Abstract: A rotary inclined tubular drier for puffing or expanding borax and a process for the production of puffed or expanded borax beads of desired physical characteristics. A rotatable tube is mounted on bearing wheels and surrounded by a fixed, close-fitting, insulated tube having electrical heating elements running lengthwise attached to its inside wall. The rotatable tube is fed continuously with granular borax feedstock by a vibratory feeder from its higher end and the puffed borax is discharged into a discharge chute from the lower end of the tube. A counter current of dry air is maintained by a suction hood at the high end of the tube, and borax is prevented from adhering to the interior of the tube by an adjustable, spring-loaded, internal scraper. The temperature of the drier is controlled by means of a pyrometer incorporated into a scraper support rod on the interior of the tube.

Abstract: Low phosphate, light density, laundry detergent powder compositions, comprising an agglomerated mixture of expanded borax of bulk density of approximately 12 to 20 pounds per cubic foot as a carrier, additional builders, other adjuvants and organic liquid surfactants, such detergent compositions being produced by an economical cold spray-mix process under controlled and relatively anhydrous conditions. The weight percent of expanded borax of low bulk density is about 10% to 80%, preferably about 15% to 35%, and the weight percent of the organic liquid surfactant is 5% to 25%, typically 13% to 18%, of the detergent powder product. The phosphate content of the composition is not more than 5% based on P.sub.2 O.sub.5.

Abstract: A rotary inclined tubular drier for puffing or expanding borax and a process for the production of puffed or expanded borax beads of desired physical characteristics. A rotatable tube is mounted on bearing wheels and surrounded by a fixed, close-fitting, insulated tube having electrical heating elements running lengthwise attached to its inside wall. The rotatable tube is fed continuously with granular borax feedstock by a vibratory feeder from its higher end and the puffed borax is discharged into a discharge chute from the lower end of the tube. A counter current of dry air is maintained by a suction hood at the high end of the tube, and borax is prevented from adhering to the interior of the tube by an adjustable, spring-loaded, internal scraper. The temperature of the drier is controlled by means of a pyrometer incorporated into a scraper support rod on the interior of the tube.