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KR-20260066440-A - Method for manufacturing highly functional biochar bean curd sand for cats and bean curd sand manufactured thereby

KR20260066440AKR 20260066440 AKR20260066440 AKR 20260066440AKR-20260066440-A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing high-performance biochar tofu litter for cats and tofu litter produced thereby. The tofu litter for cats according to the present invention contains porous biochar with a large specific surface area, thereby exhibiting not only significant deodorizing power to reduce indoor odors and fecal odors, but also an increased moisture absorption rate that extends the shelf life. Therefore, by expanding the application of biochar to the pet market beyond the agricultural sector, it is expected to be revitalized as a new industry capable of achieving carbon neutrality while addressing the shortcomings of existing cat litter.

Inventors

  • 서동철
  • 공일근

Assignees

  • 경상국립대학교산학협력단

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20241104

Claims (10)

  1. (a) A step of mixing soybean pulp and starch powder while stirring; (b) a step of adding biochar to the above-mentioned mixed materials and mixing while stirring; (c) a step of extruding the mixed material at a pressure of 300 to 500 bar; and (d) a step of drying the compressed material; comprising, wherein the stirring speed of step (a) is faster than the stirring speed of step (b), a method for manufacturing tofu litter for processing cat feces.
  2. In paragraph 1, A method for manufacturing tofu litter for treating cat feces, characterized in that the soybean pulp, starch, and biochar are mixed in a weight ratio of 75~80:15~21:1~10.
  3. In paragraph 1, A method for manufacturing tofu litter for processing cat feces, characterized in that the stirring in step (a) above is performed at 150 to 200 rpm.
  4. In paragraph 1, A method for manufacturing tofu litter for processing cat feces, characterized in that the stirring in step (b) above is performed at 40 to 60 rpm.
  5. In paragraph 1, A method for manufacturing tofu litter for treating cat feces, characterized in that the soybean pulp, starch, and biochar are each in a weight ratio of 78:20:2.
  6. In paragraph 1, A method for manufacturing tofu litter for processing cat feces, characterized by obtaining pellets with a diameter of 3 to 5 mm through the extrusion of step (c) above.
  7. In paragraph 1, A method for manufacturing tofu litter for treating cat feces, characterized in that the biochar in step (b) above is biochar pyrolyzed at 600°C or higher.
  8. Tofu litter for treating cat feces, containing soybean pulp, starch, and biochar in a weight ratio of 75~80:15~21:1~10.
  9. In paragraph 8, Tofu litter for processing cat feces, characterized in that the soybean pulp, starch, and biochar are each in a weight ratio of 78:20:2.
  10. Tofu litter for disposing of cat feces, manufactured according to any one of the methods of paragraphs 1 to 7.

Description

Method for manufacturing highly functional biochar bean curd sand for cats and bean curd sand manufactured thereby The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing high-performance biochar tofu litter for cats and tofu litter manufactured thereby. As income levels improve and the number of single-person households or nuclear families increases, the population living with pets such as dogs and cats is also rapidly growing, leading to an expansion of the pet supplies market. However, cats have a distinctive odor and a habit of covering their waste with soil or sand after defecating, making cat litter essential for households raising cats to absorb excrement, reduce odors, and maintain a hygienic environment. Conventional cat litter includes urine-absorbing litter utilizing micropores made of silica, paper, or starch, as well as coagulating litter made of mineral-based materials such as bentonite, zeolite, diatomaceous earth, and titanium dioxide that harden excrement. While absorbent litter offers excellent urine absorption, its shape tends to crumble, and its ability to deodorize ammonia odors is poor. Furthermore, paper and grains are scarce, and disposing of excrement is difficult. Cat litter containing minerals cannot be flushed down the toilet and must be disposed of separately in a garbage bag, presenting an inconvenience for use. Additionally, it may contain harmful substances that can cause diseases such as eye infections or skin conditions. To solve the aforementioned problems, cat litter made from tofu has been developed as a material that is relatively lightweight, highly absorbent, and easy to use. Tofu-based cat litter is typically manufactured using soybean curd residue. Soybean curd residue is the residue (soybean meal) remaining after squeezing soy milk; it consists mostly of fiber and water, with trace amounts of soy protein and fat remaining, so it is often used as a famine food or animal feed. Therefore, it is a raw material with a low unit cost, which has the advantage of lowering the raw material costs for cat litter. However, conventional tofu cat litter has the disadvantage of causing dust to fly indoors (so-called desertification), which not only worsens indoor hygiene but can also have an adverse effect on human respiratory health, and can generate unpleasant odors due to poor deodorizing power. The applicants have developed a high-performance biochar tofu litter using high-temperature biochar with a large specific surface area and porous properties to address the problems of currently used tofu litter, such as odor reduction, extended shelf life, and improved moisture absorption capacity. The developed high-performance biochar tofu litter exhibits particularly superior odor reduction effects compared to existing tofu litter and has a longer replacement cycle, thereby completing the present invention. Figure 1 shows a scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of biochar prepared at high temperature. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the manufacturing process of tofu cat litter containing biochar according to the present invention. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the manufacturing process of tofu cat litter that does not contain biochar. Figure 4 is a figure showing photographs of cat feces excreted in the biochar tofu litter and general tofu litter treatment groups, respectively. Figure 5 shows the levels of fecal odor collected in the biochar tofu sand treatment group. Figure 6 shows the atmospheric odor levels captured in the biochar tofu sand treatment group. Figure 7 shows the fecal odor levels collected in the general tofu litter treatment group. Figure 8 shows the atmospheric odor levels collected in the general tofu sand treatment group. Figure 9a is a figure showing a comparison of the complex odors of feces collected in the biochar tofu sand and general tofu sand treatment groups, respectively. Figure 9b is a figure showing a comparison of the complex odors of the atmosphere captured in the biochar tofu sand and general tofu sand treatment groups, respectively. Figure 10a is a figure showing a comparison of trimethylamine in feces collected in the biochar tofu sand and general tofu sand treatment groups, respectively. Figure 10b is a figure showing a comparison of atmospheric trimethylamine captured in the biochar tofu sand and general tofu sand treatment groups, respectively. Figure 11a is a figure showing a comparison of butyric acid in feces collected in the biochar tofu sand and general tofu sand treatment groups, respectively. Figure 11b is a figure showing a comparison of atmospheric butyric acid captured in the biochar tofu sand and general tofu sand treatment groups, respectively. Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. The advantages and features of the present invention and the methods for achieving them will become clear by referring to the embodiments des