Abstract: A process for the production of wetting-, washing- or cleaning-active anionic surfactant salts by reacting inorganic or organic bases with anionic surfactant intermediates containing hydrophilic negatively charged groups attached to hydrophobic hydrocarbon radicals. The salts are combined in a spray which is introduced into an inert gas phase of superheated steam whereby the spray is at least partly dried. In an embodiment of the process, the anionic surfactant intermediates are neutralized during the spraying step to form the salts.

Abstract: A process for the continuous production of a granular detergent composition comprising:(a) pregranulating at least 40% by weight of a mixture of solid and liquid detergent components, based on the total weight of the solid and liquid cleaning components, in a first low-speed mixer/granulator having mixing tools contained therein, to form a pregranulated detergent mixture; and(b) granulating the pregranulated detergent mixture in a second high-speed mixer/granulator to form a final granular detergent composition.

Abstract: The invention is a process for producing surfactant granules by mixing a water-containing surfactant with a solid to form granules, drying the granules and recycling the dried granules as a portion of the solid.

Abstract: A process for the production of a detergent composition having a predetermined relative humidity comprising forming a crude detergent composition having a relative humidity in excess of the predetermined level, for example in excess of 30% and contacting the said crude composition with a preconditioned gas having a relative humidity below the predetermined relative humidity wherein the temperature of the crude composition is maintained below the temperature at which the crude composition agglomerates thereby to form a low relative humidity detergent composition.

Abstract: Anionic surfactant concentrates in the form of solid free-flowing powders and/or granules which may also be present as compounds in admixture with other auxiliaries and/or useful materials suitable for use in detergents and/or cleaning products and which have apparent densities of at least about 150 g/l are produced by hot drying of the water-containing preparations with superheated steam as the drying gas. Preferred apparent densities are above about 200 g/l and are preferably at least about 350 g/l. In addition, the pourable and free-flowing material is preferably in the form of a substantially dust-free material through the presence of dust-binding auxiliaries and/or useful materials and/or by regulation of the residual water content. In one preferred embodiment, the anionic surfactant concentrate is in the form of porous carrier beads with an absorbent porous inner structure.

Abstract: A process for the production of free-flowing detergent granules or partial granules comprising the steps of:(a) providing an interiorly baffled, rotatable drying apparatus capable of rotating at high speeds;(b) introducing water-containing alkyl or alkenyl oligoglycoside pastes into the rotatable, drying apparatus;(c) introducing into the drying apparatus detergent components selected from the group consisting of anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, detergent builders, and mixtures thereof; and(d) simultaneously drying and granulating the water-containing alkyl or alkenyl oligolycoside pastes and detergent components.