Patent EA-003404-B1 (EA)
Title: Process for preparing granular detergent compositions
Inventor: BAKKER VERA JOHANNA
IPC: C11D11/00
Filed: 2000-05-26
Abstract: 1. A process for preparing a granular detergent product comprising the steps of: (i) mixing and agglomerating a liquid binder with a solid starting material in a high-speed mixer; (ii) mixing the material from step (i) in a moderate or low-speed mixer; (iii) feeding the material from step (ii) and a liquid binder into a gas fluidization granulator and further agglomerating, and (iv) optionally, drying and/or cooling. 2. The process according to claim 1, in which the high speed mixer operates with tool tip speed of at least 5, preferably at least 10 and more preferably at least 15 m/s. 3. The process according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the high-speed mixer operates at a Froude Number of at least 5, preferably at least 20, more preferably at least 40 and yet more preferably at least 50. 4. The process according to any preceding claim, in which the moderate-or low-speed mixer operates with a tool tip speed of less than 15, preferably less than 10, more preferably less than 8 and yet more preferably less than 6 m/s. 5. The process according to any preceding claim, in which the moderate-or low-speed mixer operates at a Froude Number of less than 30, preferably less than 15, more preferably less than 8, more preferably less than 5, and yet more preferably less than 4. 6. The process according to any preceding claim, in which less than 10 wt% of the total liquid binder added in the process is added in step (ii). 7. The process according to claim 6, in which no liquid binder is added in step (ii). 8. The process according to any of one of the preceding claims, in which the weight ratio of binder added in step (i) to that added in step (iii) is in the range from 20: 1 to 1: 20, preferably from 10: 1 to 1: 10. 9. The process according to any preceding claim, in which the liquid binder comprises one or more anionic surfactants or acid precursors thereof. 10. The process according to any preceding claim, in which the liquid binder comprises one or more nonionic surfactants. 11. The process according to any preceding claim, wherein the liquid binder is at a temperature of at least 50 degree C, when fed into the mixer or gas fluidization granulator. 12. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the liquid binder is a structured blend. 13. The process according to claim 12, in which the structured blend contains a soap-based structurant builder. 14. The process according to any preceding claim, in which the liquid binder added in step (iii) is a structured blend, and the fluidizing gas temperature and/or the atomization gas temperature of the gas fluidization granulator is elevated, as the structured blend is being added, to a temperature within 35 degree C, preferably within 25 degree C and more preferably within 15 degree C, of the pumpable temperature of the structured blend. 15. The process according to claim 14, in which the fluidizing gas temperature and/or the atomization gas temperature is around the pumpable temperature of the structured blend. 16. The process according to any preceding claim, in which the solid starting material comprises an aluminosilicate builder. 17. The process according to claim 16, in which the aluminosilicate builder comprises zeolite MAP. 18. A granular detergent product of bulk density less than 900 g/1 obtained according to the process of the invention.