TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a process for the production of detergent powders
containing anionic detergent-active compounds, by slurry-making and spray-drying.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
[0002] Spray-dried detergent powders are generally produced by preparing an aqueous slurry
of detergent-active compounds, builder and other salts, sodium silicate, fluorescers
and other non-heat-sensitive ingredients, and then spray-drying the slurry to form
a free-flowing powder. Ingredients unsuitable for spray-drying, such as bleaches,
perfumes and enzymes, may be postdosed subsequently to the spray-dried base powder.
[0003] Anionic detergent-active compounds such as alkylbensene sulphonates are incorporated
in spray-dried detergent powders via the slurry. Alkylbenzene sulphonates are manufactured
by sulphonation of the corresponding alkylbensene to give a sulphonic acid which can
then be neutralised with a suitable base, for example, sodium or potassium hydroxide,
sodium carbonate, ammonia or triethanolamine, to give the salt of the desired cation.
The sodium salt, which is the most commonly used salt in detergent powders, is generally
prepared by neutralisation with aqueous sodium hydroxide solution to yield a paste
containing 50% or more water, and that material can be incorporated directly in the
slurry.
[0004] It has already been proposed to omit a separate neutralisation step by dosing the
alkylbenzene sulphonic acid directly into the slurry-making vessel and neutralising
it there with sodium hydroxide solution: this procedure is disclosed, for example,
in GB-A-1 151 767 (Colgate-Palmolive) and GB-A-1 355 187 (Unilever). The heat liberated
in the neutralisation reaction is useful for heating the slurry to the desired temperature
which is generally about 80°C. The alkylbensene sulphonic acid is conventionally one
of the first ingredients introduced into the slurry-making vessel, and is neutralised
with sodium hydroxide solution before other ingredients are added. It has hitherto
been believed that it is essential to neutralise the sulphonic acid before any sodium
silicate is added, in order to prevent those components from interacting to form relatively
insoluble siliceous compounds which could seriously affect the solubility of the finished
detergent powder and could also lead to jet blocking during the spray-drying operation.
[0005] It has now been found that it is possible to delay the addition of sulphonic acid
until a later stage in the slurry-making process without encountering this disadvantage.
The new procedure gives both product and process benefits, especially in the manufacture
of powders containing a relatively high level of anionic detergent-active material.
[0006] EP-A-242138, published 21.10.87, forms part of the state of the art by reason of
Article 54(3) EPC. This document discloses a procedure in which alkylbenzene sulphonic
acid is added to slurry containing sodium carbonate.
DEFINITION OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention provides a process for the manufacture of a particulate detergent
composition, which comprises the steps of:
(i) preparing an aqueous slurry comprising one or more anionic non-soap detergent-active
compounds, and one or more alkaline inorganic salts, and
(ii) spray-drying the slurry to form a powder;
wherein in step (i) an anionic detergent-active compound is incorporated in wholly
or predominantly acid form into the slurry after the incorporation of alkaline material
in an amount such that a total of at least two equivalents of alkaline material per
equivalent of the said acidic detergent-active compound are present, with the proviso,
that sodium carbonate is not used as the only alkaline inorganic salt.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0008] A significant characteristic of the invention is the incorporation of an anionic
detergent-active compound wholly or predominantly in its acid form at a relatively
late stage in the slurry-making process, when a large reservoir of alkaline material
is already present in the slurry.
[0009] The invention is applicable to the incorporation of any anionic detergent-active
compound having a stable acid form. It is of especial interest in relation to sulphonic
acids, especially alkylaryl sulphonic acids, more especially C₈-C₁₅ alkylbenzene sulphonic
acids, both linear and branched. It may be advantageous for the sulphonic acid to
be partially neutralised, for example, up to 10% by weight neutralised, before introduction
into the slurry-making vessel: a neutralisation level of about 5% appears to be especially
beneficial. This can be helpful in stabilising the sulphonic acid and preventing it
from darkening in colour during storage. When the sodium salt of the sulphonic acid
is desired, such preneutralisation is conveniently carried out with aqueous sodium
hydroxide solution. For convenience, acid or partially neutralised acid added to the
slurry will be referred to hereinafter simply as "sulphonic acid".
