Abstract: A process for the production of wetting-, washing- or cleaning-active anionic surfactant salts by reacting inorganic or organic bases with anionic surfactant intermediates containing hydrophilic negatively charged groups attached to hydrophobic hydrocarbon radicals. The salts are combined in a spray which is introduced into an inert gas phase of superheated steam whereby the spray is at least partly dried. In an embodiment of the process, the anionic surfactant intermediates are neutralized during the spraying step to form the salts.

Abstract: A process for drying water-containing materials in a closed-circuit system using a vertical drying tower having inlets located at a lower portion of the tower, the inlets circulating superheated steam in countercurrent to the water-containing materials descending through the vertical drying tower thereby drying the water-containing materials, the improvement being:(a) providing an auxiliary fluid having a temperature below that of the superheated steam entering into the vertical drying tower;(b) providing a double jacket having a permeable inner wall wherein the double jacket surrounds the lower portion of the vertical drying tower below the inlets; and(c) introducing the auxiliary fluid through the permeable inner wall of the double jacket and into the vertical drying tower in a tangential or radial direction relative to the permeable inner wall.

Abstract: The invention is a process for producing surfactant granules by mixing a water-containing surfactant with a solid to form granules, drying the granules and recycling the dried granules as a portion of the solid.

Abstract: A process for producing free-flowing granules comprising the steps of (a) drying with superheated steam an aqueous mixture containing at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic surfactants and nonionic surfactants to form carrier granules having a porous inner structure, and (b) impregnating the porous inner structure of the carrier granules with an aqueous coating composition selected from the group consisting of wetting agents, detergents, cleaning agents, and mixtures thereof, to form an impregnated carrier granule.

Abstract: Free-flowing and storable granular compacts containing ingredients of detergent or cleaning compositions in concentrated form are prepared by(1) preparing an adhesively bound dry premix containing(a) fine-particle detergent ingredients substantially free of binding or adhesive properties, and(b) fine-particle detergent ingredients having binding or adhesive properties, and optionally, detergent ingredients which are liquid at room temperature, to form a substantially homogeneous premix, and(2) press-molding the premix at a temperature of from about 40.degree. C. to 80.degree. C. in the substantial absence of shear forces whereby air is microdispersed in the resultant compacts.

Abstract: A process for the production of pourable and free flowing granules of materials or mixtures thereof which are suitable for use as wetting agents, detergents or cleaning products wherein an aqueous solution or suspension of the wetting agents, detergents or cleaning products is dried using a hot gas stream of superheated steam. Drying is terminated before the granules are damaged by heat, and the hot gas stream is freed from entrained particles of the materials by means of filters.

Abstract: A process for the drying of water-containing materials which are suitable for use as wetting agents, detergents or cleaning products. An aqueous solution, emulsion or suspension of the materials is dried using superheated steam as the drying gas wherein the drying gas is recycled to the drying zone after removal therefrom of evaporated water and the energy required for the evaporation of water is supplied to the superheated steam by heat exchangers.

Abstract: Anionic surfactant concentrates in the form of solid free-flowing powders and/or granules which may also be present as compounds in admixture with other auxiliaries and/or useful materials suitable for use in detergents and/or cleaning products and which have apparent densities of at least about 150 g/l are produced by hot drying of the water-containing preparations with superheated steam as the drying gas. Preferred apparent densities are above about 200 g/l and are preferably at least about 350 g/l. In addition, the pourable and free-flowing material is preferably in the form of a substantially dust-free material through the presence of dust-binding auxiliaries and/or useful materials and/or by regulation of the residual water content. In one preferred embodiment, the anionic surfactant concentrate is in the form of porous carrier beads with an absorbent porous inner structure.

Abstract: A process for the production of pourable, free-flowing granules which are suitable for use as wetting agents, detergents or cleaning products from aqueous solutions or suspensions of such materials in a fluidized-bed spray granulation apparatus employing a hot fluidizing gas. The aqueous selections or suspensions are dried with superheated steam as the fluidizing and drying gas wherein the drying step is carried out in a closed-loop system comprising a steam circuit from which the water evaporated from the aqueous solutions or suspensions of starting materials is removed as a partial stream and the thermal energy released is returned to the steam circuit. The granules are discharged from the granulation apparatus before they can be damaged by heat.

Abstract: The process of producing particulate, solid, pourable and free-flowing useful materials from water-containing preparations thereof by spray-drying in a hot gas stream under normal pressure wherein the hot gas stream is superheated steam, terminating the spray-drying of the materials before they are completely dry or damaged by heat effects, and then (a) mixing the spray-dried materials with an auxiliary component which is capable of binding residual quantities of water from the materials, or (b) further drying the spray-dried materials under conditions that will not damage the materials, or (c) post-treating the spray-dried materials in a manner as to homogenize the residual moisture in the materials.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of converting aqueous surfactant mixtures, in particular aqueous pastes of surfactants with washing properties such as fatty-alcohol sulphates, in particular tallow alcohol sulphates and/or C.sub.12 -C.sub.18 fatty-alcohol sulphates, monosalts of sulphonic fatty-acid methyl esters and their di-salts, alkylglusoside compounds, etc., into concentrated granular material with a long shelf life by granulation. The aqueous surfactant mixture, which includes as a viscosity-control agent alkoxylates of mono- and/or polyhydric alcohols with 8-40 carbon atoms which have up to 20 ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide groups, is granulated together with fine-particulate water-soluble and/or water-insoluble solids compatible with washing and/or cleaning agents to give a free-running compound. At least part of the water content of the granular material thus produced is preferably then removed by drying, in particular in a fluidized bed.

Abstract: The process of producing a detergent in the form of portioned pressings by extrusion of a homogeneous premix containing a plasticizer or lubricant into strands through a perforated die under a pressure of from about 25 to about 200 bar and forming compacted granules thereof, and then pressing the compacted granules into portioned pressings such as tablets.

Abstract: A process for preparing free-flowing granules containing a bleach activator and a substantially water-free binder for the bleach activator. The process consists essentially of premixing a mixture of anionic and nonionic surfactants and the bleach activator, homogenizing the resulting mixture to form a paste which is extrudable in strand form, extruding the paste under elevated pressure, and cutting the extrudate into granules.

Abstract: A process for the production of compacted granules for use in a detergent composition by providing a homogeneous, solid, free-flowing premix to which a plasticizer or lubricant is added, and extruding the mixture through a perforated die under a pressure of from about 25 bar to about 200 bar to form strands of the mixture. The perforated die has an opening width corresponding to a predetermined size of the granules. After emerging from the perforated die, the strands are cut to the predetermined size of the granules by means of a cutting unit. The process enables the preparation of detergent compositions containing increased contents of surfactant components.

Abstract: The invention is a process for manufacturing granules of a washing or cleaning agent from an at least partly solid mixture of granules by admixing plasticizers or lubricants with the granules and passing the mixture through a mixing zone at an elevated temperature and pressure to form a plastic flowable material and passing the plastic flowable material through a plurality of orifices of small diameter and cutting the extruded material at predetermined lengths to form a particulate washing or cleaning agent.

Abstract: The process of preparing granules of sodium perborate monohydrate having an increased density by dry-compacting a mixture of sodium perborate monohydrate and from about 0.2 to about 30% by weight of a compacting aid, based on the weight of the mixture. The compacting aid is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal salt, alkaline earth metal salt, carbohydrate, anionic surfactant, and nonionic surfactant. After forming a compactate of the mixture, the compactate is size-reduced to obtain granules having the desired particle size.

Abstract: A process for working up water-soluble cellulose derivatives, more especially with flocculation points above 85.degree. C., after removal by condensation of readily volatile constituents of the crude product mixture resulting from an etherification reaction, by suspension of the crude product in hot water and subsequent separation of the suspension and washing liquids, wherein the separation of the suspension and washing liquids is carried out at elevated temperature and under pressure applied to the separator as a whole.

Abstract: Process and means for purifying cellulose ethers without flocculation points or with relatively high flocculation points (up to 95.degree. C.) and thermoplastic, i.e. highly propoxylated, products made from cellulose in any form, the crude product is first suspended and the suspension liquid subsequently separated in a reverse filter centrifuge a single-stage or multistage wash can be carried out. The filter cake is discharged by reversal of the filter cloth of the centrifuge.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the separation and purification of cellulose ethers and other cellulose derivatives in a filter unit at relatively high temperatures and with narrow-mesh filters, employing a pressure vessel having candle filters to which pressure is introduced for separation of the suspension liquid, for the removal of residual liquid from the filter cake formed, and also for washing the filter cake.

Abstract: The invention is a process for the separation of biotechnologically produced valuable materials from a fermenter broth by crossflow microfiltration and/or ultrafiltration, in which at least two modules arranged in series and fitted with porous membranes are used per stage, to produce concentrate and a permeate which contains the valuable material. The pressure of the permeate is controlled so that the absolute pressure on the permeate side is at different absolute pressure in each module.