KR102704752B1 - Method for manufacturing cat litter mixed with antibacterial extract and cat litter produced accordingly - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing cat litter mixed with an antibacterial extract, comprising the steps of: mixing 80 to 90 wt% of bentonite, 10 to 20 wt% of zeolite, and an antibacterial extract (S100); mixing an inorganic adhesive into the bentonite and zeolite antibacterial sand mixed with the antibacterial extract (S200); processing and molding it into a ball shape (S300); firing the molded bentonite and zeolite antibacterial sand (S400); and drying the bentonite and zeolite antibacterial sand mixed with the antibacterial extract (S500). The present invention manufactures bentonite and zeolite antibacterial sand using a natural antibacterial composition having an antibacterial function, thereby preventing infection by harmful bacteria other than E. coli that can be transmitted through direct or indirect contact, and eliminating odor generated from cat feces.

Description

Method for manufacturing cat litter mixed with antibacterial extract and cat litter produced accordingly

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing cat litter containing bentonite and zeolite mixed with an antibacterial extract, and to cat litter manufactured thereby. The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing cat litter containing bentonite and zeolite mixed with an antibacterial extract capable of preventing infection by harmful microorganisms such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and to cat litter manufactured thereby.

Cats are the most beloved pets in the world along with dogs. However, the temperament and charm of cats and dogs are completely different. For example, the concept of training does not apply to cats. Unlike dogs who are loyal to their owners, cats are quite independent animals. In addition, cats are animals that enjoy spending time alone, so if there is a toy that suits their taste, they will spend the whole day playing with it. That is why some people say that cats are the best pets for modern people.

Cats have been revered and tabooed for thousands of years since they have been with humans. In ancient Egypt, they were worshipped as goddesses, and in Thailand, the Siamese cat was considered precious as a cat that only royalty could keep. In Japan, calico cats were a symbol of good luck, but in Korea, cats were considered unlucky. However, the number of people raising cats has been increasing rapidly in Korea recently. They are all people who are completely captivated by the charm that cats exude. They all say that it is not easy to open up to a cat, but once you do, the thrilling connection you share with them is incomparable to anything else.

In Chinese characters, it is called 'myo' (猫), and a male cat is called 'nangmyo' (낭묘), a female cat is called 'nyeomyo' (女猫), a spotted cat is called 'pyohwamyo' (豹花猫), and a wild cat is called 'yamyo' (野猫). All domestic cats currently raised at home are domesticated versions of the Libyan cat (Felissilvestris lybica), which is distributed across Africa, Southern Europe, and India. It is known that over 200 million of them are raised worldwide. It is said that about 5,000 years ago, wild cats from Libya in northern Africa were domesticated by ancient Egyptians and gradually spread to various parts of the world.

Among the litter boxes for cats, regular litter is not easy to find in the city and has problems such as bacterial infection, bad smell, and difficulty in disposal, so it is convenient to use cat litter sold at pet supply stores. Pour the litter box at least 5cm deep and clean the litter box every time the cat uses the litter box, or at least once a day. Cleaning is enough to scoop out the urine and feces and replenish the missing sand. You can save sand by using a sieve-shaped tool to scoop out the excrement. Cats who naturally like cleanliness may use other places in the house as a toilet if there is not enough litter box or the litter box is dirty, so always provide plenty of sand and clean it every day.

There are several diseases that cats can carry, including:

Rabies: Transmitted when bitten by a rabid animal and exposed to its saliva. Unlike dogs, cats use a killed vaccine for rabies prevention. The first dose is given around 16 weeks of age, the second dose is given at 12 months of age, and then booster doses are given annually.

Toxoplasmosis: A type of parasite that can infect all warm-blooded animals. The most common route of infection for humans is when eggs of Toxoplasma gondii contaminated with undercooked meat or poorly washed vegetables enter the mouth. It can also be transmitted through flies, cockroaches, garden soil, and rarely through pet feces. Once infected, antibodies are produced, so like measles, you will not get it twice in your lifetime, but if a pregnant woman without antibodies is infected, it can cause miscarriage in severe cases.

Korean: ...

When using cat litter, it is important to remove germs and odors from cat feces. The following are related patents.

Korean Patent No. 10-2603812 (cat litter additive) has antibacterial and deodorizing functions, including a first additive manufactured by mixing zeolite pulverized material and rice bran pulverized material and then calcining it, or a fifth additive manufactured by mixing zeolite pulverized material, bentonite pulverized material, and rice bran pulverized material and then calcining it.

Korean Patent No. 10-2611279 (Method for producing cat litter additive having odor decomposition and removal, antibacterial and sterilizing activities for use mixed in cat litter) discloses a method for producing cat litter additive having odor decomposition and removal, antibacterial and sterilizing activities by adding cat litter additive having odor decomposition and removal, antibacterial and sterilizing activities to cat litter used for cats raised as pets, thereby absorbing and coagulating secretions such as feces and urine generated by the cat, thereby making it easy and convenient to solidify and collect the excrement for post-processing, and having the function of deodorizing by absorbing ammonia, which is the cause of the foul odor caused by feces and urine.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2019-0138525 (Method for Manufacturing Cat Litter) manufactures cat litter by mixing calcium sulfate, bentonite, and molasses, thereby facilitating cat waste disposal and eliminating foul odors from the waste.