[0010] At the time at which the sulphonic acid is introduced into the slurry-making vessel,
there must already be present at least twice as much alkaline material as is required
fully to neutralise the sulphonic acid. This will generally be constituted in part
by a base such as sodium hydroxide which is especially intended for the purpose, in
part by alkaline sodium salts present as builders, and possibly in part by alkaline
sodium silicate. It is normally desirable to include in the slurry sufficient sodium
hydroxide solution or other alkali to neutralise the sulphonic acid fully but in the
manufacture of low-pH detergent powders intended for washing delicate fabrics it may
be preferable to use a less than stoichiometric quantity of alkali and allow the neutralisation
reaction to be completed by the alkaline builder salts present.
It is even possible for neutralising alkali to be omitted completely and the neutralisation
reaction to be effected entirely by means of alkaline salts.
[0011] If the detergent composition prepared in accordance with the invention is to include
alkaline sodium silicate, the silicate is preferably incorporated in the slurry before
the sulphonic acid, and thus contributes to the alkaline material, mentioned previously,
that must be present in at least a twofold amount relative to the sulphonic acid at
the time when the latter component is added.
[0012] Preferred examples of alkaline builder salts present in the slurry when the sulphonic
acid is added are sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium carbonate and mixtures of these.
These materials are commonly used in detergent powders as builders which sequester
or precipitate calcium and magnesium salts in the wash liquor. They generally comprise
at least 25% by weight of the detergent powder so that if they are incorporated in
the slurry before addition of the sulphonic acid they can serve as a large alkaline
buffer to prevent or minimise any adverse interaction between sodium silicate and
sulphonic acid. Efficient stirring in the slurry-making vessel also helps to eliminate
such adverse interaction.
[0013] Any alkali added to the slurry specifically for neutralisation of the sulphonic acid
of course makes an additional contribution to the reservoir of alkaline material in
the slurry. In the case of alkylbenzenesulphonic acid, the amount of sodium hydroxide
required to neutralise the sulphonic acid completely generally ranges from 10 to 20g
per 100g sulphonic acid. This relatively large variation occurs because the amount
of sulphuric acid present as a by-product in the sulphonic acid can vary quite widely:
it is likely to be higher in sulphonic acids prepared by oleum sulphonation than in
sulphonic acids prepared by sulphur trioxide sulphonation. Sodium hydroxide solution
of specific gravity 1.5 is conveniently used as the neutralising alkali.
[0014] When a neutralising alkali is used, it need not be introduced into the slurry before
the sulphonic acid, provided that sufficient alkaline material from other sources
is present when the sulphonic acid is added. It may be preferable to add the alkali
and sulphonic acid simultaneously.
[0015] The process of the invention gives several worthwhile advantages. One has already
been mentioned: if sodium silicate is present, interaction between sodium silicate
and sulphonic acid to form insoluble species can be minimised. Sodium silicate is
a desirable ingredient in detergent compositions because it improves powder structure,
prevents corrosion of washing machine parts in use, and provides building capacity
(towards magnesium ions). The process of the invention is, however, also beneficial
for the production of silicate-free powders and gives other advantages applicable
both to silicate-containing and to silicate-free powders.
[0016] Better control of the slurry temperature during the in-situ sulphonation step can
be achieved than in the prior art process when the sulphonic acid is neutralised before
addition of the builder salts and other components, because of the larger mass of
material present, and available to act as a heat sink, at the time of the addition
of the sulphonic acid. This benefit is especially noticeable when spray-dried powders
containing 20% by weight or more of alkylaryl sulphonate are prepared: using the prior
art procedure, so much heat may be generated under those circumstances that the slurry
can boil over.
[0017] A less aerated slurry is also obtained by the process of the invention, especially
when other, high-foaming anionic, surfactants such as alkyl sulphates or alkyl ether
sulphates are absent. A less aerated slurry gives a spray-dried powder of higher particle
density, and allows high bulk density powders to be prepared without the need for
a separate deaeration step. A less aerated slurry is also less bulky so that larger
batches of slurry can be processed in a given slurry-making vessel: for powders containing
high levels of alkylbenzene sulphonate (20% or more) an increase in batch size of
up to 20% has been achieved, leading to a corresponding increase in the output of
the slurry making plant. Pumping of a less aerated slurry is also easier because its
viscosity is lower and cavitation problems are less likely to occur.
