Light-density, low phosphate, puffed borax-containing detergent compositions

Claim 2

A light-density, low-phosphate, laundry detergent composition consisting essentially of a cold spray-mix agglomeration of puffed borax with at least one other normally solid builder salt and at least one organic liquid surfactant; said puffed borax having a bulk density of about 12 pounds to about 20 pounds per cubic foot and being present in the composition in an amount of about 10% to 80% by weight; said at least one other normally solid builder salt being selected from the group consisting of water soluble, alkali metal carbonates, bicarbonates, sesquicarbonates, polyphosphates, phosphates, sulfates, silicates, amino polycarboxylates, hydroxy polycarboxylates and combinations thereof, with the provision that the phosphate content of the composition is less than 5% by weight based on P 2 O 5 ; and said at least one organic liquid surfactant being selected from the group consisting of non-ionic, anionic, amphoteric and zwitterion compounds and combinations thereof and being present in an amount of from about 5 to 25 weight percent.

Claim 3

The detergent powder of claim 1 wherein the weight percent of puffed borax is about 15% - 35%, and the weight percent of surfactant is about 13% - 20%.

Claim 4

The detergent powder of claim 1 having a bulk density between about 300 to 600 grams/liter.

Claim 5

The detergent powder of claim 1 comprising an agglomerate of puffed borax of a bulk density of about 12 lbs/cubic foot and an organic liquid surfactant selected from the group consisting of nonionic, anionic, amphoteric, and zwitterionic compounds alone or in combination.

Claim 6

The detergent powder of claim 4 wherein the puffed borax has a particle size distribution of about: ______________________________________ above 830 μ 5% 830 - 415 μ 68% 415 - 250 μ 23% 250 - 177 μ 4% ______________________________________

Claim 7

The detergent powder of claim 1 wherein the builder salts include a combination of sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium nitrilotriacetate in an amount of less than 90% of the weight of the organic liquid surfactants used.

Claim 8

The detergent composition of claim 1 wherein an amine oxide of the formula: ##STR16## Where R=C 12 H 25 to C 16 H 33 , is present as a non-ionic liquid surfactant.

Claim 9

The detergent composition of claim 1 which includes a water soluble anhydrous or partially hydrated alkali metal silicate as a builder.

Claim 10

The detergent powder of claim 1 wherein the puffed borax contains approximately 3 to 3.6 moles of water of crystallization.

Claim 11

A process for preparing a low density, low phosphate laundry detergent composition in the form of agglomerated granules, beads or powders consisting essentially of, spraying at least one organic liquid surfactant selected from the group consisting of nonionic, anionic, amphoteric, and zwitterionic compounds, alone or in combination, in a dry, cold atmosphere onto a powder bed containing puffed borax and at least one other normally solid builder salt to provide from about 5 to 25 weight percent of said surfactant in said composition; said puffed borax having a bulk density of about 12 pounds to about 20 pounds per cubic foot and being present in the composition in a amount of about 10% to 80% by weight, said at least one other normally solid builder salt being selected from the group consisting of water soluble, alkali metal carbonates, bicarbonates, sesquicarbonates, polyphosphates, phosphates, sulfates, silicates, amino polycarboxylates, hydroxy polycarboxylates and combinations thereof, with the proviso that the phosphate content of the composition is less tha 5% by weight based on P 2 O 5 .

Claim 12

A process for preparing a low density, low phosphate laundry detergent composition in the form of agglomerated granules, beads or powders consisting essentially of, spraying at least one organic liquid surfactant selected from the group consisting of nonionic, anionic, amphoteric, and zwitterionic compounds, alone or in combination, in a dry, cold atmosphere onto a powder bed containing puffed borax and at least one other normally solid builder salt to provide from about 5 to 25 weight percent of said surfactant in said composition; said puffed borax having a bulk density of about 12 pounds to about 20 pounds per cubic foot and being present in the composition in a amount of about 10% to 80% by weight, said at least one other normally solid builder salt being selected from the group consisting of water soluble, alkali metal carbonates, bicarbonates, sesquicarbonates, polyphosphates, phosphates, sulfates, silicates, amino polycarboxylates, hydroxy polycarboxylates and combinations thereof, with the proviso that the phosphate content of the composition is less tha 5% by weight based on P 2 O 5 .

Claim 13

The process of claim 10 wherein the puffed borax in the powder bed is sufficient to provide from about 15% to 35% by weight based on the total weight of the composition.

Claim 14

The process of claim 10 wherein the puffed borax is present in an amount sufficient to provide from 15 - 35% by weight and the organic liquid surfactant is present in an amount sufficient to provide from 5% - 25% by weight based on the total weight of the composition.

Claim 15

The process of claim 12 wherein the puffed borax has a particle size of approximately: ______________________________________ above 830 μ 5% 830 - 415 μ 68% 415 - 250 μ 23% 250 - 177 μ 4%. ______________________________________