Recently, attempts have been made to utilize natural antibacterial materials that can replace bentonite and zeolite as cat litter to provide safe and convenient products for use in the home, and to solve problems such as diseases and pollutant odors. Plant extracts have been used for food or medicine, and recently, research on substances with antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer effects using these resources is being actively conducted.

In the case of food, there are many reports on the antibacterial effect against bacteria harmful to the human body, but research on suppressing harmful bacteria by adding natural antibacterial substances to sand and other substances is in its initial stages.

There is an urgent need to develop a natural antibacterial agent for sand that comes into direct or indirect contact between humans and animals, such as cats, and it is necessary to develop cat litter that has excellent antibacterial effects against E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and deodorizing effects, which the above-mentioned prior patents did not present, by mixing such natural antibacterial agent extracts.

Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-2603812 Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-2611279 Republic of Korea Publication Patent No. 10-2019-0138525

The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a method for manufacturing cat litter, in which antibacterial extracts consisting of a citric acid extract, a thuja leaf extract, and a stone moss extract are mixed based on bentonite and zeolite to prevent infection by harmful microorganisms that can be transmitted through direct or indirect contact by having an antibacterial effect from a mixture of natural extracts with guaranteed safety, and to remove ammonia odor from cat urine and feces, and a cat litter manufactured thereby.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the method for manufacturing cat litter mixed with an antibacterial extract according to the present invention is

A method for producing a bentonite and zeolite antibacterial sand, comprising: a step (S100) of mixing 80 to 90 wt% of bentonite, 10 to 20 wt% of zeolite, and an antibacterial extract; a step (S200) of mixing an inorganic adhesive into the bentonite and zeolite antibacterial sand mixed with the antibacterial extract; a step (S300) of processing and molding into a ball shape; a step (S400) of calcining the molded bentonite and zeolite antibacterial sand; and a step (S500) of drying the bentonite and zeolite antibacterial sand mixed with the antibacterial extract, wherein the antibacterial extract is a mixture of a citric acid extract, a thuja leaf extract, and a stonecrop extract.

The above step (S100) mixes 15 to 20 parts by weight of an antibacterial extract containing a mixture of citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and acanthaceae extract with 100 parts by weight of bentonite and zeolite.

In the above step (S100), the antibacterial extracts are mixed in a ratio of 60:20:20, including citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aconite extract.

In the above step (S200), 1 to 3 parts by weight of an inorganic adhesive is mixed with 100 parts by weight of bentonite and zeolite.

Meanwhile, in order to achieve the above purpose, the cat litter containing the antibacterial extract according to the present invention is composed of 100 parts by weight of bentonite and zeolite, 15 to 20 parts by weight of an antibacterial extract containing a mixture of citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and acanthaceae extract, and 1 to 3 parts by weight of an inorganic adhesive.

At this time, 80 to 90 weight% of bentonite and 10 to 20 weight% of zeolite are mixed to form a composition.

And citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aconite extract are mixed in a ratio of 60:20:20.

As described above, the present invention having the above-described composition has the effect of preventing infection by harmful microorganisms such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus that can be transmitted through direct or indirect contact by manufacturing cat litter by mixing natural antibacterial extracts with bentonite and zeolite.

In addition, cat litter mixed with an antibacterial extract manufactured according to the present invention completely inhibits the growth of harmful microorganisms such as E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, thereby being effective in protecting the health of cats.

Additionally, natural antibacterial extracts help maintain a pleasant environment by absorbing and eliminating odors.

Furthermore, in addition to its antibacterial effect, citric acid extract has the effect of removing odors such as ammonia, and thuja leaf extract and stonecrop extract have the effect of improving skin health, helping prevent skin problems in cats.

Figure 1 is a flow chart of a method for manufacturing cat litter mixed with an antibacterial extract according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a photograph of the test area treatment of the test strains Escherichia coli ATCC 11775 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 used in the present invention.
Figure 3 is a photograph of cat litter mixed with an antibacterial extract according to the present invention being dried at room temperature.
Figure 4 is a graph showing the inhibition activity against E. coli over time of cat litter using bentonite and zeolite in which citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aconite extract are mixed in a ratio of 60:20:20, respectively, according to the present invention, and cat litter using bentonite and zeolite in which citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aconite extract are mixed in different ratios according to the present invention.
Figure 5 is a graph showing the inhibition activity against Staphylococcus aureus over time of cat litter using bentonite and zeolite in which citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aconite extract are mixed in a ratio of 60:20:20, respectively, according to the present invention, and cat litter using bentonite and zeolite in which citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aconite extract are mixed in different ratios according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a graph showing the persistence of ammonia odor deodorization over time in cat litter using bentonite and zeolite in which citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aconite extract are mixed in a ratio of 60:20:20, respectively, according to the present invention, and in cat litter using bentonite and zeolite in which citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aconite extract are mixed in different ratios according to the present invention.

The advantages and features of the present invention and the methods for achieving them will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail together with the accompanying drawings.

However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but may be implemented in various different forms.

