Entry No. 003
Junior (under 14)/ Senior (14 and above)
Senior (14 and above)
Category
6.2.1.1(6) Visionary Technologies
Classification
C. combination
Country / Region Thailand
Name of Invention/Artwork Smart MyceLitter
Outline of the entry
Objectives
1. To develop cat litter from mushroom mycelium, a waste material, low cost and environmentally friendly.
2. To study the water absorption capacity of cat litter from mushroom mycelium compared to bentonite mineral cat litter and tofu cat litter commonly available in the market.
3. To develop disease analysis from cat urine color using AI technology.
Methods
1. Separate the mycelium from the gray oyster mushroom spawn.
2. Bake to kill the mushroom and remove moisture at 100°C for 30 minutes.
3. Grind into a fine powder.
4. Mix the mycelium powder with tapioca flour to make it moldable in a ratio of 1:1 by mass, then add 70°C water and mix well.
5. Bake at 100°C for 30 minutes and press into pellets.
6. Soak 10 g of mycelium cat litter in 250 cm3 of water for 2 hours and weigh it after absorbing water. Repeat the experiment 3 times. Do the same with bentonite cat litter and tofu cat litter to compare the absorption capacity.
7. Train AI to analyze cat diseases based on urine color.
Expected Outcomes
1. Mycelium from gray oyster mushroom can be a practical and environmentally friendly cat litter.
2. Mycelium cat litter has a high absorption capacity compared to cat litters sold in the market.
3. Cat diseases can be analyzed from the color of urine on mycelium cat litter using AI.
Expected Benefits
1. Eco-friendly, biodegradable and compostable, helps reduce environmental pollution.
2. Sustainable, using agricultural waste materials can promote a circular economy and reduce production costs.
3. Safe for pets and humans, mycelium is derived from nature and is non-toxic.
4. Pet Health Monitoring, helping cat owners detect urine color changes early using AI to identify health issues.
Characteristics of the entry
Conventional cat litter products, which are mostly made of clay or bentonite, cause serious environmental problems. Clay extraction results in habitat destruction, high energy consumption, and increases carbon emissions. In addition, many commercial cat litters are expensive, non-biodegradable, and cause long-term landfill waste problems, which are not environmentally friendly.
Beyond environmental challenges, traditional cat litters are often not white, making it difficult to observe the color of cat urine, which prevents cat owners from taking care of their pets’ health. Early detection of abnormalities, such as changes in urine color, is important in diagnosing cat diseases such as urinary tract infections or kidney disease.
To meet these challenges, this project presents an innovative cat litter made from mushroom fibers (mycelium). Mushrooms grow rapidly on agricultural waste, requiring only a small amount of resources such as water and soil. Mycelium material is an agricultural waste material, naturally absorbent, biodegradable, and can eliminate odors without the use of chemical additives. In addition, the resulting cat litter has a natural white color from the mycelium, which can be observed to analyze cat diseases by observing the color of cat urine.
The entry addresses three major problems.
1. Environmental Sustainability, reducing the ecological footprint of litter production and disposal.
2. Health and safety, mycelium is natural, biodegradable, and non-toxic.
3. Pet Health Monitoring, assisting cat owners in observing urine color changes to identify potential health issues early with the help of AI.
This innovation offers a sustainable alternative to traditional litter by using agricultural byproducts. It is eco-friendly, safe, efficient, and promotes environmental protection and pet welfare.
Demonstration details
• The device provides an eco-friendly, health-monitoring cat litter made from mushroom fibers (mycelium). It absorbs water well and shows urine color without chemicals.
• A demonstration will simulate how the MyceLitter absorbs liquid while keeping its structure. Colored liquids will show healthy and unhealthy cat urine, helping owners detect potential health issues early. Biodegradability will be shown by composting used litter samples, illustrating natural decomposition over time versus traditional bentonite litter.
• The project incorporates AI technology for real-time analysis of urine color. Using a smartphone, the AI system examines the color of the urine and cross-references it with a database of common feline health conditions. This assists owners in identifying potential health issues such as urinary tract infections or kidney problems early, facilitating timely care.
• This device reduces environmental impact and enhances pet care through sustainability and preventive health monitoring.
Other notes about the entry (if any)
• The MyceLitter has been tested under simulated usage conditions, including liquid absorption. Preliminary results indicate its better absorption compared to standard bentonite and tofu litter and its ability to maintain clear visibility of urine color for health monitoring purposes.
• All materials used are eco-friendly, non-toxic, and locally sourced, supporting low-cost, scalable production possibilities. The product design is adaptable for mass production and customization based on different cat sizes or owner preferences.
• Future developments may include improving odor control properties through the selection of specific mushroom species and improving applications to analyze cat diseases using AI.
Information on patent, utility model, trademark, etc. application
–
Number of Team Members
2
Student
Miss Petrada Linchum August 28, 2007 plinchum@gmail.com
Miss Aeitan Namsaeng April 12, 2007 nasaengkxngyi@gmail.com