Patent ID: 6150323
Filing Date: 2000-11-21
Classification: C11D

Abstract:
A non-tower process for preparing a granular detergent composition having a density of at least about 600 g/l, consisting of the steps of:(a) dispersing a surfactant, and coating the surfactant with fine powder having a diameter from 0.1 to 500 microns, in a mixer wherein conditions of the mixer include (i) from about 2 to about 50 seconds of mean residence time, (ii) from about 4 to about 25 m/s of tip speed, and (iii) from about 0.15 to about 7 kj/kg of energy condition, wherein the first agglomerates are formed;(b) thoroughly mixing the first agglomerates in a second mixer, said mixer being provided with choppers to break up undesirable oversized agglomerates, wherein conditions of the mixer include (i) from about 0.5 to about 15 minutes of mean residence time and (ii) from about 0.15 to about 7 kj/kg of energy condition, wherein second agglomerates are formed;(c) granulating the second agglomerates in one or more fluidizing apparatus wherein conditions of each of the fluidizing apparatus include (i) from about 1 to about 10 minutes of mean residence time, (ii) from about 100 to about 300 mm of depth of unfluidized bed, (iii) not more than about 50 micron of droplet spray size, (iv) from about 175 to about 250 mm of spray height, (v) from about 0.2 to about 1.4 m/s of fluidizing velocity and (vi) from about 12.degree. to about 100.degree. C. of bed temperature;(d) optionally dispersing an aqueous or non-aqueous polymer solution with said surfactant in step (a); and(e) optically adding an internal recycle system of powder from the fluidizing apparatus to step (a).