The embodiments herein are provided so that this disclosure will be complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

And, the present invention is defined only by the scope of the claims.

Accordingly, in some embodiments, well-known components, well-known operations, and well-known techniques are not specifically described to avoid obscuring the present invention.

Additionally, throughout the specification, like reference numerals refer to like elements, and the terminology used (or referred to) in this specification is for the purpose of describing embodiments and is not intended to limit the present invention.

In this specification, the singular includes the plural unless the context specifically dictates otherwise, and the mention of components and actions as “including (or comprising)” does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other components and actions.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein may be used in a commonly understood sense by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs.

Additionally, terms defined in commonly used dictionaries are not to be interpreted ideally or excessively unless they are defined otherwise.

Citric acid was first isolated from lemon juice in 1784 by the chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele. Citric acid can exist in anhydrous and hydrated forms. The anhydrous form can be crystallized from a hot citric acid solution, and the hydrate can be prepared from cold water. Citric acid hydrate can be converted to the anhydrous form by heating it to 78°C.

The most common use of citric acid is as a flavoring agent or preservative in foods and beverages. Citric acid has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, which helps extend the shelf life of foods.

Thuja leaves are the tips and leaves of the thuja tree. They are also called baekyeop (柏葉). They can be collected at any time, but young branches with leaves are usually cut in spring and fall and dried in the shade. They are bitter and astringent in taste and slightly cold in nature. They act on the lung meridian, liver meridian, and large intestine meridian. They eliminate heat evil from the blood and stop bleeding. Pharmacological experiments have shown that the leaves have a hemostatic effect by constricting blood vessels and promoting blood clotting.

Thuja leaves have antibacterial effects against various bacteria and fungi, and also have anti-inflammatory effects. These effects are helpful for dermatitis, wound healing, and oral health.

Seokchangpo refers to the bark or bark with some of the periderm removed of Cinnamomum cassia Blume (肉桂) of the Lauraceae family or a closely related plant of the same genus. Seokchangpo promotes blood circulation, removes coldness in the chest and abdomen, increases appetite, promotes digestion, and is used for paralysis of the limbs, etc. It suppresses spasmodic pain in the stomach, promotes movement of the gastrointestinal tract, expels gas, and improves absorption. It also has an antiseptic effect that suppresses abnormal fermentation in the intestines.

Seokchangpo has an anti-inflammatory effect, so it helps alleviate inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and dermatitis.

The inventor of the present invention has studied and worked on problems that existing technologies could not solve, and as a result, has confirmed that when a combination or mixture of a citric acid extract, a thuja leaf extract, and a stonecrop extract is treated, the mixture exhibits effective antibacterial and inhibitory abilities against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and is also effective in removing odors, thereby providing a pleasant environment for both cats and people, and has thus completed the present invention.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method for manufacturing cat litter mixed with an antibacterial extract according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a photograph of a test area treatment of Escherichia coli ATCC 11775 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 test strains used in the present invention, FIG. 3 is a photograph of drying cat litter mixed with an antibacterial extract according to the present invention at room temperature, FIG. 4 is a graph showing the E. coli inhibition activity over time of cat litter using bentonite and zeolite in which citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aster extract were mixed at a ratio of 60:20:20, respectively, according to the present invention, and cat litter using bentonite and zeolite in which citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aster extract were mixed at different ratios of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a graph showing the E. coli inhibition activity over time of cat litter using bentonite and zeolite in which citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aster extract were mixed at a ratio of 60:20:20, respectively, according to the present invention, and cat litter using citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aster extract This graph shows the inhibition activity against Staphylococcus aureus over time for cat litter using bentonite and zeolite mixed in a ratio of 60:20:20 and cat litter using bentonite and zeolite mixed with different ratios of the citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and scutellaria baicalensis extract according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a graph showing the persistence of ammonia odor deodorization over time for cat litter using bentonite and zeolite mixed with different ratios of the citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and scutellaria baicalensis extract according to the present invention, and cat litter using bentonite and zeolite mixed with different ratios of the citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and scutellaria baicalensis extract according to the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, the method for manufacturing cat litter mixed with an antibacterial extract according to the present invention is as follows.

Mix 80 to 90 wt% of bentonite, 10 to 20 wt% of zeolite, and an antibacterial extract (S100).

Bentonite powder (80 to 90 wt%) and zeolite powder (10 to 20 wt%) are 3-10 Bentonite and zeolite are natural and synthetic silicate minerals with regular arrangements of cavities (tunnels or open channels) of various sizes. Both bentonite and zeolite have cavities, but they differ in that bentonite has a layered structure and zeolite has a three-dimensional structure.

In a stirrer, mix 80 to 90 wt% of bentonite powder, 10 to 20 wt% of zeolite powder, and an antibacterial extract for 2 to 3 hours.

When the bentonite content is less than 80%, the following problems occur:

Bentonite is a component with excellent coagulation ability that absorbs moisture and forms lumps. If the bentonite content is less than 80%, the coagulation ability decreases, making it difficult to remove feces, and the feces can easily clump or become mushy.

Bentonite also has a deodorizing ability that absorbs odors such as ammonia. If the bentonite content is less than 80%, the deodorizing ability decreases and the stool smell may become stronger.

Bentonite also has a dehumidifying ability that absorbs moisture and regulates humidity. If the bentonite content is less than 80%, the dehumidifying ability decreases and the litter may become wet or moldy.

When the bentonite content exceeds 90%, the following problems occur:

Bentonite is a component that generates a lot of dust. If the bentonite content exceeds 90%, the amount of dust increases, which has a negative impact on the respiratory health of cats and humans.

When the zeolite content is less than 10%, the following problems occur:

Zeolite has a stronger deodorizing power than bentonite. If the zeolite content is less than 10%, the deodorizing power decreases and the stool smell may become stronger.

When the zeolite content exceeds 20%, the following problems occur:

Zeolite and bentonite are minerals with similar properties, but zeolite has better heavy metal adsorption and cation exchange ability, and zeolite is an expensive component compared to bentonite. When the zeolite content exceeds 20%, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost increases and the price rises.

For the above reasons, it is desirable to mix 80 to 90 wt% of bentonite powder and 10 to 20 wt% of zeolite powder.

The antibacterial extract used is a mixture of citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aconite extract.

Mix 15 to 20 parts by weight of antibacterial extracts containing citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aconite extract with 100 parts by weight of bentonite and zeolite for 2 to 3 hours. If the mixing is not done for more than 2 hours, the antibacterial extracts will not be sufficiently absorbed by the bentonite and zeolite, resulting in a reduction in the antibacterial and deodorizing effects.

When the antibacterial extract content is less than 15 parts by weight, the following problems occur:

Citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and scutellaria baicalensis extract each have antibacterial effects. If the content of the antibacterial extract is less than 15 parts by weight, the antibacterial effect may decrease and the growth of bacteria contained in cat feces may not be prevented.

Citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and sedum extract also have deodorizing effects. If the content of the antibacterial extract is less than 15 parts by weight, the deodorizing effect may decrease and the stool odor may become stronger.

When the antibacterial extract content exceeds 20 parts by weight, the following problems occur.

Antibacterial extracts are expensive ingredients. If the content of antibacterial extracts exceeds 20 parts by weight, the manufacturing cost increases and the price increases. In addition, antibacterial extracts can irritate the skin of cats. If the content of antibacterial extracts exceeds 20 parts by weight, it irritates the skin of cats.

As mentioned above, the content of antibacterial extract has a significant impact on the antibacterial effect and deodorizing effect of cat litter. It is ideal for the content of antibacterial extract to be within the range of 15 to 20 parts by weight, and if it is outside this range, problems may occur in terms of antibacterial effect, deodorizing effect, price, and skin irritation of cats.

The antibacterial extract is a mixture of citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aconite extract in a ratio of 60:20:20, and is described in detail with reference to the drawing below.

Inorganic adhesive is mixed with bentonite and zeolite antibacterial sand mixed with antibacterial extracts (S200).

Specifically, 1 to 3 parts by weight of inorganic adhesive are added to 100 parts by weight of bentonite and zeolite, and stirred for 10 to 30 minutes. If less than 1 part by weight of inorganic adhesive is mixed, the bonding strength decreases and the sand returns to a powder form, and if more than 3 parts by weight is mixed, the antibacterial sand hardens, and the cat feces and urine absorption rate decreases.

Processed and molded into a ball shape (S300).

The bentonite and zeolite of the present invention are produced and processed in the form of ore powder, and to produce balls, seed (basic circular) balls are made, and then the seed balls are placed in a processing molding machine and formed into balls by spraying ore powder and water.

After the bentonite and zeolite antibacterial sand are put into a processing molding machine and made into sizes ranging from 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm, a sorting machine, that is, a sorting machine equipped with a 0.5 mm mesh net at the bottom and a 2.5 mm mesh net at the top, is used to sort the formed ball-shaped antibacterial sand into the correct size.

The formed bentonite and zeolite antibacterial sand are calcined (S400).

The formed bentonite and zeolite antibacterial sand are placed in a heat treatment kiln (furnace) and processed into functional balls through a high-heat treatment process (sintering process) at 150 to 200°C.

For high heat treatment, the minimum firing temperature should be between 150℃ and 200℃ (optimum is 170℃). When the temperature is below 150℃, the functional balls made in the mixing furnace have low adhesive strength when immersed in the mixer, making it difficult to maintain their shape during immersion and causing them to break back into powder form.

In addition, when processed at a temperature of 200℃ or higher, the cavities inside the crystal through which molecules can pass are reduced, so that less than 10 weight of cavities are formed per 100 weight parts of functional balls, and the mixed extract cannot sufficiently penetrate, so a sufficient antibacterial effect is not exhibited.

Dry the bentonite and zeolite antibacterial sand mixed with antibacterial extracts (S500).

Sufficient antibacterial effect is achieved by drying the functional ball mixed with antibacterial extracts in a natural drying state or in a dryer at a temperature of 20 to 70℃ for 12 hours.

At this time, if the drying temperature is lower than 20℃, the drying time increases and the extract is not sufficiently absorbed into the cavity, which reduces the efficiency of the manufacturing process and the antibacterial effect. If the drying temperature is higher than 70℃, the antibacterial component of the mixture may separate from the functional ball and vaporize.

It is desirable to purchase natural raw materials such as citric acid and thuja leaves, extract them in distilled water, and mix the liquid to use as an extract. It is desirable to purchase the extract of Seokchangpo, extract it in distilled water, and use the liquid as an extract.

In the antibacterial composition, citric acid and the extracts of thuja leaves and aconite can be extracted using at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of water, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, methanol, propanol, butanol, glycerin, and butylene glycol. In the present invention, water was used to extract citric acid, thuja leaves, and aconite.

It is desirable that the mixing ratio of citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aconite extract be 60:20:20.

Such an antibacterial composition can have antibacterial effects against bacteria killed by treating a natural extract, and it is preferable that the antibacterial composition is adsorbed to bentonite and zeolite to have an antibacterial effect against the infection of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

These antibacterial compositions can be used in various places for the purpose of preventing bacterial infections to manufacture antibacterial products, for example, they can be manufactured into bentonite and zeolite antibacterial sand by grafting them onto cat litter or other sands for stability and environmental reasons.

Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described in more detail. However, the following examples are provided only to help understand the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited thereby.

[Manufacture of citric acid extract]

When saccharides are used as substrates and cultured with microorganisms, citric acid can be accumulated in the culture solution. This is called citric acid fermentation or citric acid fermentation. More than 90% of the citric acid currently produced in the world is produced by this fermentation method. In industry, molasses is used as a substrate and black mold is mainly used as a microorganism causing citric acid fermentation. Citric acid can be obtained by fermenting for 7-10 days under acidic conditions.

[Production of thuja leaf extract]

After putting thuja leaves in water 10 times their weight, they were steeped at 100℃ or higher for 2 hours, and then the solids were removed using a 100-mesh sieve to prepare a thuja leaf extract.

[Manufacturing of Seokchangpo extract]

After putting Seokchangpo in water 10 times its weight, it was steeped at 100℃ or higher for 2 hours, and then the solid content was removed using a 100-mesh sieve to prepare Seokchangpo extract.

[Experimental method]

Referring to Figure 2, the test strains used were Escherichia coli ATCC 11775 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538.

The target strain is grown in MH broth at 37℃ for 18 to 24 hours.

Natural products were prepared using a two-fold serial dilution method with the original solution set to 100% according to the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test method of CLSI (CLSI, 2020).

Each natural product was dispensed at 200 μL in a 96-well plate, and the final concentration of the target strain per well was 105 CFU/mL. After incubation at 37°C for 18 hours, the minimum concentration at which no bacteria grew was determined as the MIC.

1. 850 g of bentonite, 150 g of zeolite, and 200 mL of antibacterial extract mixed with citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aconite extract in a ratio of 60:20:20 were placed in a beaker and mixed for 3 hours.

2. Add 20g of inorganic adhesive to the beaker and mix for 20 minutes.

3. The excrement sand mixed with antibacterial extracts and inorganic adhesives from bentonite and zeolite was placed in a processing molding machine and processed to a thickness of 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm.

4. The processed and molded excrement sand was placed in a heat treatment kiln and fired at 170℃.

5. The antibacterial sand was naturally dried at room temperature of 25 degrees for 12 hours (see Figure 3).

6. Test strain: Citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aconite extract were treated at a ratio of 60:20:20 (v/v) out of 100 weight = 2:1, mixed under the appropriate strain growth conditions, and sampled at a set time. (Strain treatment concentration: ^1x107 CFU/mL)

7. The sampled culture solution was diluted 10-fold from 100 to 10-8 and dispensed onto petrifilm (3M, USA). After culturing at 37°C for 24 hours, the bacterial count was measured.

[Experimental Example 1] Analysis of antibacterial effect of citric acid extract

Escherichia coli Addition ratio of citric acid extract Test site 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Antibacterial efficacy - - + ++ ++ ++ note -: No antibacterial activity was observed
+: Antibacterial effect is visible but not strong
++: Strong antibacterial power

As shown in Table 1, the antibacterial effect against E. coli was observed from the addition of 30% citric acid extract, and the antibacterial effect was higher as the concentration increased from the addition of 40% or more.

Staphylococcus aureus Addition ratio of citric acid extract Test site 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Antibacterial efficacy - - + ++ ++ ++ note -: No antibacterial activity was observed
+: Antibacterial effect is visible but not strong
++: Strong antibacterial power

Referring to Table 2, antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus was observed from the addition of 30% citric acid extract, and the antibacterial activity increased as the concentration increased from 40% or higher.

[Experimental Example 2] Analysis of antibacterial effect of thuja leaf extract

In this test example, the antibacterial effect of the thuja leaf extract was analyzed. It can be seen that the results of the antibacterial effect of each thuja leaf extract from 10% to 90% on E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus were shown. 100 uL of each diluted thuja leaf extract was inserted into the well of the plate to confirm the antibacterial activity, and the strain treatment for E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus was used at a concentration of 1x10 ⁵ CFU/well.

