Spray-dried amorphous alkali metal silicate compound and its use in detergent compositions

A process for the production of a spray-dried amorphous alkali metal silicate compound providing multiple-cycle washing performance comprising spray-drying an aqueous slurry consisting essentially of 15 to 80% by weight of an alkali metal silicate having a molar ratio of M2O to SiO2 of 1:1.5 to 1:3.3 wherein M represents an alkali metal, 1 to 25% by weight of an anionic surfactant comprising a C9-13 alkyl benzene sulfonate, and 10 to 22% by weight water, all weights being based on the weight of said alkali metal silicate compound, and wherein said spray drying is conducted with superheated steam.

A detergent or cleaning composition containing 10 to 16% by weight of zeolite, based on water-free active substance, and 10 to 30% by weight of a spray-dried amorphous alkali metal silicate compound providing multiple-cycle washing performance and having a molar ratio of M2O to SiO2 of 1:1.5 to 1:3.3 wherein M represents an alkali metal, said compound consisting essentially of 15 to 80% by weight of an alkali metal silicate, 0.5 to less than 30% by weight of an anionic surfactant comprising a C9-13 alkyl benzene sulfonate, all weights based on the weight of said alkali metal silicate compound, said compound having an absorption capacity for liquid components which is at least 20% higher than that of the same quantity of said alkali metal silicate compound which is free from anionic surfactant, and wherein said compound has been aftertreated with liquid components that are ingredients of detergents or cleaning compositions.