CA2040050A1 - Granules for detergent composition - Google Patents
Granules for detergent compositionInfo
- Publication number
- CA2040050A1 CA2040050A1 CA 2040050 CA2040050A CA2040050A1 CA 2040050 A1 CA2040050 A1 CA 2040050A1 CA 2040050 CA2040050 CA 2040050 CA 2040050 A CA2040050 A CA 2040050A CA 2040050 A1 CA2040050 A1 CA 2040050A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- granules
- zeolite
- finely divided
- smectite clay
- process according
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 239000008187 granular material Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 53
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 31
- 239000003599 detergent Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 23
- 239000010457 zeolite Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 38
- 229910021536 Zeolite Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 37
- HNPSIPDUKPIQMN-UHFFFAOYSA-N dioxosilane;oxo(oxoalumanyloxy)alumane Chemical compound O=[Si]=O.O=[Al]O[Al]=O HNPSIPDUKPIQMN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 37
- 239000004927 clay Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 34
- 229910021647 smectite Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 17
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 15
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 238000010348 incorporation Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 239000011369 resultant mixture Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 239000000440 bentonite Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 229910000278 bentonite Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 8
- SVPXDRXYRYOSEX-UHFFFAOYSA-N bentoquatam Chemical compound O.O=[Si]=O.O=[Al]O[Al]=O SVPXDRXYRYOSEX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000011230 binding agent Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicium dioxide Chemical compound O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000007873 sieving Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- KKCBUQHMOMHUOY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Na2O Inorganic materials [O-2].[Na+].[Na+] KKCBUQHMOMHUOY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- PNEYBMLMFCGWSK-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium oxide Inorganic materials [O-2].[O-2].[O-2].[Al+3].[Al+3] PNEYBMLMFCGWSK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052681 coesite Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052593 corundum Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052906 cristobalite Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000377 silicon dioxide Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 235000012239 silicon dioxide Nutrition 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052682 stishovite Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052905 tridymite Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910001845 yogo sapphire Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- RTZKZFJDLAIYFH-UHFFFAOYSA-N Diethyl ether Chemical compound CCOCC RTZKZFJDLAIYFH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 230000001427 coherent effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000004615 ingredient Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000004094 surface-active agent Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229910019142 PO4 Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000002202 Polyethylene glycol Substances 0.000 description 2
- CDBYLPFSWZWCQE-UHFFFAOYSA-L Sodium Carbonate Chemical compound [Na+].[Na+].[O-]C([O-])=O CDBYLPFSWZWCQE-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 2
- 239000003945 anionic surfactant Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000007844 bleaching agent Substances 0.000 description 2
- 150000001768 cations Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- GUJOJGAPFQRJSV-UHFFFAOYSA-N dialuminum;dioxosilane;oxygen(2-);hydrate Chemical compound O.[O-2].[O-2].[O-2].[Al+3].[Al+3].O=[Si]=O.O=[Si]=O.O=[Si]=O.O=[Si]=O GUJOJGAPFQRJSV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052901 montmorillonite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 235000021317 phosphate Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 150000003013 phosphoric acid derivatives Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 229920001223 polyethylene glycol Polymers 0.000 description 2
- OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N Calcium Chemical compound [Ca] OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 102000004190 Enzymes Human genes 0.000 description 1
- 108090000790 Enzymes Proteins 0.000 description 1
- JLVVSXFLKOJNIY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Magnesium ion Chemical compound [Mg+2] JLVVSXFLKOJNIY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- IGFHQQFPSIBGKE-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nonylphenol Natural products CCCCCCCCCC1=CC=C(O)C=C1 IGFHQQFPSIBGKE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000004115 Sodium Silicate Substances 0.000 description 1
- QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-L Sulfate Chemical compound [O-]S([O-])(=O)=O QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 238000005299 abrasion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000004996 alkyl benzenes Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 125000000217 alkyl group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 229910000323 aluminium silicate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000005282 brightening Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011575 calcium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910001424 calcium ion Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- VNSBYDPZHCQWNB-UHFFFAOYSA-N calcium;aluminum;dioxido(oxo)silane;sodium;hydrate Chemical compound O.[Na].[Al].[Ca+2].[O-][Si]([O-])=O VNSBYDPZHCQWNB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000005341 cation exchange Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920003086 cellulose ether Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000012505 colouration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000002191 fatty alcohols Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000009472 formulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910000271 hectorite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- KWLMIXQRALPRBC-UHFFFAOYSA-L hectorite Chemical compound [Li+].[OH-].[OH-].[Na+].[Mg+2].O1[Si]2([O-])O[Si]1([O-])O[Si]([O-])(O1)O[Si]1([O-])O2 KWLMIXQRALPRBC-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 229910001425 magnesium ion Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002736 nonionic surfactant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910000273 nontronite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- SNQQPOLDUKLAAF-UHFFFAOYSA-N nonylphenol Chemical compound CCCCCCCCCC1=CC=CC=C1O SNQQPOLDUKLAAF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000012188 paraffin wax Substances 0.000 description 1
- NBIIXXVUZAFLBC-UHFFFAOYSA-K phosphate Chemical compound [O-]P([O-])([O-])=O NBIIXXVUZAFLBC-UHFFFAOYSA-K 0.000 description 1
- 239000010452 phosphate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002516 radical scavenger Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910000275 saponite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229920002545 silicone oil Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000000344 soap Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910000029 sodium carbonate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 235000019982 sodium hexametaphosphate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229960001922 sodium perborate Drugs 0.000 description 1
- NTHWMYGWWRZVTN-UHFFFAOYSA-N sodium silicate Chemical compound [Na+].[Na+].[O-][Si]([O-])=O NTHWMYGWWRZVTN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052911 sodium silicate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- MWNQXXOSWHCCOZ-UHFFFAOYSA-L sodium;oxido carbonate Chemical compound [Na+].[O-]OC([O-])=O MWNQXXOSWHCCOZ-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- YKLJGMBLPUQQOI-UHFFFAOYSA-M sodium;oxidooxy(oxo)borane Chemical compound [Na+].[O-]OB=O YKLJGMBLPUQQOI-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007921 spray Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001694 spray drying Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003381 stabilizer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007858 starting material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910021653 sulphate ion Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005406 washing Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
- C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
- C11D11/00—Special methods for preparing compositions containing mixtures of detergents
- C11D11/0082—Special methods for preparing compositions containing mixtures of detergents one or more of the detergent ingredients being in a liquefied state, e.g. slurry, paste or melt, and the process resulting in solid detergent particles such as granules, powders or beads
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
- C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
- C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
- C11D3/02—Inorganic compounds ; Elemental compounds
- C11D3/12—Water-insoluble compounds
- C11D3/124—Silicon containing, e.g. silica, silex, quartz or glass beads
- C11D3/1246—Silicates, e.g. diatomaceous earth
- C11D3/1253—Layer silicates, e.g. talcum, kaolin, clay, bentonite, smectite, montmorillonite, hectorite or attapulgite
- C11D3/1266—Layer silicates, e.g. talcum, kaolin, clay, bentonite, smectite, montmorillonite, hectorite or attapulgite in liquid compositions
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
- C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
- C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
- C11D3/02—Inorganic compounds ; Elemental compounds
- C11D3/12—Water-insoluble compounds
- C11D3/124—Silicon containing, e.g. silica, silex, quartz or glass beads
- C11D3/1246—Silicates, e.g. diatomaceous earth
- C11D3/128—Aluminium silicates, e.g. zeolites
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
- Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
- Detergent Compositions (AREA)
- Silicates, Zeolites, And Molecular Sieves (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A PROCESS FOR PREPARING GRANULES FOR DETERGENT
COMPOSITIONS
There is disclosed a process for preparing granules for incorporation into a detergent composition, which process comprises the steps of (a) tumbling together in a rotating pan a finely divided particulate smectite clay and a finely divided particulate zeolite in a weight ratio of from 1:9 to 9:1 whilst sufficient water is added slowly to the resultant mixture to bind the particles together to form granules of a mixture of said smectite clay and said zeolite; and (b) drying the resultant granules to reduce the water content to not more than 20% of the total weight of the granules.