Escherichia coli Dilution ratio of thuja leaf extract Test site Fungus 10% 20% 30 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% Minimum
Inhibitory concentration 1x10 ⁵ - - - + + + + + + note Bacteria: Treated with Escherichia coli ( E. coll KCTC 2441) as a control
-: Bacteria grow, +: Antibacterial effect appears and bacteria do not grow

As shown in Table 3, antibacterial activity against E. coli was observed starting from the addition of 40% of thuja leaf extract.

Staphylococcus aureus Dilution ratio of thuja leaf extract Test site Fungus 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% Minimum
Inhibitory concentration 1x10 ⁵ - - - - - - + + + note Bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus KCTC 3881) was treated as a control group.
-: Bacteria grow, +: Antibacterial effect appears and bacteria do not grow

As shown in Table 4, antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus was observed starting from the addition of 70% thuja leaf extract.

[Experimental Example 3] Analysis of antibacterial effect of Seokchangpo extract

In this test example, the antibacterial effect of the Achyranthes root extract was analyzed. It can be seen that the results of the antibacterial effect of each Achyranthes root extract from 10% to 100% on E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus were shown. 100 uL of each diluted Achyranthes root extract was inserted into the well of the plate to confirm the antibacterial activity, and the strain treatment for E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus was used at a concentration of 1x10 ⁵ CFU/well.

Escherichia coli Dilution ratio of Seokchangpo extract Test site Fungus 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Minimum
Inhibitory concentration 1x10 ⁵ - - - + + + + + + + note Bacteria: Treated with Escherichia coli ( E. coll KCTC 2441) as a control
-: Bacteria grow, +: Antibacterial effect appears and bacteria do not grow

As shown in Table 5, antibacterial activity was observed against E. coli starting from the point where 40% of the Seokchangpo extract was added.

Staphylococcus aureus Dilution ratio of Seokchangpo extract Test site Fungus 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Minimum
Inhibitory concentration 1x10 ⁵ - - - - - - - - - + note Bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus KCTC 3881) was treated as a control group.
-: Bacteria grow, +: Antibacterial effect appears and bacteria do not grow

As shown in Table 6, antibacterial activity was observed against Staphylococcus aureus when 100% of the extract of Seokchangpo was added.

Examples and Comparative Examples

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with examples and comparative examples. A person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can change the present invention into various other forms other than the compositions described in the examples below, and the following examples are only intended to illustrate the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the technical idea of the present invention to the scope of the examples below.

[Example 1] Citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aconite extract were mixed in a ratio of 60:20:20.

850 g of bentonite, 150 g of zeolite, and 200 mL of an antibacterial extract mixed with citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aconite extract in a ratio of 60:20:20 were placed in a beaker and mixed for 3 hours. Then, 20 g of inorganic adhesive was placed in the beaker and mixed for 20 minutes.

Bentonite and zeolite, antibacterial extracts, and inorganic adhesives were mixed into the excrement sand and processed and molded into 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm in a molding machine. The processed and molded excrement sand was then put into a heat treatment kiln and fired at 170°C. The antibacterial sand was then naturally dried at room temperature of 25°C for 12 hours.

Citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aconite extract were treated at a weight ratio of 60:20:20 out of 100 weight, mixed under the appropriate strain growth conditions, and sampled at a set time. (Strain treatment concentration: ^1x107 CFU/mL)

The sampled culture solution was diluted 10-fold from 100 to 10-8 and dispensed onto petrifilm (3M, USA), and the bacterial count was measured after culturing at 37°C for 24 hours.

[Example 2]

The same procedure as Example 1 was carried out, except that 100 mL of an antibacterial extract was mixed in a ratio of 60:20:20 of citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aconite extract.

[Example 3]

The same procedure as Example 1 was followed, except that 50 g of inorganic adhesive was added.

[Comparative Example 1] Citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aconite extract were mixed in a ratio of 40:30:30.

The same procedure as Example 1 was carried out, except that citric acid, thuja leaf extract, and aconite root extract were mixed in a ratio of 40:30:30.

[Comparative Example 2] Citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aconite extract were mixed in a ratio of 30:35:35.

The same procedure as Example 1 was followed, except that citric acid, thuja leaf extract, and aconite root extract were mixed in a ratio of 30:35:35.

[Comparative Example 3] Citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aconite extract were mixed in a ratio of 20:40:40.

[Antibacterial effect test results]

Referring to FIG. 4, Example 1, in which the citric acid extract, the thuja leaf extract, and the aster extract were mixed at a ratio of 60:20:20, respectively; Example 2, in which the citric acid extract, the thuja leaf extract, and the aster extract were mixed at a ratio of 60:20:20, respectively, but the amount of the antimicrobial extract was only half that of Example 1; Example 3, in which the citric acid extract, the thuja leaf extract, and the aster extract were mixed at a ratio of 60:20:20, respectively, but more than twice the amount of the inorganic adhesive of Example 1; Comparative Example 1, in which the citric acid extract, the thuja leaf extract, and the aster extract were mixed at a ratio of 40:30:30, respectively; Comparative Example 2, in which the citric acid extract, the thuja leaf extract, and the aster extract were mixed at a ratio of 30:35:35, respectively; and Comparative Example 3, in which the citric acid extract, the thuja leaf extract, and the aster extract were mixed at a ratio of 20:40:40, respectively. Comparative Example 3 shows the time-dependent E. coli inhibitory activity.

