Method of making extruded self-clumping granular absorbent

Abstract

A granular absorbent and granular absorbent making method producing granular absorbent from a carbohydrate starch-containing cereal grain, e.g., corn, based admixture extruded from a single screw or twin screw extruder forming liquid absorbing pellets having a clumping agent formed during extrusion composed at least in part of carbohydrate polymer binder. Each pellet is extruded under conditions that cause formation of carbohydrate polymer binder clumping agent at least some of which is water soluble. One preferred method of extruding granular absorbent causes starch dextrinization to occur such that at least some of the carbohydrate polymer binder clumping agent in each liquid absorbing pellet of the granular absorbent is formed of dextrin. Each pellet can be coated such as with a smectite that preferably is bentonite. During use, clumping agent formed during extrusion of a pellet dissolves and flows in between and along adjacent pellets when the pellet(s) is/are wetted causes the pellets to 'self-clump' without the presence of any clumping agent additive producing a granular absorbent that not only performs well but which is faster and easier to clean up as a resulf of its 'self-clumping' formulation.