[0018] Another benefit of the process of the invention is seen when sodium tripolyphosphate
is a major building and structuring component of the powder: in a preferred embodiment
of the invention, all sodium tripolyphosphate is added before the addition of the
sulphonic acid. The temperature of the slurry at the time at which the sodium tripolyphosphate
is added is then lower than in the prior art process in which the sulphonic acid neutralisation
step has already occurred and raised the slurry temperature. The sodium tripolyphosphate
can dissolve and hydrate more quickly at a lower temperature: this ensures that less
degradation of the tripolyphosphate occurs during spray-drying, and also favours the
growth of very small sodium tripolyphosphate hexahydrate crystals in the slurry, thus
giving spray-dried powders of improved structure and absorptivity. Advantageously,
a period of at least 2 minutes may be allowed to lapse between addition of the sodium
tripolyphosphate and addition of the sulphonic acid to the slurry, in order to maximise
hydration of the sodium tripolyphosphate before any temperature increase due to the
neutralisation reaction occurs.
[0019] In a typical slurry-making plant, the finished slurry is pumped, first via low-pressure
pipes and then via high-pressure pipes, to a distribution manifold for the atomising
nozzles of a spray-drying tower. As an alternative to incorporating the sulphonic
acid in the slurry-making vessel itself, it may be injected either into the low-pressure
pump or pipes, or into the high-pressure pump or pipes. It has been found especially
beneficial to inject the sulphonic acid into the high-pressure pump or pipes, very
shortly before the slurry arrives at the spray-nozzle distribution manifold.
[0020] In this procedure slurry aeration and interaction with other materials in the slurry,
particularly other detergent-active materials, are minimised: this is of especial
advantage if nonionic surfactants are present, since alkylbenzene sulphonates can
form viscous phases with nonionic surfactants in slurries, especially when the weight
ratio of alkylbenzene sulphonate to nonionic surfactant is within the range of from
1:5 to 5:1. Furthermore, the slurry viscosity is lower before the addition of the
sulphonic acid, and this lower viscosity can be exploited to the full, in easier pumping
operations, if the sulphonic acid addition is delayed as long as possible.
[0021] Alkylbenzene sulphonic acids are fairly viscous liquids at ambient temperatures but
can be pumped without too much difficulty using positive displacement pumps. It has
been found that sulphonic acid can be used at ambient temperature if it is to be added
to the slurry-making vessel. When the alternative procedure of injection into a slurry
transfer pump or pipe is to be used, however, the sulphonic acid is preferably heated
to a temperature of about 50 to 60°C to lower its viscosity to a value at which accurate
metering with a pump of the piston type is possible. An alternative method of reducing
the viscosity of the sulphonic acid is to premix it with a viscosity-lowering ingredient,
especially a nonionic surfactant, but this method is suitable only for preparing powders
in which the viscosity-lowering ingredient is required.
[0022] The process of the invention may be used with advantage to prepare any spray-dried
detergent powder containing an anionic detergent-active compound having a stable acid
form. This will normally be a sulphonate-type anionic detergent, especially an alkylaryl
sulphonate and more especially a C₈-C₁₅ linear alkylbenzene sulphonate. Other anionic
detergent-active compounds may also be present, for example, primary and secondary
alkyl sulphates, olefin sulphonates, alkane sulphonates, alkyl ether sulphates, and
fatty acid ester sulphonates.
[0023] Nonionic surfactants may also be used in detergent powders prepared according to
the invention. These include the primary and secondary alcohol ethoxylates, especially
the C₁₂-C₁₅ primary and secondary alcohols ethoxylated with an average of from 3 to
20 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.
[0024] It may also be desirable to include one or more soaps of fatty acids. The soaps which
can be used are preferably sodium soap derived from naturally occurring fatty acids,
for example, the fatty acids from coconut oil, beef tallow, sunflower or hardened
rape seed oil.
