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EP0215637A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Process for manufacture of detergent powder

Assignee: Unilever NV
•
Filing: 1986-09-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-09-10
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Abstract

Abstract A particulate detergent composition is prepared by spray drying a slurry containing a surfactant system, which may contain anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants and/or soap, a non-phosphate builder such as an aluminosilicate or an alkalimetal carbonate and a sugar such as sucrose or sorbitol. The sugar provides the powders with adequate structure without the necessity to utilise sodium silicate.

Inventors

  • 👤 James Francis Davies
  • 👤 Peter Cory Knight
  • 👤 Andrew William Travill
  • 👤 Robert Joseph Paton Williams

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 19:50
CPC Classifications
C; C11; C11D; C11D1/00; C11D1/02; C11D1/12; C11D11/00; C11D11/02; C11D3/00; C11D3/16; C11D3/20; C11D3/22; C11D3/221

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 55 words
A process for preparing a particulate detergent composition comprising the steps of (i) forming an aqueous crutcher slurry comprising: (a) a surfactant system; (b) a non-phosphate detergency builder material or a mixture thereof with a phosphate detergency builder material; and (c) sugar as herein defined; and (ii) spray-drying the slurry to form a detergent powder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 55 words
A process for preparing a particulate detergent composition comprising the steps of (i) forming an aqueous crutcher slurry comprising: (a) a surfactant system; (b) a non-phosphate detergency builder material or a mixture thereof with a phosphate detergency builder material; and (c) sugar as herein defined; and (ii) spray-drying the slurry to form a detergent powder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the sugar is selected from the group consisting of sucrose, glucose, fructose, maltose, cellulose, lactose and sorbitol.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 23 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the level of sugar in the spray-dried detergent powder is between 1% and 20% by weight.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the surfactant system is selected from the group consisting of anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, soap and mixtures thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 75 words
A process according to claim 4, wherein the level of the surfactant system in the spray dried detergent powder is between 2% and 30% by weight when the surfactant system is an anionic surfactant, soap, or mixtures thereof, between 2 and 20% by weight when the surfactant system consists of a nonionic surfactant or a mixture of between 2% and 25% of an anionic surfactant together with between 0.5% and 20% of a nonionic surfactant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 35 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the non-phosphate detergency builder is selected from an aluminosilicate detergency builder material, an alkali metal detergency builder material and a mixture thereof with a calcium carbonate seed crystal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 24 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the level of non-phosphate detergency builder in the spray-dried powder is from 5% to 75% by weight.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 27 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the aqueous crutcher slurry contains further ingredients selected from phosphate detergency builder materials, non-sugar powder structuring agents and antiredeposition agents.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 17 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the spray-dried detergent powder is subsequently mixed with heat-sensitive ingredients.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 32 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the aqueous crutcher slurry contains a water-soluble silicate and an acid is added to the slurry to precipitate at least part of the water-soluble silicate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 35 words
A particluate detergent composition comprising a spray-dried powder comprising (a) a surfactant system, (b) a non-phosphate detergency builder material or a mixture thereof with a phosphate detergency builder material, and (c) sugar as herein defined.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 35 words
A particluate detergent composition comprising a spray-dried powder comprising (a) a surfactant system, (b) a non-phosphate detergency builder material or a mixture thereof with a phosphate detergency builder material, and (c) sugar as herein defined.

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