Patent ID: 6281188
Filing Date: 2001-08-28
Classification: C11D

Abstract:
A non-tower process for manufacture of a granular detergent composition having a density of less than 600 g/l, comprising the steps of;(a) mixing, in an extruder, an anionic surfactant paste comprising from about 35% by weight to about 85% by weight anionic surfactant and from about 15% by weight to about 65% by weight water with a sufficient amount of a particulate water absorbing material to form a solid mass having a penetration value of from about 75 gf to about 4,000 gf, wherein the particulate water absorbing material is selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic precipitated silica, aluminosilicates, sodium carbonate, sodium sulfate, sodium citrate, trisodium phosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP), tetrasodium tripolyphosphate, sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, quaternary ammonium compounds and mixtures thereof;(b) agglomerating the solid mass from step (a) and an amount of one or more adjunct detergent ingredients in a mixer so as to produce agglomerates having an anionic surfactant content of from about 12% by weight to about 60% by weight.