Patent ID: 7037886

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a molded detergent composition, the method comprising steps of: (a) mixing a hydrated component and a hydratable component at a weight ratio of the hydrated component to the hydratable component of about 5:1 to about 20:1 based on the anhydrous weight of each component to provide a mixture: (i) the hydrated component comprising a hydrated salt having a melting point below about 100° C. and comprising a transhydration product of an anhydrous salt and water of hydration, the anhydrous salt having a melting point greater than about 300° C.; (ii) the hydratable component comprising water, if present at all, at a level of less an about 2 wt. % based on the weight of the hydratable component; (iii) the hydratable component comprising a polar organic component which successfully competes with the hydrated component for at least a portion of the water of hydration; and (iv) the hydrated component being provided in a solid state during the step of mixing and in an amount of at least about 40 wt. % based on the weight of the anhydrous salt in the mixture; and (b) molding the mixture by extrusion to provide a molded detergent composition having a melting point greater than about 30° C., wherein the composition solidifies in an amount of time sufficient to provide the composition in a desired molded shape to about 15 minutes.