Patent ID: 7485614

Claim:
A process for forming a low density detergent granule consisting of: A. providing from about 0.1% to about 6% by weight, of a hydrotrope; B. providing from about 22% to about 50% by weight, of crutcher mix moisture; C. providing from about 0.2% to about 8% by weight, of a water-soluble polymer having a molecular weight of at least about 10,000 g/mol; D. providing from about 2% to about 20% by weight, sodium silicate having a SiO 2 :Na 2 O ratio of at least about 2:1; E. providing the balance of adjunct crutcher ingredients; F. mixing the hydrotrope, crutcher mix moisture, polymer, silicate and adjunct crutcher ingredients in a crutcher to form a slurry; G. injecting a gas into the slurry at a pressure of from about 6,000 kPa to about 13,000 kPa, and at a rate of from about 0.01% to about 0.25% by weight; H. forming the slurry into a detergent granule having a bulk density of from about 300 g/L to 500 g/L; and I. optionally, spraying an adjunct ingredient onto the detergent granule, wherein the slurry is free of zeolite builder and phosphate builder, and wherein the crutcher temperature is maintained at from about 40° C. to about 95° C.