Also disclosed is a detergent composition including said granules.
A PROCESS FOR PREPARING GRANULES FOR DETERGENT
COMPOSITIONS
There is disclosed a process for preparing granules for incorporation into a detergent composition, which process comprises the steps of (a) tumbling together in a rotating pan a finely divided particulate smectite clay and a finely divided particulate zeolite in a weight ratio of from 1:9 to 9:1 whilst sufficient water is added slowly to the resultant mixture to bind the particles together to form granules of a mixture of said smectite clay and said zeolite; and (b) drying the resultant granules to reduce the water content to not more than 20% of the total weight of the granules.
Also disclosed is a detergent composition including said granules.
Description
A PROCESS FOR PREPARING GRANULES FOR DETERGENT
COMPOSITIONS
This invention relates to a process for preparing granules for incorporation into detergent composltions and, ln particular, to a process for preparing granules comprising a zeolite; and to detergent composition containing the granules produced by the process.
It is generally desirable that the components of a detergent composition should be in granule form becau~e the bulk density of a granular composition is hlgher than that of a finely divided powder with the result that a given weight of the composition can be packed into a smaller container when the composition is granular than when it is in powder form.
The granules should be free flowing and should also be resistant to crushing and abrasion so that they can withstand handling and transportation in contalners. They should also be relatively white in colour and will typically have sizes in the range of ~0 from 0.75mm to 2.0mm.
Zeolite, which is a cation exchanging aluminosilicate, is included in detergent compositions to perform the function of a builder or scavenger of metal cations, especially calcium and magnesium ions, from the washing water, which ions, if allowed to remain in solution, would impair the effectiveness of the surfactant present in the detergent composition.
Until recent years the function of the builder in detergent compositions has been fulfilled by water-soluble condensed phosphate salts, for example sodiumhexametaphosphates, but the discharge of large quantities of phosphates into rivers is damaging to the environment, and there is therefore a growing trend towards replacing phosphate builders with zeolites. A
zeolite with a particularly advantageous cation exchange capacity is known as zeolite A or zeolite 4A, and it is this zeolite which is commonly found in detergent compositlons. Zeolite A is generally available in commerce in the form of a fine powder having particles of size of the order of a few microns, but it has hitherto been found difficult to form the zeolite into granules of suitable size which are sufficiently coherent to withstand handling and transportation in packages without the use of additional blnding materials which add to the expense and are undesirable in the complete detergent compositions. An attempt to overcome this problem is disclosed in EP-A-0279040 in which the detergent builder is prepared by spray-drying a feed suspension containing the zeolite and bentonite.
A smectite clay, for example bentonite, is often included in a detergent composition. The clay may be included on account of its fabric softening properties, or as a stabilising agent for the detergent compositlon, but the use of the clay brings with it the disadvantage that the clay i8 somewhat dark in colour and therefore imparts an undeslrable dark colouration to the compositlon containing lt.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a process for preparing a granule for incorporation ln a detergent composition, which process comprises the steps of (a) tumbling together in a rotating pan a finely divlded, particulate smectite clay and a finely divided, particulate zeolite in a weight ratio of from 1:9 to 9:1 whilst sufficient water is added slowly to the resultant mixture to bind the particles together to form granules of a mixture of said smectite clay and said zeolite; and (b) drying the resultant granules to reduce the water content to not more than 20~ of the total weight of the granules.
The process of the invention preferably includes the further step of:
(c) sieving the dried granules to yield a product comprising granules having sizes in ~he range from 0.75mm to 2.Omm.
Granules prepared in accordance with the invention are solid and will comprlse the smectlte clay and -zeolite in a weight ratio of from 1:9 to 9:1.
The present invention also provides a detergent lQ composition which includes granules prepared in accordance with the process of the present invention.
The detergent composition will contain a surfactant and optionally other ingredients in amounts known Der se.
