Patent ID: 7811980

Claim:
A process for preparing a spray dried powder comprising (i) anionic detersive surfactant; (ii) from 0 wt % to 10 wt % zeolite builder; (iii) from 0 wt % to 10 wt % phosphate builder; and (iv) optionally from 0 wt % to 15 wt % silicate salt; wherein the process comprises the steps of: (a) forming an alkaline slurry in a mixer, the slurry being at a temperature of 50° C. to 90° C. and being: (v) essentially free from anionic detersive surfactant, the slurry comprising; (vi) from 0 wt % to 15 wt % water; and (vii) at least 5 wt % carbonate salt; and (b) transferring the alkaline slurry from the mixer through a slurry disintegration mixer and through at least one pump to a spray pressure nozzle; (c) contacting an acid anionic detersive surfactant precursor that is at a temperature of 20° C. to 50° C. to the alkaline slurry after the mixer and before the spray pressure nozzle to form a mixture; (d) spraying the mixture through the spray pressure nozzle into a spray-drying tower; (e) spray-drying the mixture to form a spray-dried powder; and (f) optionally, contacting an alkalinity source with the alkaline slurry and/or the acid anionic detersive surfactant precursor, and/or the mixture; and (g) spraying a nonionic surfactant onto said spray dried powder.