[0025] The total amount of detergent-active material (surfactant), excluding soap, in detergent
powders prepared according to the invention is generally within the range of from
5 to 40% by weight. For low-sudsing powders intended for use in European front-loading
automatic washing machines the preferred range is from 5 to 20% by weight, with a
weight ratio of anionic surfactant to nonionic surfactant not exceeding 10:1, and
preferably not exceeding 6:1. As indicated above, however, the present invention is
especially applicable to the manufacture of medium- and high-sudsing powders containing
higher levels of anionic surfactant and/or higher ratios of anionic surfactant to
nonionic surfactant.
[0026] Detergent powders prepared in accordance with the invention will also comprise one
or more detergency builders, suitably in an amount of from 10 to 60% by weight. Detergency
builders are very well known to those skilled in the art and include sodium tripolyphosphate,
orthophosphate and pyrophosphate; crystalline and amorphous sodium aluminosilicate;
sodium carbonate; and monomeric and polymeric polycarboxylates, for example, sodium
citrate, nitrilotriacetate and polyacrylate, and acrylic copolymers. As mentioned
above, at least some of the builders incorporated in the powder must be alkaline salts.
[0027] Other inorganic salts without a detergency building function, for example, sodium
sulphate, may also be included in detergent powders prepared according to the invention.
[0028] Detergent powders prepared according to the invention will also generally contain
various additives to enhance the efficiency of the product, notably bleach systems,
antiredeposition agents, fluorescers, lather suppressors, enzymes and perfumes. These
may be added to the slurry or postdosed into the spray-dried powder in accordance
with their known suitability for undergoing spray-drying processes.
EXAMPLES
[0029] The invention will now be illustrated in further detail by the following non-limiting
Examples.
Example 1
[0030] A slurry was prepared in a batch slurry-making apparatus from the following ingredients,
added in the order listed:
[0031] The contents of the slurry-making vessel were stirred continuously during the preparation
of the slurry. During addition of the sulphonic acid, which was at ambient temperature,
the temperature of the slurry rose from about 80°C to about 85°. It was noticeable
that much less air than usual was entrained in the slurry during its preparation.
[0032] It will be noted that at the time of addition of the alkylbenzene sulphonic acid
(746 equivalents) to the slurry, 16782 equivalents of alkaline material (16033 equivalents
from the sodium tripolyphosphate and 749 equivalents from the sodium hydroxide) were
available in the slurry-making vessel, that is to say, the equivalent ratio of alkali
to sulphonic acid was 22:1 without counting the sodium silicate and minor ingredients.
[0033] The slurry was transferred via low and high-pressure transfer pipes to a spray-drying
tower, 162 parts of a nonionic surfactant being injected into the high-pressure slurry
transfer pipe just before it entered the spray jet distribution manifold.
[0034] The solubility of the powder was assessed by stirring 4g into 400 ml of water at
a temperature of 40°C for 2 minutes and then filtering the undissolved material. The
weight of undissolved material under these test conditions should be less than 0.16g
for a detergent powder, equivalent to 4% undissolved powder: the weight of undissolved
material is greatly affected by the amount of insoluble siliceous material present.
[0035] Under the above testing conditions, the level of undissolved material in the detergent
powder of Example 1 was very satisfactory at 1.1%. The sulphonic acid used in Example
1 had been prepared by sulphonating an alkylbenzene with sulphur trioxide and air
on a falling film reactor. It was of very good quality and contained only 0.9% by
weight of free sulphuric acid.
Example 2
[0036] This Example describes the preparation of a high-sudsing detergent powder containing
20% by weight of alkylbenzene sulphonate. The alkylbenzene sulphonic acid used had
been prepared by reacting the corresponding alkylbenzene directly with 20% oleum and
then allowing the resulting mixture of sulphonic and sulphuric acids to separate into
two layers; its sulphuric acid content was 6.9% by weight.
[0037] A slurry was prepared in a batch slurry-making vessel by adding the following ingredients
with mixing, in the order stated:
[0038] It will be noted that at the time of addition of the alkylbenzene sulphonic acid
(3525 equivalents) to the slurry, 16155 equivalents of alkaline material from the
sodium tripolyphosphate and the sodium hydroxide were available, that is to say, the
equivalent ratio of alkali to sulphonic acid was 4.6:1.