The smectite clay may be montmorillonite, saponite, hectorite, nontronite or beidellite, but is most conveniently a bentonite clay which is a naturally occurring clay of volcanic origins consisting predominantly of montmorillonite.
The weight ratio of zeollte to smectite clay charged to the pan may preferably be in the range of from 2:8 to 8:2, more preferably 3:7 to 7:3, especially 7:3.
The smectite clay in its initial, finely divided, particulate form preferably has a particle size distribution such that substantially all of it passes through a No. 60 mesh British Standard sieve (nominal aperture O.250mm).
The zeolite is most advantageously a synthetic zeolite such as zeolite A which has a chemical composition corresponding to the approximate formula:-1.0+0.2 Na20. Al203. 1.9+0.1 SiO2, 0-5.1H20 and an apparent pore width of approximately 4 Angstrom units. Preferably, the initlal~ finely divided, particulate ~eolite has a particle size distribution such that lt consists predominantly of particles having sizes in the range from 1 to 10 microns.
The granules of the present inven~ion may also incorporate minor proportions of other ingredients, and up to 20% of the total weight of the granules may be water (as residual water derived either from the water binder added or moisture present in either of the clay or zeolite components). No additional liquid binder material is essential to form the granules; i.e. t~-water used in step (a) is preferably the sole liquid binder employed. The size of the final granules, after sieving is preferably from 0.75mm to 2.Omm, most preferably from O.85mm to 1.7mm. Also, the granulPs preferably should not contain more than about 7% by weight of particles smaller than 0.15mm.
In the process of the invention, the sme~tite clay and the zeolite are preferably tumbled together in a pan granulator. The Eirich pan granulator is an example of a particularly suitable device. The quantities of zeolite and smectite clay added to the pan are those necessary to give the desired proportions of each component in the resultant granules and this will normally mean that from 10 to 90% by weight of smectite clay and from 90 to 10% by weight of zeolite are added, based on the total weight of smectite clay and zeolite. The water is preferably added in the form of a fine spray and in an amount such that it constitutes preferably at least 10~ and preferably no more than 40~ of the total weight of the granules formed in step (a) of the process. Thus, for every 100 parts by weight of smectite clay/zeolite mixture charged to the pan, from about 11 to about 67 parts by weight of water may be employed.
The granules may conveniently be thermally dried in step (b) in, for example, a fluidised bed dryer.
The process of the present invention provides granules which are sufficiently coherent to withstand handling and transportation in containers without the use of an additional binding materlal. It is bslleved that the smectite clay itself acts as a binder which makes it possible to form coherent granules containlng a zeollte. The granules of the invention also have the advantages of being relatively light in colour compared wlth the smectite clay on its own.
~ typical, conventional detergent composition ~
containQ the following ingredients normally in amounts ln the ranges given below:-Inaredient % bY weiaht Anionic surfactant 1 - 30 Nonionic surfactant 1 - 17 Suds controlling agent O - 0.6 Zeolite A 1 - 45 Sodium carbonate 10 - 35 Bleaching agent O - 5 Smectite clay 1 - 5 Cellulose ether O - 0.5 Enzymes O - 2.5 Optlcal brightening agent 0.05 - 0.25 Sodium silicate O -25 Formulation aid O - 1 Water to 100 With the present inventlon, at least part of the Zeolite A and at least part of the smectite clay in the foregoing composition can be replaced by granules in accordance with the present invention.
The anionic surfactant may be, for example, an alkyl benzene sulphonate or a fatty alcohol ether sulphate.
The nonionlc surfactant may be, for example, an alkyl polyethyleneglycol ether or a nonylphenol polyethyleneglycol ether.
The suds controlling agent may be, for example, a soap, a silicone oil or a paraffin.
The bleaching agent may be, for example, sodium perborate or sodlum percarbonate.
The invention is illustrated by the following Example.
