Abstract: Low or zero-P detergent powders are prepared by a process in which sodium aluminosilicate, a polymeric powder structurant and other components are slurried and spray-dried, and particulate sodium silicate of defined characteristics is postdosed.

Abstract: A process for washing fabrics includes contacting the fabrics with a liquor containing an orthophosphate material and, at least one minute thereafter, contacting the fabrics with a liquor containing a pyrophosphate material free of polymer phosphate. Each liquor contains a detergent active material and has a pH between about 8 and about 12. The delayed contact with the pyrophosphate reduces the level of deposition on the fabrics and the use of a combination of orthophophate and pyrophosphate enables compositions for use in the process to contain lower than conventional total levels of phosphorus. The pyrophosphate containing liquor may be separate from the orthophosphate containing liquor, or it may be the same liquor to which the pyrophosphate is added with a suitable delay.

Abstract: A particulate detergent composition for fabric conditioning includes, in addition to a detergency active material, from 10-40% of a mixture of tripolyphosphate and orthophosphate in the ratio of 20:1 to 3:1 together with 2-25% of a mixture of soap and an anionic polyelectrolyte in the ratio of 10:1 to 1:1. Any pyrophosphate present must be kept below 5%. The soap and polyelectrolyte result in reduced deposition of inorganic materials onto the fabrics. The preferred polyelectrolyte is sodium polyacrylate with a molecular weight of about 27,000. The composition may also include conventional additional ingredients.

Abstract: A soil-release composition for the treatment of textile fabrics comprises a complex of a nonionic detergent and a polycarboxylate polymer, together with an organic quaternary ammonium surfactant compound in a concentrated aqueous solution with an acid pH.