Simultaneous formation of expanding borax particles and spray dried detergents

Abstract

Abstract Hydrated borax, such as Na2E4O7.5H2O, is expanded to a product of low density by passing individual particles downwardly through a relatively slow-moving countercurrent hot air stream in which the particles are heated by convection and by radiation from internal walls of a confining structure. The expanded and dehydrated borax particles resulting are of a bulk density about half or less than that of the density of the original particles. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a detergent composition less borax is sprayed into the top of a countercurrent spray tower and at a point below the spray inlet, where the produced detergent composition particles are virtually dry, borax pentahydrate is fed into the tower and is dehydrated, expanded and intimately mixed with the other spray dried particles to form a built detergent product containing desired low density borax. Since the densities of the products and particle sizes thereof may be controlled, non-stratifying built detergent can be made, in which the detergent and borax particles are of comparable size and density, or the bulk density of the overall product can be varied by controlling the degree of expansion of the borax.

Inventors

• 👤 Edward James Gibbons

Bibliographic Details