EXAMPLE
A bentonite clay having a particle size distribution such that 99% by weight passed a No. 60 mesh British Standard sieve (nominal aperture 0.25~mm) and 85% by weight passed a No. 200 mesh 8ritish Standard sieve (nominal aperture 0.076mm) and a zeolite A powder having a particle size distribution such that 70% by weight consisted of particles in the range from 2 to 6 microns were loaded into the pan of an Eirich granulator in the proportions 70% by weight of zeolite and 30% by welght of bentonite. The pan was set in motion at a speed of 46 rpm and the agitator at a speed of 1429m.min~~ and the clay and zeolite were mixed in a substantially dry state for 15 seconds. During the next lO seconds, with the pan and agitator rotating at the same speeds, sufficient water was sprayed on to the mlxture of clay and zeolite to give a final water content of the granules of 33~ by weight. Finally the moist granules were tumbled in the pan of the granulator for a further 75 seconds at the same speed settings for the pan and for the agitator.
The moist granules were then dried in a fluidised bed dryer at a temperature of 80C for a time sufficient to reduce the water content of the granules to 14* by weight. The granules were then screened on a sieve having a nominal aperture size of 1.2mm and the granules passing through the sieve were retained as the product. The starting materials and the product granules were tested for bulk density and for reflectance to violet light of wavelength 457nm and the results obtained are set forth in the followlng Table:
TABI,E
Bulk % reflectance to light density of 457nm wavelenth (q.cm~3l ~owder qranule Bentonite 0.70 76.0 53.0 Zeol$te A 0. 50 94.5 Bentonite/zeollte A
granule 0.73 - 77.1 The granules were found to be sufficiently coherent to be able to withstand bulk handling and transportation in containers, and the reflectance to violet light of 457nm wavelength of 77.1% was sufficiently high to give the granules an acceptably light colour such that they would not impair the white appearance of a detergent composition in which they were incorporated.
COMPOSITIONS
This invention relates to a process for preparing granules for incorporation into detergent composltions and, ln particular, to a process for preparing granules comprising a zeolite; and to detergent composition containing the granules produced by the process.
It is generally desirable that the components of a detergent composition should be in granule form becau~e the bulk density of a granular composition is hlgher than that of a finely divided powder with the result that a given weight of the composition can be packed into a smaller container when the composition is granular than when it is in powder form.
The granules should be free flowing and should also be resistant to crushing and abrasion so that they can withstand handling and transportation in contalners. They should also be relatively white in colour and will typically have sizes in the range of ~0 from 0.75mm to 2.0mm.
Zeolite, which is a cation exchanging aluminosilicate, is included in detergent compositions to perform the function of a builder or scavenger of metal cations, especially calcium and magnesium ions, from the washing water, which ions, if allowed to remain in solution, would impair the effectiveness of the surfactant present in the detergent composition.
Until recent years the function of the builder in detergent compositions has been fulfilled by water-soluble condensed phosphate salts, for example sodiumhexametaphosphates, but the discharge of large quantities of phosphates into rivers is damaging to the environment, and there is therefore a growing trend towards replacing phosphate builders with zeolites. A
zeolite with a particularly advantageous cation exchange capacity is known as zeolite A or zeolite 4A, and it is this zeolite which is commonly found in detergent compositlons. Zeolite A is generally available in commerce in the form of a fine powder having particles of size of the order of a few microns, but it has hitherto been found difficult to form the zeolite into granules of suitable size which are sufficiently coherent to withstand handling and transportation in packages without the use of additional blnding materials which add to the expense and are undesirable in the complete detergent compositions. An attempt to overcome this problem is disclosed in EP-A-0279040 in which the detergent builder is prepared by spray-drying a feed suspension containing the zeolite and bentonite.
A smectite clay, for example bentonite, is often included in a detergent composition. The clay may be included on account of its fabric softening properties, or as a stabilising agent for the detergent compositlon, but the use of the clay brings with it the disadvantage that the clay i8 somewhat dark in colour and therefore imparts an undeslrable dark colouration to the compositlon containing lt.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a process for preparing a granule for incorporation ln a detergent composition, which process comprises the steps of (a) tumbling together in a rotating pan a finely divlded, particulate smectite clay and a finely divided, particulate zeolite in a weight ratio of from 1:9 to 9:1 whilst sufficient water is added slowly to the resultant mixture to bind the particles together to form granules of a mixture of said smectite clay and said zeolite; and (b) drying the resultant granules to reduce the water content to not more than 20~ of the total weight of the granules.
The process of the invention preferably includes the further step of:
(c) sieving the dried granules to yield a product comprising granules having sizes in ~he range from 0.75mm to 2.Omm.
Granules prepared in accordance with the invention are solid and will comprlse the smectlte clay and -zeolite in a weight ratio of from 1:9 to 9:1.
The present invention also provides a detergent lQ composition which includes granules prepared in accordance with the process of the present invention.
The detergent composition will contain a surfactant and optionally other ingredients in amounts known Der se.
The smectite clay may be montmorillonite, saponite, hectorite, nontronite or beidellite, but is most conveniently a bentonite clay which is a naturally occurring clay of volcanic origins consisting predominantly of montmorillonite.
The weight ratio of zeollte to smectite clay charged to the pan may preferably be in the range of from 2:8 to 8:2, more preferably 3:7 to 7:3, especially 7:3.
The smectite clay in its initial, finely divided, particulate form preferably has a particle size distribution such that substantially all of it passes through a No. 60 mesh British Standard sieve (nominal aperture O.250mm).
The zeolite is most advantageously a synthetic zeolite such as zeolite A which has a chemical composition corresponding to the approximate formula:-1.0+0.2 Na20. Al203. 1.9+0.1 SiO2, 0-5.1H20 and an apparent pore width of approximately 4 Angstrom units. Preferably, the initlal~ finely divided, particulate ~eolite has a particle size distribution such that lt consists predominantly of particles having sizes in the range from 1 to 10 microns.
The granules of the present inven~ion may also incorporate minor proportions of other ingredients, and up to 20% of the total weight of the granules may be water (as residual water derived either from the water binder added or moisture present in either of the clay or zeolite components). No additional liquid binder material is essential to form the granules; i.e. t~-water used in step (a) is preferably the sole liquid binder employed. The size of the final granules, after sieving is preferably from 0.75mm to 2.Omm, most preferably from O.85mm to 1.7mm. Also, the granulPs preferably should not contain more than about 7% by weight of particles smaller than 0.15mm.
In the process of the invention, the sme~tite clay and the zeolite are preferably tumbled together in a pan granulator. The Eirich pan granulator is an example of a particularly suitable device. The quantities of zeolite and smectite clay added to the pan are those necessary to give the desired proportions of each component in the resultant granules and this will normally mean that from 10 to 90% by weight of smectite clay and from 90 to 10% by weight of zeolite are added, based on the total weight of smectite clay and zeolite. The water is preferably added in the form of a fine spray and in an amount such that it constitutes preferably at least 10~ and preferably no more than 40~ of the total weight of the granules formed in step (a) of the process. Thus, for every 100 parts by weight of smectite clay/zeolite mixture charged to the pan, from about 11 to about 67 parts by weight of water may be employed.
The granules may conveniently be thermally dried in step (b) in, for example, a fluidised bed dryer.
The process of the present invention provides granules which are sufficiently coherent to withstand handling and transportation in containers without the use of an additional binding materlal. It is bslleved that the smectite clay itself acts as a binder which makes it possible to form coherent granules containlng a zeollte. The granules of the invention also have the advantages of being relatively light in colour compared wlth the smectite clay on its own.
~ typical, conventional detergent composition ~
containQ the following ingredients normally in amounts ln the ranges given below:-Inaredient % bY weiaht Anionic surfactant 1 - 30 Nonionic surfactant 1 - 17 Suds controlling agent O - 0.6 Zeolite A 1 - 45 Sodium carbonate 10 - 35 Bleaching agent O - 5 Smectite clay 1 - 5 Cellulose ether O - 0.5 Enzymes O - 2.5 Optlcal brightening agent 0.05 - 0.25 Sodium silicate O -25 Formulation aid O - 1 Water to 100 With the present inventlon, at least part of the Zeolite A and at least part of the smectite clay in the foregoing composition can be replaced by granules in accordance with the present invention.
The anionic surfactant may be, for example, an alkyl benzene sulphonate or a fatty alcohol ether sulphate.
The nonionlc surfactant may be, for example, an alkyl polyethyleneglycol ether or a nonylphenol polyethyleneglycol ether.
The suds controlling agent may be, for example, a soap, a silicone oil or a paraffin.
The bleaching agent may be, for example, sodium perborate or sodlum percarbonate.
The invention is illustrated by the following Example.
EXAMPLE
A bentonite clay having a particle size distribution such that 99% by weight passed a No. 60 mesh British Standard sieve (nominal aperture 0.25~mm) and 85% by weight passed a No. 200 mesh 8ritish Standard sieve (nominal aperture 0.076mm) and a zeolite A powder having a particle size distribution such that 70% by weight consisted of particles in the range from 2 to 6 microns were loaded into the pan of an Eirich granulator in the proportions 70% by weight of zeolite and 30% by welght of bentonite. The pan was set in motion at a speed of 46 rpm and the agitator at a speed of 1429m.min~~ and the clay and zeolite were mixed in a substantially dry state for 15 seconds. During the next lO seconds, with the pan and agitator rotating at the same speeds, sufficient water was sprayed on to the mlxture of clay and zeolite to give a final water content of the granules of 33~ by weight. Finally the moist granules were tumbled in the pan of the granulator for a further 75 seconds at the same speed settings for the pan and for the agitator.
The moist granules were then dried in a fluidised bed dryer at a temperature of 80C for a time sufficient to reduce the water content of the granules to 14* by weight. The granules were then screened on a sieve having a nominal aperture size of 1.2mm and the granules passing through the sieve were retained as the product. The starting materials and the product granules were tested for bulk density and for reflectance to violet light of wavelength 457nm and the results obtained are set forth in the followlng Table:
TABI,E
Bulk % reflectance to light density of 457nm wavelenth (q.cm~3l ~owder qranule Bentonite 0.70 76.0 53.0 Zeol$te A 0. 50 94.5 Bentonite/zeollte A
granule 0.73 - 77.1 The granules were found to be sufficiently coherent to be able to withstand bulk handling and transportation in containers, and the reflectance to violet light of 457nm wavelength of 77.1% was sufficiently high to give the granules an acceptably light colour such that they would not impair the white appearance of a detergent composition in which they were incorporated.
Claims (9)
1. A process for preparing granules for incorporation into a detergent composition, which process comprises the steps of (a) tumbling together in a rotating pan a finely divided particulate smectite clay and a finely divided particulate zeolite in a weight ratio of from 1:9 to 9:1 whilst sufficient water is added slowly to the resultant mixture to bind the particles together to form granules of a mixture of said smectite clay and said zeolite; and (b) drying the resultant granules to reduce the water content to not more than 20% of the total weight of the granules.
2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the smectite clay is a bentonite clay.
3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the smectite clay in its initial, finely divided, particulate form has a particle size distribution such that substantially all of it passes through a No. 60 mesh British Standard sieve nominal aperture 0.250mm).
4. A process according to claim 1, wherein the zeolite is zeolite A.
5. A process according to claim 4, wherein the zeolite A has a chemical composition corresponding to the approximate formula:-1.0?0.2 Na2O. Al2O3. 1.9?0.1 SiO2, 0-5.1H2O
and an apparent pore width of approximately 4 Angstrom units.
and an apparent pore width of approximately 4 Angstrom units.
6. A process according to claim 1, wherein the initial, finely divided, particulate zeolite has a particle size distribution such that it consists predominantly of particles having sizes in the range from 1 to 10 microns.
7. A process according to claim 1, wherein the water added in step (a) is the sole liquid binder.
8. A process according to claim 1, comprising the following further step:
(c) sieving the dried granules to yield a product comprising granules having sizes in the range from 0.75mm to 2.0mm.
(c) sieving the dried granules to yield a product comprising granules having sizes in the range from 0.75mm to 2.0mm.
9. A detergent composition including granules prepared by the following process:
(a) tumbling together in a rotating pan a finely divided particulate smectite clay and a finely divided particulate zeolite in a weight ratio of from 1:9 to 9:1 whilst sufficient water is added slowly to the resultant mixture to bind the particles together to form granules of a mixture of said smectite clay and said zeolite: and (b) drying the resultant granules to reduce the water content to not more than 20% of the total weight of the granules.
(a) tumbling together in a rotating pan a finely divided particulate smectite clay and a finely divided particulate zeolite in a weight ratio of from 1:9 to 9:1 whilst sufficient water is added slowly to the resultant mixture to bind the particles together to form granules of a mixture of said smectite clay and said zeolite: and (b) drying the resultant granules to reduce the water content to not more than 20% of the total weight of the granules.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBGB-9008462.5 | 1990-04-12 | ||
| GB909008462A GB9008462D0 (en) | 1990-04-12 | 1990-04-12 | Granules for detergent compositions |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2040050A1 true CA2040050A1 (en) | 1991-10-13 |
Family
ID=10674431
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2040050 Abandoned CA2040050A1 (en) | 1990-04-12 | 1991-04-09 | Granules for detergent composition |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0452016A3 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH04225098A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU642230B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2040050A1 (en) |
| GB (2) | GB9008462D0 (en) |
| NZ (1) | NZ237774A (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE4210253A1 (en) * | 1992-03-28 | 1993-09-30 | Hoechst Ag | Cogranulates consisting of aluminosilicates and sodium silicates, a process for their preparation and their use |
| DE4306665A1 (en) * | 1993-03-03 | 1994-09-08 | Sued Chemie Ag | Detergent additive for fabric softening detergents |
| EP0627484A1 (en) * | 1993-06-02 | 1994-12-07 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Coating clay agglomerates with finely divided particulate material |
| GB2297977A (en) * | 1995-02-07 | 1996-08-21 | Procter & Gamble | Detergent composition containing Zeolite MAP |
| CN1402776A (en) | 1999-11-29 | 2003-03-12 | Iq中央株式会社 | Cleaning composition and method for preparing same |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0021267B1 (en) * | 1979-06-18 | 1982-06-16 | PQ Corporation | Agglomerated zeolite ion exchanger |
| AU549122B2 (en) * | 1981-02-26 | 1986-01-16 | Colgate-Palmolive Pty. Ltd. | Spray dried base beads and detergent compositions |
| AU549000B2 (en) * | 1981-02-26 | 1986-01-09 | Colgate-Palmolive Pty. Ltd. | Base beads for detergent compositions |
| DE3620009A1 (en) * | 1986-06-13 | 1987-12-17 | Henkel Kgaa | CLEANING AGENTS CONTAINING KOERNIG AGGLOMERED SODIUM METASILICATE, METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION AND USE THEREOF |
| DE3702764A1 (en) * | 1987-01-30 | 1988-08-11 | Degussa | DETERGENT PICTURES |
-
1990
- 1990-04-12 GB GB909008462A patent/GB9008462D0/en active Pending
-
1991
- 1991-04-02 GB GB9106793A patent/GB2242909B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1991-04-02 EP EP19910302852 patent/EP0452016A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1991-04-09 CA CA 2040050 patent/CA2040050A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1991-04-10 AU AU74325/91A patent/AU642230B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1991-04-10 NZ NZ23777491A patent/NZ237774A/en unknown
- 1991-04-12 JP JP7957291A patent/JPH04225098A/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9106793D0 (en) | 1991-05-22 |
| AU642230B2 (en) | 1993-10-14 |
| EP0452016A2 (en) | 1991-10-16 |
| EP0452016A3 (en) | 1992-03-11 |
| GB2242909A (en) | 1991-10-16 |
| NZ237774A (en) | 1993-07-27 |
| GB9008462D0 (en) | 1990-06-13 |
| JPH04225098A (en) | 1992-08-14 |
| AU7432591A (en) | 1991-10-17 |
| GB2242909B (en) | 1993-07-07 |
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