
                 39.03 
                 36.64 
                 34.26 
                 24.21 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0053]    Although the foregoing text is a detailed description of numerous different embodiments of an animal litter composition, the detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment of an animal litter composition in accordance with the disclosure.