[0039] The slurry temperature before addition of the sodium tripolyphosphate was 56°C and
this rose to 72°C after a 2-minute period to allow the sodium tripolyphosphate to
hydrate: this temperature rise indicated that 93% hydration has been achieved. During
addition of the alkylbenzene sulphonic acid the temperature rose by a further 22°C
to a final value of 94°C; at no time during the slurry-making process was heat from
an external source applied to the vessel.
[0040] The degree of aeration of the slurry after all the slurry ingredients had been added
was significantly less than normal. The slurry was easy to pump.
[0041] Without deaeration the slurry was transferred to a spray-drying tower and spray-dried
to give a free-flowing powder having a bulk density of 413 g/litre.
[0042] The standard dissolution test described in Example 1 established that the dissolving
properties of the detergent powder were very good. The amount of undissolved material
remaining after 2 minutes' stirring was only 0.1%. This result confirmed that no adverse
reaction between the sulphonic acid and the sodium silicate had occurred in the slurry.
Comparative Example A
[0043] The same ingredients as in Example 2, in the same proportions, were dosed into an
identical slurry-making vessel in the following order:
[0044] During addition of the sulphonic acid the temperature in the slurry-making vessel
rose by 42°C. The extent of hydration of the sodium tripolyphosphate was 83%. The
slurry was considerably more aerated than that of Example 2, so that a smaller batch
size (about 80% of that of Example 2) had to be used. The slurry was spray-dried to
form a powder having a bulk density of 390 g/litre.
Example 3
[0045] This Example illustrates an alternative procedure according to the invention, in
which alkylbenzene sulphonic acid was injected continuously into the slurry immediately
before the slurry reached the distribution manifold for the spray nozzles of the spray-drying
tower.
[0046] In a batch slurry-making vessel a slurry was prepared from the following ingredients,
added with thorough mixing in the order listed:
[0047] The slurry was pumped through low and high-pressure pipes to the distribution manifold.
The alkylbenzene sulphonic acid used in Example 1 (689 parts) was injected continuously
at a pressure of 50 bar into the slurry just before it entered the manifold: the slurry
pressure at this point was 45 bar. A simple static in-line mixer installed after the
injection point ensured that the sulphonic acid mixed well with the slurry. Further
and more intense local mixing also took place in the high shear swirl type of spray
jets in the spray-drying tower.
[0048] At the point of injection of the sulphonic acid (2110 equivalents) to the slurry,
20457 equivalents of alkaline material (18315 equivalents from the sodium tripolyphosphate
and 2142 equivalents from the sodium hydroxide) were present in the slurry, that is
to say, the equivalent ratio of alkali to sulphonic acid was 9.7:1, without counting
the alkali present in the sodium silicate solution and minor ingredients.
[0049] The spray dried detergent powder had very good physical properties and a bulk density
of 490 g/litre.
The level of undissolved material remaining after 2 minutes' stirring in water at
40°C was 0.1%. This very low result confirmed that no unusual adverse reaction had
occurred between the injected sulphonic acid and the silicate in the slurry leading
to the formation of high levels of insoluble siliceous material.
1. A process for the manufacture of a particulate detergent composition, which comprises
the steps of:
(i) preparing an aqueous slurry comprising one or more anionic detergent-active compounds,
and one or more alkaline inorganic salts, and
(ii) spray-drying the slurry to form a powder;
wherein in step (i) an anionic detergent-active compound is incorporated in wholly
or predominantly acid form into the slurry after the incorporation of alkaline material
in an amount such that a total of at least two equivalents of alkaline material per
equivalent of the said acidic detergent-active compounds are present, with the proviso,
that sodium carbonate is not used as the only alkaline inorganic salt.
2. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the anionic detergent-active compound incorporated
into the slurry in wholly or predominantly acid form is an C₈-C₁₅ alkylbenzene sulphonic
acid.
3. A process as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the alkaline material incorporated
in the slurry before the incorporation of the anionic detergent-active compound in
wholly or predominantly acid form includes sodium hydroxide.
4. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the alkaline material incorporated
in the slurry before the incorporation of the anionic detergent-active compound in
wholly or predominantly acid form includes one or more alkaline builder salts.