Example 2 maintained the E. coli inhibitory ability to some extent for 6 hours, but the inhibitory ability disappeared rapidly thereafter, and Example 3 disappeared rapidly after 1 hour. Comparative Example 1 gradually decreased in inhibitory ability over time, but it was not bad, and Comparative Examples 2 and 3 also gradually decreased in inhibitory ability over time, to a level worse than Comparative Example 1, but it was not serious. It was confirmed that Example 1 of the present invention effectively inhibited E. coli for 48 hours.

Referring to FIG. 5, Example 1, in which the citric acid extract, the thuja leaf extract, and the aster extract were mixed at a ratio of 60:20:20, respectively; Example 2, in which the citric acid extract, the thuja leaf extract, and the aster extract were mixed at a ratio of 60:20:20, respectively, but the amount of the antimicrobial extract was mixed only half that of Example 1; Example 3, in which the citric acid extract, the thuja leaf extract, and the aster extract were mixed at a ratio of 60:20:20, respectively, but more than twice the amount of the inorganic adhesive of Example 1; Comparative Example 1, in which the citric acid extract, the thuja leaf extract, and the aster extract were mixed at a ratio of 40:30:30, respectively; Comparative Example 2, in which the citric acid extract, the thuja leaf extract, and the aster extract were mixed at a ratio of 30:35:35, respectively; and Comparative Example 3, in which the citric acid extract, the thuja leaf extract, and the aster extract were mixed at a ratio of 20:40:40, respectively. Comparative Example 3 shows the inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus by time period.

Example 2 maintained the inhibitory ability against Staphylococcus aureus to some extent for 2 hours, but the inhibitory ability disappeared rapidly thereafter, and Example 3 disappeared rapidly after 1 hour. Comparative Example 1 gradually decreased in inhibitory ability over time, but it was not bad, and Comparative Examples 2 and 3 also gradually decreased in inhibitory ability over time, to a level worse than Comparative Example 1, but not to a serious level. It was confirmed that Example 1 of the present invention effectively inhibited Staphylococcus aureus for 48 hours.

Antibacterial activity against E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus division Early 24 hours later
After incubation 1 hour
lapse 2 hours
lapse 6 hours
lapse 12 hours
lapse 24 hours
lapse Escherichia coli
(E.coll KCTC 2441) Example 1 2.6x10 ⁵ 4.3x10 ⁵ - - - - - Example 2 2.6x10 ⁵ 4.3x10 ⁵ - 1.6x10² 4.5x10² 5.8x10 ³ 3.6x10 ⁴ Example 3 2.6x10 ⁵ 4.3x10 ⁵ - 3.4x10² 6.7x10² 8.3x10 ⁴ 5.2x10 ⁵ Comparative Example 1 2.6x10 ⁵ 4.3x10 ⁵ - - 0.6x10² 1.1x10² 4.6x10 ² Comparative Example 2 2.6x10 ⁵ 4.3x10 ⁵ - - 0.8x10² 1.4x10² 5.4x10 ² Comparative Example 3 2.6x10 ⁵ 4.3x10 ⁵ - - 0.8x10² 1.6x10² 6.7x10 ² Staphylococcus aureus
(S.aureus KCTC 3881) Example 1 1.8x10 ⁵ 4.2x10 ⁵ - - - - - Example 2 1.8x10 ⁵ 4.2x10 ⁵ - 2.3x10² 4.8x10² 7.2x10 ³ 5.3x10 ⁴ Example 3 1.8x10 ⁵ 4.2x10 ⁵ - 4.2x10² 7.5x10 ² 9.4x10 ⁴ 8.1x10 ⁵ Comparative Example 1 1.8x10 ⁵ 4.2x10 ⁵ - - 1.1x10² 2.3x10² 4.3x10 ² Comparative Example 2 1.8x10 ⁵ 4.2x10 ⁵ - - 1.3x10² 2.6x10² 4.7x10 ² Comparative Example 3 1.8x10 ⁵ 4.2x10 ⁵ - - 1.5x10² 2.8x10² 4.9x10 ²

-: Fungi do not grow

Table 7 shows the results of measuring the number of E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria for 24 hours. In Example 1, the antibacterial activity against E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus continued from 1 hour to 2 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours. In Example 2, E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus did not grow for up to 1 hour, but after 2 hours, E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus began to increase, and after 6 hours, the antibacterial activity against E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus began to decrease rapidly. Example 2 mixed half the amount of antibacterial extract compared to Example 1, but it seems that the effect was reduced because the amount of antibacterial extract mixed was less than the amount of bentonite and zeolite.

In Example 3, E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus did not grow for up to 1 hour, but after 1 hour, E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus began to increase, and after 2 hours, the antibacterial activity against E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus began to decrease rapidly. In Example 3, more than twice the amount of inorganic adhesive was mixed compared to Example 1, but it seems that the amount of inorganic adhesive was too large compared to the amount of bentonite and zeolite, which hardened the excrement sand and prevented the antibacterial effect from being properly observed.

