A process for preparing a formulation comprising an alkali metal salt selected from the group consisting of alkali metal bicarbonate salts, alkali metal carbonate salts, alkali metal sesquicarbonate salts and combinations thereof, wherein said process comprises:
- (a) dissolving a functionalizing agent in a solvent to obtain a solution comprising the functionalizing agent;
- (b) mixing the alkali metal salt with the solution comprising the functionalizing agent in a weight ratio so that a paste-like composition comprising the alkali metal salt and the functionalizing agent is formed;
- (c) extruding the paste-like composition to obtain a powder, filaments or granules comprising the solvent, the alkali metal salt and the functionalizing agent;
- and
- (d) at least partially removing the solvent from the powder, filaments or granules to obtain a powder, filaments or granules comprising the alkali metal salt and the functionalizing agent,
- wherein the functionalizing agent is a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinylalcohol (PVOH), a polyglycol, polyethylene glycol (PEG), a polysaccharide, polyacrylic acid (PAA), poly(acrylic acid-co-maleic acid), polyethylenimine, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), N-(2-Hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide (HPMA), poly-galactomannane, and combinations thereof.