5. A process as claimed in claim 4, wherein the alkaline builder salts comprise sodium
tripolyphosphate, sodium carbonate or a mixture thereof.
6. A process as claimed in claim 5, wherein the detergent-active compound in wholly or
predominantly acid form is incorporated in the slurry after the incorporation of any
sodium tripolyphosphate.
7. A process as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the alkaline material incorporated
in the slurry before the incorporation of the anionic detergent-active compound in
wholly or predominantly acid form includes alkaline sodium silicate.
8. A process as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the anionic detergent-active
compound in wholly or predominantly acid form is incorporated in the slurry in an
amount corresponding to 20% by weight or more of the neutralised detergent-active
material in the spray-dried powder.
9. A process as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the anionic detergent-active
compound is incorporated in the slurry in 0 to 10% by weight neutralised form.
10. A process as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the slurry is prepared in a slurry-making
vessel and then pumped through pipes to a spray-drying tower, characterised in that
the anionic detergent-active compound in wholly or predominantly acid form is injected
into a pipe or pump between the slurry-making vessel and the spray-drying tower.
11. A process as claimed in claim 10, wherein the anionic detergent-active compound in
wholly or predominantly acid form is premixed with a liquid nonionic detergent-active
compound before incorporation in the slurry.
12. A process as claimed in claim 10, wherein the anionic detergent-active compound in
wholly or predominantly acid form is heated to a temperature within the range of from
50 to 60°C before incorporation in the slurry.
1. Procédé de fabrication d'une composition détergente particulaire, qui consiste :
(i) à préparer une bouillie aqueuse comprenant un (ou plusieurs) composé détergent
actif anionique non savonneux et un (ou plusieurs) sel minéral alcalin, et
(ii) à sécher par pulvérisation la bouillie pour former une poudre ;
procédé dans lequel au stade (i) on incorpore un composé détergent actif anionique
sous forme entièrement ou de façon prédominante acide dans la bouillie après incorporation
de la matière alcaline en une proportion telle qu'un total d'au moins deux équivalents
de matière alcaline par équivalent dudit détergent actif acide soit présent, à la
condition que le carbonate de sodium ne soit pas utilisé comme seul sel minéral alcalin.
2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le composé détergent actif anionique
incorporé dans la bouillie sous forme totale ou prédominante d'un acide est l'acide
alkylbenzènesulfonique en C8-15.
3. Procédé selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel la matière alcaline incorporée
dans la bouillie avant l'incorporation du détergent anionique actif sous une forme
entièrement ou principalement acide contient de l'hydroxyde de sodium.
4. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel la matière alcaline
incorporée dans la bouillie avant l'incorporation du détergent actif anionique sous
une forme entièrement ou principalement acide comprend un (ou plusieurs) sel adjuvant
alcalin.
5. Procédé selon la revendication 4, dans lequel les sels adjuvants alcalins comprennent
du tripolyphosphate de sodium, du carbonate de sodium ou un mélange de ceux-ci.
6. Procédé selon la revendication 5, dans lequel le détergent actif sous forme entièrement
ou principalement acide est incorporé dans la bouillie après l'introduction d'un tripolyphosphate
de sodium.
7. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la matière
alcaline incorporée dans la bouillie avant l'incorporation du détergent actif anionique
sous une forme entièrement ou principalement acide contient du silicate de sodium
alcalin.
8. Procédé sel on l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel on incorpore
le détergent anionique actif sous une forme entièrement ou principalement acide dans
la bouillie en une quantité qui correspond à 20% en poids ou plus de la matière détergente
active neutralisée dans la poudre séchée par pulvérisation.
9. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le détergent
actif anionique est incorporé dans la bouillie sous une forme neutralisée de 0 à 10%
en poids.
10. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel on prépare
la bouillie dans un récipient de production de bouillie et, ensuite, on le pompe par
des conduites jusqu'à une tour de séchage par pulvérisation, caractérisé en ce que
le composé détergent actif anionique sous une forme entièrement ou principalement
acide est injecté dans une conduite ou une pompe entre le récipient de production
de bouillie et la tour de séchage par pulvérisation.
