Viscosity modifiers for concentrated surfactants

Claim 1

A process for the manufacture of powdery or granular spray dried detergents and cleaners comprising the steps of: I. forming an aqueous anionic surfactant concentrate having a viscosity of 10,000 CPS or less at a temperature in the range of 50° to 90° C. comprising A. an anionic surfactant component which is either (a) at least about 33 wt. %, based on the weight of the concentrate, of an alkali metal salt of an α-sulfo fatty acid ester or an alkali metal salt of an alkyl sulfate, or (b) at least about 53 wt. %, based on the weight of the concentrate, of an alkali metal salt of an alkyl aryl sulfonate; and B. from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight of the concentrate of at least one viscosity modifier selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of from about 600 to about 6000; (b) a polypropylene glycol having a molecular weight of from about 250 to about 4000; (c) an adduct of from about 20 to about 80 moles of ethylene oxide with an aliphatic alcohol having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms; and (d) an adduct of from about 20 to about 60 moles of ethylene oxide with an alkyl phenol having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms in the alkyl group; and wherein the aqueous anionic surfactant concentrate in the absence of component B. has a viscosity of more than 10,000 CPS at a temperature in the range of 50°-90° C.; and II. processing the concentrate formed in I. above at a temperature in the range of from about 50° C. to about 90° C.