In Comparative Example 1, E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus did not grow for up to 2 hours, after which E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus began to grow slowly, and after 6 hours, the number of E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus was observed to be noticeably high. It appears that the antibacterial effect decreased as the specific gravity of the citric acid extract was lowered and the specific gravity of the thuja leaf and aconite extracts was increased.

In Comparative Example 2, E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus did not grow for up to 2 hours, after which E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus began to grow slowly, and after 6 hours, the number of E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus was noticeably observed. The effect was lower than in Comparative Example 1, and it seems that the antibacterial effect was further reduced as the specific gravity of the citric acid extract was lowered and the specific gravity of the thuja leaf and aconite extracts was increased.

In Comparative Example 3, E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus did not grow for up to 2 hours, after which E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus began to grow slowly, and after 6 hours, the number of E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus was noticeably observed. The effect was lower than that of Comparative Example 2, and it seems that the antibacterial effect was further reduced because the specific gravity of the citric acid extract was too low.

[Results of the ammonia odor deodorizing effect experiment]

Referring to Figure 6, the results of measuring the ammonia gas concentration in cat litter for 48 hours are shown.

Example 1 confirmed that the ammonia concentration did not increase and that the odor removal effect was excellent. In Example 2, the ammonia odor removal effect decreased over time. It seems that the small amount of antibacterial extract mixed in the litter box affected the deodorizing effect. In Example 3, the ammonia odor removal effect decreased over time. It seems that the litter box hardened as a large amount of inorganic adhesive was mixed in, preventing it from performing the deodorizing effect properly.

Comparative Example 1 showed a gradual decrease in deodorizing effect over time, but not to a serious degree. Comparative Examples 2 and 3 also showed a decrease in deodorizing effect over time, but were better than Comparative Example 1. Numerically, Comparative Example 2 showed a slightly better deodorizing effect than Comparative Example 3. In addition to the antibacterial effect, citric acid also has a deodorizing effect. When the specific gravity of citric acid was greater than that of the thuja leaves and aconite (Example 1), the deodorizing effect was the best. When the specific gravity of citric acid was less than that of the thuja leaves and aconite but the difference was not large, the deodorizing effect was poor (Comparative Example 1). However, the deodorizing effect of the thuja leaves and aconite seems to be more effective as the specific gravity of the thuja leaves and aconite becomes greater than that of the citric acid (Comparative Examples 2 and 3).

According to the results of this experiment, it was found that mixing 15 to 20 parts by weight of an antibacterial extract containing a mixture of citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and acanthus root extract with 100 parts by weight of a mixed cat litter of bentonite and zeolite, mixing 1 to 3 parts by weight of an inorganic adhesive, and mixing the citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and acanthus root extract in a ratio of 60:20:20 not only has excellent antibacterial properties against E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, but is also effective in removing ammonia odor.

As described above, the present invention can ensure antibacterial properties with safety when applying a natural antibacterial composition containing a mixture of citric acid, thuja leaf extract, scutellaria baicalensis extract, and inorganic adhesive to a product requiring antibacterial function and odor removal, and thus has the characteristic of preventing infection by harmful bacteria.

In particular, by adsorbing the extract according to the present invention onto bentonite and zeolite, the application cases can be expanded to various products that require guaranteed safety and environmental aspects such as odor, and thus it is expected that the extract can be actively utilized in various business groups.

The above description is merely an example of the technical idea of the present invention, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and variations of similar natural and synthetic bentonites and zeolites can be made without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention.

Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not intended to limit the technical idea of the present invention, but to explain it, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The protection scope of the present invention should be interpreted by the scope of the patent claims, and all technical ideas within the scope equivalent thereto should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the rights of the present invention.

Claims (7)

A step (S100) of mixing an antibacterial extract into 80 to 90 wt% of bentonite and 10 to 20 wt% of zeolite;
Step (S200) of mixing an inorganic adhesive into the bentonite and zeolite antibacterial sand mixed with the above antibacterial extract;
Step of processing and molding into a ball shape (S300);
Step of calcining the formed bentonite and zeolite antibacterial sand (S400);
Including a step (S500) of drying bentonite and zeolite antibacterial sand mixed with antibacterial extracts,
The above step (S100) is
15 to 20 parts by weight of an antibacterial extract mixed with citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aconite extract are mixed with 100 parts by weight of bentonite and zeolite, and the citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aconite extract are mixed in a ratio of 60:20:20.
The above step (S200) is
A method for manufacturing cat litter mixed with an antibacterial extract, characterized by mixing 1 to 3 parts by weight of an inorganic adhesive with 100 parts by weight of bentonite and zeolite.
delete delete delete It is composed of 15 to 20 parts by weight of an antibacterial extract mixed with citric acid extract, thuja leaf extract, and aconite extract, and 1 to 3 parts by weight of an inorganic adhesive, with 100 parts by weight of bentonite and zeolite,
Cat litter mixed with an antibacterial extract, characterized in that it is composed by mixing 80 to 90 wt% of the above bentonite and 10 to 20 wt% of the above zeolite, and the citric acid extract, the thuja leaf extract, and the aconite extract are mixed in a ratio of 60:20:20.
delete delete