Abstract: Sodium metasilicate is granulated by (i) establishing, in a first zone, a cloud of anhydrous sodium metasilicate powder; (ii) injecting into said cloud (i), and intimately contacting therewith, an atomized liquid phase which comprises a liquid formulation of a sodium silicate; (iii) said intimate contacting (ii) being conducted in an atmosphere of a drying gas, whereby crystallization of the anhydrous metasilicate and agglomeration of the thus coated particulates are effected, (iv) next subjecting the effluent cohered granules of said first zone to a state of agitation in a second discrete zone, in an atmosphere of a heating gas and whereby the agitated granules are at least partially converted to the sodium metasilicate pentahydrate; (v) and thence recovering from said second discrete zone a granular sodium metasilicate comprising from about 2 to 6% by weight water, and useful in the manufacture of a variety of detergent compositions.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of alkali metal polyphosphates having a predetermined crystalline form, in which a mixture of alkali metal orthophosphates having a molar ratio of alkali metal oxide to phosphoric anhydride between 1 and 2 is first granulated, the resulting granules are dried and then are subjected to thermal treatment in the presence of aqueous vapor.