Process for the preparation of crystalline sodium silicates having a sheet structure

In a process for the preparation of crystalline sodium silicate having a sheet structure and an SiO.sub.2 /Na.sub.2 O molar ratio ranging from (1.9 to 3.5):1 from waterglass solution having a sodium silicate content of 20 to 65% by weight comprising

• a) spray-drying the waterglass solution in a spray-drying zone to form an amorphous sodium silicate having a maximum ignition loss of 20% by weight, exhaust gas leaving said spray-drying zone having a temperature of at least 140.degree. C.;
• b) heating in an annealing zone the spray-dried amorphous sodium silicate of step (a) in a rotary tubular kiln inclined 1.degree. to 5.degree. from the horizontal at temperatures ranging from 500.degree. C. to 800.degree. C. for 1 to 60 minutes in order to effect crystallization of said amorphous sodium silicate;
• and
• c) recovering said crystalline sodium silicate from said rotary tubular kiln;
• the improvement consisting essentially of adding 10 weight-% to 50 weight-%, based on the weight of said amorphous sodium silicate, of crystalline sodium silicate obtained by mechanical comminution to the annealing zone in step b) so as to prevent adherence of any material to the walls of said rotary tubular kiln and thereby enable continuous recovery of pulverulent product in step (c).