Abstract: A process for preparing coated detergent granules in a fluidized bed. The fluidized bed is operated at a flux number of at least about 4 and at a Stokes Number of 10 to about 1000 using a coating solution or slurry having a viscosity from about 300 to about 100,000 centipoise, measured at 60° C. Upon drying, the resultant detergent particles have improved appearance and flow properties and may be packaged and sold as a detergent material or mixed with various other detergent ingredients to provide a fully formulated detergent composition.

Abstract: A process for the production of granular detergent compositions is provided wherein fluid bed granulation is employed in conjunction with selected recycle of oversized particles to control the uniformity of the resulting detergent composition. The process comprises feeding starting ingredients into a fluid bed granulator to at least partially granulate the feed material while employing the fluid bed to control undersized particle generation and sizing in conjunction with recycle to control oversized particles.

Abstract: A process for preparing coated detergent granules in a fluidized bed is provided. The fluidized bed is operated at a flux number of at least about 3.5 and/or a Stokes Number of greater than 1.0. Upon drying, the resultant detergent particles have improved appearance and flow properties and may be packaged and sold as a detergent material or mixed with various other detergent ingredients to provide a fully formulated detergent composition.

Abstract: A process for preparing coated detergent granules in a fluidized bed is provided. The fluidized bed is operated at a flux number of at least about 3.5 and/or a Stokes Number of greater than 1.0. Upon drying, the resultant detergent particles have improved appearance and flow properties and may be packaged and sold as a detergent material or mixed with various other detergent ingredients to provide a fully formulated detergent composition.

Abstract: The invention provides a granular laundry detergent composition. The composition comprises: (a) from about 1% to about 20% by weight of a surfactant; (b) from about 60% to about 90% by weight of a mixture of carbonate and sulfate, the mixture having a ratio of carbonate to sulfate of from about 4:1 to about 1:4; (c) from about 0.1% to about 15% by weight of a silicate; (d) from about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of a polycarboxylate; and (e) from about 0.1% to about 2.5% by weight of polyethylene glycol. The detergent is further characterized in that it is substantially free of aluminosilicates and phosphates.