Patent ID: 6288021
Filing Date: 2001-09-11
Classification: A61K,A61Q,C11D

Abstract:
A process for making substantially water- and dust-free anionic surfactant granules of high bulk density comprising:(a) providing a starting material comprising a water-containing paste of a monoglyceride (ether) sulfate having a solids content of at least 20% by weight, based on the weight of the paste;(b) providing a horizontally mounted thin-layer evaporator with rotating internals having an entrance opening located at one end of the evaporator and an exit opening located at an opposite end of the evaporator;(c) providing a negative temperature gradient within the evaporator between the entrance opening through which the starting material is introduced into the thin-layer evaporator, and the exit opening through which the granules are emitted;(d) passing air into the evaporator in countercurrent to the flow of starting material; and(e) simultaneously drying and granulating the starting material by passing it through the evaporator to form anionic surfactant granules having a residual water content of below 2% by weight.