Patent ID: 8058222

Claim:
A process for manufacturing particles, the process consisting of the steps of: a) feeding a feed material comprising from 55% to 60% of alkyl sulfate surfactant(s) and from 17% to 26% of water into a first extruder comprising an extrusion head, b) mechanically working and cooling the feed material within the first extruder to form an extrudable mass, c) extruding the extrudable mass through the extrusion head to form a strand(s), d) feeding the extruded material to a second extruder comprising an extruder head, e) mechanically working and cooling the feed material within the second extruder to form an extrudable mass, f) extruding the extrudable mass through the extruder head to form strand(s), g) forming particles from the strand(s), wherein the alkyl sulfate surfactant(s) comprises at least 85%, by weight of alkyl sulfate surfactant(s) of formula R 1 â€”Oâ€”SO 3 âˆ’ M + , with R 1 being a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted, optionally alkoxylated, C 6 -C 14 alkyl and with M + being a proton or a cation which provides charge neutrality; and further wherein the feed material further comprises sodium carbonate and/or sodium sulfate; and further wherein the feed material is fed to the first extruder at a temperature comprised between 55Â° C. and 80Â° C. and the temperature of the extrudable mass immediately prior to its extrusion is less than 50Â° C., and h) subsequently drying the particles.