Bentonite is a widely used mineral resource in my country, with abundant reserves and widespread production areas. It is also widely used in various industries. A key characteristic of bentonite is its absorbency. With the development of the pet industry, this property of bentonite has been well utilized, with cat litter being a prime example. So, what equipment is used to produce bentonite cat litter? The Raymond mill, used for bentonite powdering, is one of the main production equipment.
The production process of cat litter is roughly as follows: crushing → granulation → drying → screening → finished product packaging. The equipment used in each step of the process differs. Below, we will introduce the role of the bentonite cat litter production equipment in each stage:
1. Raymond Mill: This is the main equipment in the crushing process. Before crushing, 2%-3% sodium carbonate is added to the bentonite to increase its absorbency (water absorption). After adding sodium carbonate, it is evenly mixed using a mixer or feeder, and then processed into 200-mesh powder using the Raymond mill.
2. Granulator: This is the main equipment in the granulation process. After being crushed by a Raymond mill, the bentonite enters the granulator for granulation. At this stage, approximately 0.2% potassium permanganate solution can be added to disinfect and sterilize the finished cat litter. Adding 1% water glass solution increases the aggregation power of the bentonite powder. Simultaneously, water is added dropwise and evenly during granulation, aiming for a granule size of 0.8-5mm. The resulting cat litter is wet at this stage. Since we want to utilize the absorbency of cat litter, the next step is drying.
3. Rotary Drum Dryer: This dehydrates and dries the granulated, wet bentonite cat litter. The granulated cat litter has a moisture content of around 16%, which we need to reduce to below 6% using a rotary dryer. Because it's dried at high temperature, the freshly dried litter is still warm. It then cools naturally. Due to the strong adsorption properties of bentonite, it absorbs some moisture during cooling. The moisture content of the cooled litter is 6%-8%, which is why we aim to reduce it to 6% rather than directly to 8%.
4. Finished Product Metering and Packaging Equipment: Quantitative packaging is performed according to product requirements. The dried and cooled cat litter is the finished product. However, we rarely sell it in bulk, and prolonged exposure to air can affect its performance. Therefore, after cooling, it needs to be metered, packaged, and stored in a warehouse.