Abstract: A mechanical granulation process for the production of detergent granules, the process comprising dosing to a mechanical granulation apparatus an acid precursor of an anionic surfactant, a non-surfactant acid and a solid carbonated neutralising agent wherein the amount of salt formed in situ in the resultant detergent granules by reaction between the non-surfactant acid and the neutralising agent is at least 5% by weight, preferably at least 10% by weight, more preferably at least 25% by weight, most preferably at least 50% by weight of those granules.

Abstract: A particulate laundry detergent is composed of at least two different granular components, one of which is an anionic surfactant granule having a bulk density of 300-600 g/l comprising linear alkylbenzene sulphonate on a particulate carrier material comprising of sodium carbonate and an optional finely-divided water-insoluble particulate material, preferably zeolite, which must be present if the average particle size of the sodium carbonate exceeds 40 &mgr;m. Also present is at least one other selected granular detergent component. The anionic surfactant granule may be prepared by in-situ neutralisation of alkylbenzene sulphonic acid with sodium carbonate in a fluidised bed.