Abstract: Disclosed is a novel granulation method, wherein a surface active foam obtained by foaming a flowable component that contains a surface active agent with a gaseous medium is used as granulation adjuvant. The surface active foam has an average pore size of less than 10 mm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for spray-drying solvent-containing compositions, to a method for spray-drying solvent-containing compositions, and to the uses of the inventive device and of the inventive method, especially for producing powder washing and cleaning agents.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing aromatic shaped bodies, especially aromatic beads, with bulk densities greater than 700 g/l, whereby a solid and essentially water-free premix comprised of a) 65 to 95 wt. % carrier(s), b) 0 to 10 wt. % auxiliary agent(s), and c) 5 to 25 wt. % perfume is subjected to granulation or compacted agglomeration. In addition, the invention relates to the application of the inventive aromatic shaped bodies in order to scent washing and cleaning detergents, to washing and cleaning detergents containing shaped bodies which are produced according to the invention, and to a method for scenting textiles in a wash machine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a neutralization and granulation method wherein a neutralizing foam is used as granulation adjuvant. The neutralizing foam was previously obtained by mixing an anionic surfactant in its acid form, which was expanded using a gaseous medium, and a highly concentrated, aqueous alkaline component, which was expanded using a gaseous medium. The neutralizing foam has an average pore size of less than 10 mm, preferably less than 5 mm and especially less than 2 mm.

Abstract: A spray-dried amorphous alkali metal silicate compound which provides multiple-cycle washing performance. The silicate compound has a molar ratio of M2O to SiO2 of 1:1.5 to 1:3.3 wherein M represents an alkali metal. The compound contains 0.5 to less than 30% by weight of anionic surfactant and has an absorption capacity for liquid components which is at least 20% higher than that of the same quantity of the alkali metal silicate compound which is free from anionic surfactant.

Abstract: Enzyme granules suitable for incorporating into detergents or cleaners are provided containing an enzyme, a carrier material and a granulation auxiliary containing phosphated starch. The phosphated starch preferably has a mean degree of phosphation ranging from 1.5 to 2.5. Carrier materials include starch, cereal flour, cellulose, alkali metal aluminosilicate, layer silicate and alkali metal salts. Enzymes include proteases, lipases, amylases and cellulases. A preferred carrier material contains water-swellable starch, sucrose, cereal flour and cellulose powder. The granulation auxiliary may contain a co-granulation auxiliary selected from polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of from 200 to 6,000, 1,2-propylene glycol and a poly-ethoxylate having a specified formula. Preferred granules have a mean particle size of from 0.3 to 3 mm.

Abstract: An enzyme granule and means for producing the enzyme granule is presented. The enzyme granule is composed of an enzyme, a carrier material, and a coating system of 5 to 70 percent by weight fine-particle inorganic water-insoluble pigment, 45 to 90 percent by weight of a water-soluble organic substance having a melting point of from 40 to 70° C., and 0 to 30 percent by weight of a flow improver. The granule can be produced by mixing an aqueous enzyme liquid with an inorganic or organic carrier material to form an enzyme compound, extruding the enzyme compound, spheronizing the extrudate, and applying an outer coating layer of the coating system listed above to form an enzyme granule having a mean particle size of 0.8 to 1.4 millimeters. The coated enzyme granule has increased storage stability, even coloration, reduced odor, and releases enzyme activity quickly in water. The enzyme granule is useful in solid detergents.

Abstract: A spray-dried amorphous alkali metal silicate compound which provides multiple-cycle washing performance. The silicate compound has a molar ratio of M2O to SiO2 of 1:1.5 to 1:3.3 wherein M represents an alkali metal. The compound contains 0.5 to less than 30% by weight of anionic surfactant and has an absorption capacity for liquid components which is at least 20% higher than that of the same quantity of the alkali metal silicate compound which is free from anionic surfactant.

Abstract: The problem addressed by the invention was to provide granules which would have a high content of liquid nonionic surfactants, more particularly above 20% by weight, but which would have little need for a water-insoluble carrier material and would be eminently suitable for incorporation in detergents. It has been found that granules of nonionic surfactants liquid at room temperature which contain a solidified polymer melt as carrier material and less than 10% by weight of inorganic carrier satisfy these requirements.

Abstract: The problem addressed by the invention was to provide a process for the production of organic granules which would give granules with a minimal dust content. It was found that this problem could be solved by a process for the production of granules in which organic compounds are introduced in the form of a melt into a fluidized bed which has a temperature below the softening temperature of the compounds to be granulated, granulated and optionally dried and in that the granules are discharged from the fluidized bed via a grading stage.

Abstract: A fluidized bed apparatus for the production and treatment of granules and a method for its operation is provided. The fluidized bed apparatus includes an entry chamber through which a gas is designed to flow upwards; a fluidization chamber for fluidizing the material located above the entry chamber; pivotal slats located between the entry chamber and the fluidization chamber; and a nozzle arm located in the chamber below the slats with a nozzle line ending in a nozzle which is directed into the fluidization chamber through cutouts in the slats and extends partly into the fluidization chamber. The fluidized bed apparatus has rigid nozzle arms and lines which are easily jacketed for heating and cooling applications.

Abstract: A spray-dried amorphous alkali metal silicate compound which provides multiple-cycle washing performance. The silicate compound has a molar ratio of M2O to SiO2 of 1:1.5 to 1:3.3 wherein M represents an alkali metal. The compound contains 0.5 to less than 30% by weight of anionic surfactant and has an absorption capacity for liquid components which is at least 20% higher than that of the same quantity of the alkali metal silicate compound which is free from anionic surfactant.

Abstract: A portioned detergent composition in a bag of water-soluble film in which at least 70% by weight of the particles of the detergent composition have particle sizes above 800 .mu.m. The choice of this particular particle size range eliminates otherwise typical production-related problems arising out of the permeability of the bag seams and resulting difficulties.

Abstract: A process for separating a multi-component mixture containing solid or liquid organic components by treating the mixture with a gaseous entraining agent comprising a superheated carrier fluid containing a lower monohydric alcohol or a lower monohydric alcohol and water to cause constituents of the multi-component mixture to become entrained in the gaseous entraining agent, and separating the gaseous entraining agent containing constituents of the multi-component mixture from the multi-component mixture.

Abstract: A process is provided for deodorizing an aqueous culture broth composition by: (a) providing an aqueous culture broth composition containing odorous compounds in spray form; (b) providing a stream of superheated steam; (c) providing a spray zone in vacuo; (d) simultaneously introducing both the aqueous composition of (a) and the superheated steam into the spray zone causing the odorous compounds to be entrained in the superheated steam, thus forming a deodorized aqueous culture broth composition; (e) removing the superheated steam containing the entrained odorous compounds from the spray zone; and (f) discharging the deodorized aqueous culture broth composition from the spray zone. Preferably, the culture broth composition is maintained at a temperature of less than 50.degree. C. in the spray zone to prevent inactivation of temperature-sensitive materials such as enzymes. Pressure in the spray zone may be about 10 to 250 mbar and temperature of the superheated steam can be up to 250.degree. C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solid material (primary drying product) containing alkali metal silicate with a modulus (molar ratio of SiO.sub.2 to M.sub.2 O, M=alkali metal) of 0.8 to 4 in homogeneous admixture with other inorganic and/or organic useful materials and/or auxiliaries, which has been dried from a finely sprayed aqueous preparation of mixtures of the alkali metal silicates and the inorganic and/or organic useful materials and/or auxiliaries by means of a hot gas stream. The solid material according to the invention is characterized in that, as a primary drying product in homogeneous admixture with the alkali metal silicate, it contains at least 10% by weight of water-soluble inorganic and/or organic salts, has apparent densities of at least 150 g/l, possesses a microporous absorbent internal structure and has been dried with superheated steam as the hot gas stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optimized process for conditioning a stream of superheated steam laden with steam-volatile organic components by condensation of the steam phase with recovery of the heat of condensation and at least partial separation of the steam-volatile organic components from the water-based condensate. The process operates with a first heat exchange stage in which the continuously introduced vapor stream is combined with a circulated and cooled liquid stream of condensed vapors. In a following second energy transfer stage, heat is indirectly removed from the liquid stream thus heated. A sidestream is removed from the liquid circuit of the condensed vapors and subjected to separation in a membrane process while the rest of the liquid stream is returned to the first stage.

Abstract: The invention provides an enzyme containing granule with a coating containing a silver corrosion inhibitor. The particle is formed from a core containing a first enzyme and an organic or inorganic carrier which can be coated with a second particulate enzyme. The core is coated with a coating containing at least one salt of manganese, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, cobalt and cerium. A method for preparing the granule is also disclosed.

Abstract: Enzyme granules containing an enzyme, an inorganic or organic carrier material and a uniform outer pigment-containing coating layer on the granules, wherein the outer coating layer contains 30 to 50% by weight of fine-particle inorganic pigment, 45 to 60% by weight of an alcohol or alcohol mixture having a melting point of from 45.degree. C. to 65.degree. C., up to 15% by weight of an emulsifier for the alcohol or alcohol mixture, up to 5% by weight of a dispersant for the pigment and up to 3% by weight of water, based on the weight of the outer coating layer.