Abstract: A multi-step process for making a granular detergent composition. The processing steps include adding to a mixer a first feed stream selected from a first powder, a first liquid, and mixtures thereof, to form a second feed stream. The second feed stream is added to a fluid bed dryer to form the granular detergent composition, and optionally, a third feed stream selected from a second powder, a second liquid, and mixtures thereof can be added to the fluid bed dryer. The granular detergent composition contains at least about 50% by weight of particles having a geometric mean particle diameter of from about 500 microns to about 1500 microns with a geometric standard deviation of from about 1 to about 2. Further, at least a portion of the particles contain a detersive surfactant or a detergent builder.

Abstract: A multi-step process for making a granular detergent composition. The processing steps include adding to a mixer a first feed stream selected from a first powder, a first liquid, and mixtures thereof, to form a second feed stream. The second feed stream is added to a fluid bed dryer to form the granular detergent composition, and optionally, a third feed stream selected from a second powder, a second liquid, and mixtures thereof can be added to the fluid bed dryer. The granular detergent composition contains at least about 50% by weight of particles having a geometric mean particle diameter of from about 500 microns to about 1500 microns with a geometric standard deviation of from about 1 to about 2. Further, at least a portion of the particles contain a detersive surfactant or a detergent builder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to particulate detergent compositions and methods for making them. Such detergent compositions may be used for any cleaning purposes, in particular for dishwashing or laundry detergents. A combination of first and second particulate detergent components are formed into a single particle. The first and second particulate being of different colors.

Abstract: A multi-step process for making a granular detergent composition. The processing steps include adding to a first fluid bed dryer a first feed stream selected from a first powder, a first liquid, and mixtures thereof, to form a second feed stream. The second feed stream is added to a mixer to form a fourth feed stream, and optionally, a third feed stream selected from a second powder, a second liquid, and mixtures thereof can be added to the mixer. The fourth feed stream is added to a second fluid bed dryer to form the granular detergent composition. The granular detergent composition contains at least about 50% by weight of particles having a geometric mean particle diameter of from about 500 microns to about 1500 microns with a geometric standard deviation of from about 1 to about 2. Further, at least a portion of the particles contain a detersive surfactant or a detergent builder.

Abstract: A method for combining and separating multiple optical channels in a highly efficient manner includes multiplexing and de-multiplexing a large number of optical communications channels onto a transmission media, either fiber based or over-the-air. The holographic recording medium used for this invention has a spectral bandwidth of between approximately 488 nm and 2000 nm, and the actual channel limitations will be imposed by the limitations of the transmission media or the optical network components, such as the Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifiers and the attenuation windows of the fiber itself. With the present invention, the number of channels that can be attained over a fiber facility is typically 10,000, with 0.03 nm channel spacing. The theoretical and achievable number of over-the-air channels with this invention will be approximately 300,000 at a channel width of three Ghz per channel.

Abstract: The Holographic Beam Combiner, (HBC), is used to combine the output from many lasers into a single-aperture, diffraction-limited beam. The HBC is based on the storage of multiple holographic gratings in the same spatial location. By using a photopolymer material such as quinone-doped polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) that uses a novel principle of “polymer with diffusion amplification” (PDA), it is possible to combine a large number (N) of diode lasers, with an output intensity and brightness 0.9 N times as much as those of the combined outputs of individual N lasers. The HBC will be a small, inexpensive to manufacture, and lightweight optical element.

Abstract: A process for making a detergent composition comprises the steps of: (i) mixing together at least two non-surfactant additives to form a premix; (ii) spraying all of the nonionic surfactant on to the premix to form a first intermediate particle; (iii) subsequently mixing the first intermediate particle with a second intermediate particle, wherein the second intermediate particle comprises anionic surfactant.

Abstract: A process for making a granular suds suppressing component comprises the steps of intimately mixing a liquid or molten suds suppressing component with an emulsifier to form a premix and granulating the premix with a powder. The powder comprises aluminosilicate. The emulsifier is an anionic surfactant. The premix comprises a structuring agent selected from the group consisting of phosphonic and diphosphonic acid, carboxylic and polycarboxylic acid, succinic and disuccinic acid, and salts, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A spray-dried component which is in the form of a free-flowing particle with high chelant activity comprising: i) at least 50%, preferably at leaxt 60%, by weight, of a chelant; ii) from 1% to 25%, preferably from 5% to 10%, by weight of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal sulfate; and iii) preferably less than 10% by weight of free moisture.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of detergent compositions from a surfactant paste which is substantially in the solid phase at temperatures of 25.degree. C. and below comprises the steps of: (i) mixing the surfactant paste at a temperature above its softening point, the surfactant paste comprising at least 50% by weight of nonionic surfactant; (ii) forming the molten surfactant paste into drops on a cooling surface; (iii) forming solid pastilles by cooling the drops of molten surfactant paste; and (iv) removing solidified pastilles from the cooling surface.

Abstract: Free-flowing powder detergent additives particularly useful as agglomerates to be added during the manufacture of detergents suitable for washing colored fabric and which contain certain detergent builders, dye transfer inhibiting polymers and optionally a detersive surfactant. Also disclosed are methods for preparing a premix of specific hygroscopic dye transfer inhibitors for use in a spray-drying powder formation process. The compositions utilized for such premixes include a powder builder such as zeolite and the dye transfer inhibition polymers polyamine N-oxide, and copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole.