Abstract: An aqueous dispersion of a clay is dewatered and the clay solids thereof are agglomerated using a conditioner and a hydrophobic bridging liquid, and then pellets are formed of the clay agglomerates.

Abstract: A non-caking and freely flowing granulated composition of high abrasion resistance, said composition containing a polymer phosphate and an ion exchanging alkali metal aluminum silicate is provided. At least part of the polymer phosphate in said composition is a highly condensed phosphate, preferably of a phosphorus pentoxide content between about 64% and about 69%. Said composition may contain sodium tripolyphosphate in an amount between about 95% and 0% by weight and preferably between 80% and 60% by weight. Such a composition may also contain a water-soluble tenside which is liquid at room temperature. The process of producing such a granulated composition of a highly condensed phosphate and an alkali metal aluminum silicate to which sodium tripolyphosphate and a tenside may be added, comprises granulation of the mixture of polymer phosphate and alkali metal aluminum silicate by spraying water or a tenside solution thereon. Preferred tensides are ethoxylated nonylphenols.

Abstract: Agglomerated granular detergent compositions containing at least about 10% sodium tripolyphosphate on an anhydrous basis and from 4% to 20% of an alkoxylated nonionic surfactant are prepared by spraying on or otherwise adding an aqueous sodium silicate solution as an agglomerating agent. The rate of hydration of the sodium tripolyphosphate and the degree of agglomeration of the granular detergent composition is controlled by addition of a portion of the total surfactant to one or more dry ingredients other than a major part of the sodium tripolyphosphate and the addition of another portion of the surfactant to the major part of the sodium tripolyphosphate concurrent with or subsequent to the addition of the agglomerating agent to the sodium tripolyphosphate.

Abstract: A method of compacting silica dust without the use of water is disclosed. The dust is charged to a hopper and is then injected with air under pressure whereby the weight per unit volume of the material is increased.

Abstract: A method of increasing the bulk density of silica dust is disclosed. The silica dust is treated in a drum preferably having internal ribs whereby its bulk density is substantially increased.

Abstract: An improved process for pelletizing siliceous materials produced in an aqueous medium is disclosed. The process comprises the improvement of filtering the aqueous medium in which the siliceous materials are produced or refined, forming a slurry of the filter cake obtained by filtration and thereafter introducing the slurry directly into a pelletizer. The pellets thus formed are dried and a portion thereof recycled to the pelletizer so that the solids content of the slurry has a predetermined solids content. The process obviates the need for an initial drying of the filter cake, reduces the drying of excess water at several steps and provides for the recycling and use of unsatisfactory materials.

Abstract: A granular detergent composition for use in automatic dishwashing machines is prepared by forming a dry mix of an alkali metal condensed phosphate and an anhydrous alkali metal silicate of small particle size and agglomerating the dry mix with a silicate solution. Conventional surfactants can be included in the composition. The process is particularly suited to the preparation of automatic dishwashing machine detergents having relatively low levels of phosphate builders.

Abstract: An improvement in the process for the production of spray dried detergents containing nonionic tensides where the aqueous detergent slurry containing from 50% to 90% by weight of the total solids of the final spray dried detergent and from 0 to 5% at the most by weight of the total solids of nonionic tensides is sprayed into a conventional spray drier and simultaneously at the area of the spray cone a watersoluble powder is injected consisting of the remainder of the total solids of the final spray dried detergent having at least one nonionic tenside deposited thereon as a granulate where the ratio by weight of solids to nonionic tenside amounts to 50:1 to 5:1; whereby larger amounts of nonionic tensides can be incorporated into the final spray dried detergent without increased heating costs.

Abstract: Detergent formulations are granulated commercially by spray drying a slurry of the formulation. There is now proposed a method in which the components in powder form are granulated with a binder in a substantially horizontal annular rotating bed. The binder may be released by the action of the rotating bed.

Abstract: Essentially dry hygroscopic dust recovered from the waste gas of a glass melting furnace is agglomerated with coarser particles of silica sand, calcium carbonate or dolomite having a moisture content of 5-20%, by weight, by intimately mixing the dust and coarser particles, and tumbling the mixture until particles of the dust are attached to the moisture-containing coarser particles.

Abstract: A method for producing alkali metal polysilicates is disclosed. Polysilicates, produced by hydrothermally reacting an aqueous dispersion of finely-divided silica and an alkali metal hydroxide are spray dried and the solid product is fractured and pulverized. The fractured mass is then pelletized employing the solubility of the polysilicates to form a free-flowing product having a continuous, even surface. Pelletization may be effected with or without the use of water and/or binders.

Abstract: Improved production of alkali metal silicate glass is achieved by vigorous steam bubbling through the molten glass bed during the preparation of glass by fusion. Such practice results in higher production using less fuel and the product glass is easier to dissolve and results in solutions of greater clarity.

Abstract: An improved method for producing alkalimetal polysilicates is disclosed. The polysilicates are produced by hydrothermally reacting an aqueous dispersion of finely-divided silica and an alkali metal hydroxide. The synthesized reaction mixture is then spray dried with the solid product then being fractured and pulverized. The fractured particles are thereafter pelletized and dried in a fluidized bed to produce a product having predetermined characteristics or properties. The product can be used in adhesives, in the production of silica gel, in textiles and the like. However, their use as builders in detergents and in combination with known anionic, nonionic and amphoteric surface active compounds (surfactants) is disclosed as being particularly advantageous.

Abstract: A granular composition is comprised of primary carrier particles that are mixed with a liquid containing an active ingredient which saturates, by adsorption, the surface of each particle. A second carrier material is then mixed in so that secondary carrier particles adhere to the surface of each primary particle to form an agglomerate. The secondary carrier adsorbs additional liquid in the composition so that the composition may be handled as a granular mass.

Abstract: An agglomerated dishwashing composition containing the following components: Sodium dichloroisocyanurate 0.5-10% dihydrate A polyphosphate having an 25-60% Na.sub.2 O or K.sub.2 O to P.sub.2 O.sub.5 ratio (anhydrous basis) of about 1:1 to 2:1 Sodium carbonate 0-60% (anhydrous basis) A sodium silicate having 10-15% a SiO.sub.2 to Na.sub.2 O ratio of (total silicate from about 2.40 to about solids) 3.22 Low-foaming chlorine- 1-10% compatible nonionic surfactant Water 5-20%The compositions exhibit lower chlorine loss than similar formulations containing commercial anhydrous sodium dichloroisocyanurate as the dry bleach component.

Abstract: Spheroidal aggregates of highly absorbent, low bulk density, readily soluble, high surface area, hydrated, amorphous alkali metal silicate are provided by contacting discrete alkali metal silicate particles with an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide, absorbing the peroxide into the alkali metal silicate hydrated structure and heating the silicate to destroy substantially all of the hydrogen peroxide.