11. Procédé selon la revendication 10, dans lequel on mélange au préalable le détergent
actif anionique sous une forme entièrement ou principalement acide avec un détergent
actif non ionique liquide avant l'incorporation dans la bouillie.
12. Procédé selon la revendication 10, dans lequel on chauffe le détergent actif anionique
sous une forme entièrement ou principalement acide à une température de 50 à 60°C
avant de l'incorporer dans la bouillie.
1. Verfahren zur Herstellung einer teilchenförmigen Detergenszusammensetzung, das die
folgenden Schritte umfaßt:
(i) Herstellen einer wässrigen Aufschlämmung, die eine oder mehrere anionische Detergens-aktive
Verbindungen und eines oder mehrere alkalische anorganische Salze umfaßt, und
(ii) Sprühtrocknen der Aufschlämmung um ein Pulver zu bilden,
worin in Schritt (i) eine anionische Detergens-aktive Verbindung in reiner oder überwiegender
Säureform der Aufschlämmung nach dem Zusetzen von alkalischem Material zugesetzt wird
in einer Menge derart, daß eine Gesamtheit von wenigstens zwei Äquivalenten alkalisches
Material pro Äquivalent der sauren Detergens-aktiven Verbindungen anwesend sind, mit
der Maßgabe, daß Natriumcarbonat nicht als das einzige alkalische anorganische Salz
verwendet wird.
2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, worin die anionische Detergens-aktive Verbindung, die der
Aufschlämmung in reiner oder überwiegender Säureform zugesetzt wird, eine C8-C15-Alkylbenzolsulfonsäure ist.
3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2, worin das alkalische Material, das der
Aufschlämmung vor dem Zusetzen der anionischen Detergens-aktiven Verbindung in reiner
oder überwiegender Säureform zugesetzt wird, Natriumbydroxid einschließt.
4. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, worin das alkalische Material, das der
Aufschlämmung vor dem Zusetzen der anionischen Detergens-aktiven Verbindung in reiner
oder überwiegender Säureform zugesetzt wird, eines oder mehrere allkalische Buildersalze
einschließt.
5. Verfahren nach Anspruch 4, worin die alkalischen Buildersalze Natriumtripolyphosphat,
Natriumcarbonat oder Mischungen davon umfassen.
6. Verfahren nach Anspruch 5, worin die Detergens-aktive Verbindung in reiner oder überwiegender
Säureform der Aufschlämmung nach dem Zusetzen von Natriumtripolyphosphat zugesetzt
wird.
7. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, worin das alkalische Material,
das der Aufschlämmung vor dem Zusetzen der anionischen Detergens-aktiven Verbindung
in reiner oder überwiegender Säureform zugesetzt wird, alkalisches Natriumsilikat
einschließt.
8. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, worin die anionische Detergens-aktive
Verbindung in reiner oder überwiegender Säureform der Aufschlämmung zugesetzt wird,
in einer Menge, die 20 Gew.-% oder mehr des neutralisierten Detergens-aktiven Materials
in dem sprühgetrockneten Pulver entspricht.
9. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, worin die anionische Detergens-aktive
Verbindung der Aufschlämmung in 0 bis 10 Gew.-% neutralisierter Form zugesetzt wird.
10. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, worin die Aufschlämmung in einem
Aufschlämmung-produzierenden Gefäß hergestellt wird und dann durch Röhren zu einem
Sprühtrocknungsturm gepumpt wird, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die anionische Detergens-aktive
Verbindung in reiner oder überwiegender Säureform in eine Röhre oder Pumpe zwischen
dem die Aufschlämmung-produzierenden Gefäß und dem Sprühtrocknungsturm eingespritzt
wird.
11. Verfahren nach Anspruch 10, worin die anionische Detergens-aktive Verbindung in reiner
oder überwiegender Säureform mit einer flüssigen nicht-ionischen Detergens-aktiven
Verbindung vor dem Zusetzen in die Aufschlämmung vorgemischt wird.
12. Verfahren nach Anspruch 10, worin die anionische Detergens-aktive Verbindung in reiner
oder überwiegender Säureform auf eine Temperatur im Bereich von 50 bis 60°C vor dem
Zusetzen in die Aufschlämmung erhitzt wird.