Agglomeration process for making a detergent composition utilizing existing spray drying towers for conditioning detergent agglomerates

Abstract

The present invention provides a process which produces high density detergent compositions especially suitable for commercialization as a compact detergent product. The process can be easily retrofitted into existing spray drying detergent-making production plants in that it utilizes existing equipment so as to economize the transition from "tower" based to "non-tower" based detergent manufacturing plants. The process comprises the steps of: (a) agglomerating starting detergent ingredients in a mixer/densifier such that detergent agglomerates having a density of at least 650 g/l are formed; (b) conditioning the agglomerates in a spray-drying tower so as to enhance the free flowability of the detergent agglomerates: and (c) admixing adjunct detergent ingredients in the detergent agglomerates, thereby producing the high density granular detergent composition.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.