Abstract: The present invention concerns a foam having a bulk density of less than 250 g/l; the foam having a stability in air of at least 15 seconds (and preferably at least 30 seconds), the stability being defined as the time for the foam to collapse to half its volume when measured in a 111 mm internal diameter and 62 mm internal height glass beaker; wherein the foam has a stability on water at 20.degree. C. of less than 2 hours, the stability on water being defined as the time taken for a 150 ml foam mass on the surface of 450 ml distilled water in a 111 mm internal diameter and 62 mm internal height glass beaker, to collapse to reveal a 2 cm diameter area of the water surface which is substantially free from foam.

Abstract: A detergent composition containing in combination(a) a detergent builder system containing a carboxylate or polycarboxylate builder and having a major proportion by weight of non-carbonate builder compound;(b) an organo diphosphonic acid or its salts or complexes or any mixture thereof; and(c) an organic polymer containing acrylic acid or its salts, having an average molecular weight of less than 15,000.

Abstract: A free-flowing granular detergent component or composition having a bulk density of at least 650 g/l comprises (i) at least 35% by weight of anionic surfactant; (ii) 0.5% to 10% by weight of a chelating agent; (iii) 0.5% to 30% by weight of a polymer or co-polymer wherein the weight ratio of chelating agent to polymer/copolymer is from 1:100 to 1:1. Additionally, processes for making the granular detergent component or composition comprise adding aqueous solutions of a chelating agent and a polymer or copolymer to a high active surfactant paste.

Abstract: There is provided a rinse aid composition containing an organo diphosphonic acid or its salts or complexes. The pH of said composition as a 1% solution in distilled water at 20.degree. C. is preferably less than 7.

Abstract: A detergent composition comprising a surfactant system substantially free of linear alkyl benzene sulfonate and a copolymer of N-vinylimidazole and N-vinylpyrrolidone. The copolymer is present in the detergent composition in an amount of 0.01% to 10.0% by weight and has an average molecular weight of from 5,000 to 1,000,000. The molar ratio of N-vinylimidazole to N-vinylpyrrilidone in the copolymer is from 1:1 to 1:0.2.

Abstract: A detergent composition comprises clay, a surfactant system and a copolymer of N-vinylimidazole and N-vinylpyrrolidone. The copolymer is present in the detergent composition in an amount of 0.01% to 10.0% by weight. The copolymer has an average molecular weight of from 5,000 to 50,000 and a molar ratio of N-vinylimidazole to N-vinylpyrrolidone of from 1:1 to 1:02.

Abstract: A process for preparing high density detergent compositions is provided. The process comprises the steps of: (a) continuously mixing a detergent surfactant paste and dry starting detergent material into a high speed mixer/densifier to obtain detergent agglomerates, wherein the ratio of the surfactant paste to the dry detergent material is from about 1:10 to about 10:1; (b) mixing the detergent agglomerates in a moderate speed mixer/densifier to further densify and agglomerate the detergent agglomerates; and (c) drying said detergent agglomerates so as to form the high density detergent composition. The dry detergent material may contain a builder material including a crystalline microstructure in which a carbonate anion, a calcium cation and at least one water-soluble cation are contained. The process may include one or more additional processing steps such as adding a coating agent such as the builder material described herein after the moderate speed mixer/densifier to facilitate and control agglomeration.

Abstract: A granular detergent composition having a bulk density of at least 650 g/l and comprising at least 5% by weight of anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, or mixtures thereof, and further comprising: i) from 2% to 50% by weight of granular alkalimetal percarbonate, ii) from 0.7% to 20% by weight of powdered silicate, and wherein silicate particles having a particle size diameter of less than 425 micrometers comprise at least 0.7% by weight of the composition.

Abstract: A granular laundry composition is disclosed which comprises a source of available-oxygen, a stabilizer like chelant together with an alkali metal salt of silicate. Such compositions allow to produced wash solutions wherein the bleaching activity is retained upon longer periods of time. Optionally said compositions may further comprise a soil suspender and be formulated so as to allow to keep the pH of the wash solution below 9.5 and thereby boost the cleaning performance on particulate soil (clay).