# US 5,707,958 A · Process for preparing detergent composition having high bulk density

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- Number: US 5,707,958 A
- Document ID: US5707958A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/481,234
- Filed: 1995-06-08
- Granted: 1998-01-13
- Earliest claimed: 1993-07-13
- Assignees: Colgate-Palmolive Company
- Inventors: Gil Albarracin Mallari; Hans Jorgen Andresen; Joseph Raymond Schorle
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5707958A

## CPC

- C11D 11/0082: {one or more of the detergent ingredients being in a liquefied state, e.g. slurry, paste or melt, and the process resulting in solid detergent particles such as granules, powders or beads}
- C11D 17/065: {High-density particulate detergent compositions}
- C11D: DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL

## Abstract

A process for the preparation of a granular detergent composition or component having a bulk density of at least about 700 g/l up to a bulk density of about 1100 g/l comprising: (a) providing a low density, particulate detergent or component stock comprising an organic surfactant, a water-soluble inorganic salt and, optionally, other materials, the stock having a bulk density of no more than about 600 g/l; (b) subjecting the low density, particulate stock to high-shear agglomeration whereby the particulate stock is subjected to high-shear forces in intimate contact with a liquid consisting essentially of water in an amount and for a time sufficient (1) to fluidize, wet with water, and mechanically mill the stock to a smaller particle size and (2) to partially agglomerate the wetted, milled stock; (c) subjecting the partially agglomerated stock to rotating agglomeration for a time sufficient to produce, when dried, a further agglomerated, granular detergent composition or component having a bulk density of at least about 700 g/l; and (d) drying the further agglomerated detergent composition or component. The product produced by the method is also disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A continuous process for the preparation of a granular detergent composition or component having a bulk density of at least about 700 g/l up to a bulk density of about 1,100 g/l comprising:
(a) providing a low density, particulate detergent or component stock comprising an organic surfactant, a water-soluble inorganic salt and optionally, functional adjuvants and spray drying process aids, said stock having a bulk density of from about 300 g/l to no more than about 600 g/l;
(b) subjecting said low density, particulate stock to high-shear particle size reduction and agglomeration whereby said particulate stock is subjected to high-shear forces in intimate contact with a liquid consisting of water in an amount and for a time of at least about 4 minutes, sufficient (1) to fluidize, wet with said water, and mechanically mill said stock to a smaller particle size and (2) to partially agglomerate said wetted milled stock; said low density particulate detergent or component stock having essentially the same chemical composition, exclusive of water, as the dried final product of step d;
(c) subjecting said partially agglomerated stock to rotating agglomeration for a time sufficient to produce, when dried, a further agglomerated, granular detergent composition or component having a bulk density of at least 700 g/l, wherein said high-shear and rotating agglomeration steps are performed sequentially in a zig-zag agglomerator; and
(d) drying said further agglomerated detergent composition or component.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein said low density, particulate detergent or component stock is provided by spray-drying a slurry of said organic surfactant, and water-soluble inorganic salt.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said organic surfactant is an anionic surfactant.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein said inorganic salt is selected from the group consisting of sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium carbonate, sodium aluminum silicate, sodium sulfate, sodium citrate and sodium amine salts.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein said functional adjuvants and spray drying process aids are selected from the group consisting of sodium carboxymethylcellulose, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, sodium maleate polymers, optical brighteners and silicone anti-foam.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein the amount of said liquid present in said high-shear agglomeration step is from about 10% to about 17% by weight based on the weight of said low density stock.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein said granular product of step d is free-flowing, spherical and has a particle size in the range of from about 150 microns to about 2 mm.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein said further agglomerated detergent composition or component is dried by evaporative drying.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The process of claim 8 wherein said evaporative drying of said composition or component is conducted in a fluidized bed dryer.