Process for the production of tablet form detergent compositions

In a process for manufacturing detergent compositions in tablet form by mixing the ingredients and then tableting the mixture, the improvement comprising the sequential steps of:

• hydrating partially from about 10 to 60 parts by weight of an anhydrous sodium tripolyphosphate with a sufficient quantity of water to form from about 30 mole percent to less than about 80 mole percent of tripolyphosphate hexahydrate;
• mixing said partial hydrate after a residence time of from about 5 to 60 seconds with from about 20 to 70 parts by weight of a powder form, substantially anhydrous, sodium silicate consisting essentially of Na.sub.2 O and SiO.sub.2 in a ratio of from 1:1-4, followed by spraying with water or with an aqueous sodium silicate solution;
• and
• granulating the product by agitation, followed by crystallization;
• adding tableting aids and any remaining ingredients desired to the granulate and further mixing;
• said tableting aids consisting essentially of sodium acetate in a quantity of about 1 to 5% by weight, dicalcium phosphate dihydrate in a quantity of 0.5 to 3% by weight, or a mixture thereof, all based upon the weight of the entire composition to be tableted;
• and
• tableting the composition under pressures of more than 70 Kg/cm.sup.2.