EP0972822B1 - Granular tenside compound - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a granular surfactant compound of sodium silicate and further constituents, a process for its preparation and its use.

Crystalline layered sodium silicates (phyllosilicates), in particular those of the formula NaMSi _x O _{2x + 1} · yH ₂ O, where M is sodium or hydrogen, x is a number from 1.9 to 4 and y is a number from 0 to 20 and preferred values when x is 2, 3 or 4, suitable substitutes for the builders have been found to be phosphate and zeolite, predominantly in detergents and cleaners.

The use of the aforementioned crystalline phyllosilicates for softening water is described, for example, in EP-A-0 164 514. Preferred crystalline sheet silicates are those in which M is sodium and x assumes the values 2 or 3.

Preferred starting materials are both beta- and delta-sodium disilicates (Na ₂ Si ₂ O ₅ .yH ₂ O), where beta-sodium disilicate can be obtained, for example, by the process of PCT / WO 91/08171.

A commercially available crystalline sodium disilicate which corresponds to the abovementioned formula is, for example, the SKS-6 from Clariant GmbH. This product is composed of the various polymorphic phases of sodium disilicate and thus consists of alpha disodium disilicate, beta disodium disilicate and delta disodium disilicate. Preference is given to the highest possible content of delta disodium disilicate. The commercial product may also contain fractions of uncrystallised sodium silicate.

Usually, the abovementioned sodium disilicates are used together with surfactants in a wide variety of fields. These include the known anionic linear alkylbenzenesulfonates (also referred to as LAS).

The aforementioned known anionic linear alkylbenzenesulfonates (LAS) are generally brought into a powdery dry form in liquid hydrous form in the detergent manufacturing process in a spray drying process along with other detergent ingredients such as soda, water glass, etc. The material usually has a low bulk density, since the spray droplets expand in the spray tower due to the evaporation of water and form hollow spheres. This product form makes difficult the production of compact detergents and the resulting powder also lacks good flowability, which makes transport difficult in the detergent manufacturing process.

The spray-drying process is also energy-consuming, since all components have to be dissolved in an aqueous slurry in water and this water must be evaporated energy-consuming in the spray tower. The required bulk density can usually only be achieved by a further additional agglomeration step.

The invention is based on the object to provide surfactant compounds which have a high flowability. It is also an object of the invention to convert linear alkylbenzenesulfonates from the liquid form into a solid, granular, readily flowable form.

This object is achieved by a granular surfactant compound of sodium silicate and other constituents. This surfactant compound contains 20 to 95 wt .-% sodium silicate and 5 to 80 wt .-% of at least one linear alkylbenzenesulfonate and has an average particle diameter> 50 microns and an ff _c ≥ 7, wherein the ffc value is equal to the quotient of Sigma-1 solidification stress due to the bulk solids strength Sigma-c is and is produced by mixing a finely divided crystalline sodium disilicate having a particle diameter d90 ≦ 150 μm with at least one linear alkylbenzenesulfonate.

The granular surfactant compound according to the invention preferably has an average particle diameter ≥ 150 μm.

The granular surfactant compound according to the invention particularly preferably has an average particle diameter ≥ 300 μm.

The granular surfactant compound according to the invention preferably comprises 60 to 80% by weight of sodium silicate and 20 to 40% by weight of at least one linear alkylbenzenesulfonate.

The granular surfactant compound according to the invention preferably has an ff _c value ≥ 10.

The aforementioned object is likewise achieved by a process for the preparation of a granular surfactant compound from sodium silicates and further constituents, characterized in that a finely divided crystalline sodium disilicate having a particle diameter d ₉₀ ≦ 150 μm is mixed with at least one linear alkylbenzenesulfonate.

The finely divided crystalline sodium disilicate preferably has a particle diameter of d ₉₀ ≦ 100 μm.

The finely divided crystalline sodium disilicate particularly preferably has a particle diameter of d ₉₀ ≦ 50 μm.

The invention also relates to the use of the granular surfactant compounds according to the invention for the production of detergents and cleaners, including dishwashing detergents.

The invention also relates to detergents and cleaners containing a granular surfactant compounds according to the invention, in particular in addition to other ingredients, active ingredients and excipients. In the following Mengenangangaben therefore applies that they may - even if not always explicitly mentioned - by the usual ingredients, active ingredients and adjuvants for detergents and cleaners to bring to the sum of 100 wt .-%.

Such detergents and cleaners preferably contain from 1 to 80% by weight of the granular surfactant compound according to the invention.

Such detergents and cleaners preferably contain from 1 to 80% by weight of zeolite and from 1 to 80% by weight of the granular surfactant compound according to the invention.

Such detergents and cleaners preferably contain 1 to 80% by weight of zeolite, 1 to 80% by weight of crystalline sodium layer silicate and 1 to 80% by weight of the granular surfactant compound according to the invention.

In the aforementioned process, commercial crystalline sodium disilicate SKS-6 as well as the finely divided crystalline sodium disilicate used can be processed in suitable mixers with LAS solution to form a surfactant compound.

Suitable mixers may be: ploughshare mixer types from Lödige, ring-gap mixer types from Lödige, (eg type CB30), Flexomix mixer types from Schugi, annular gap mixer type HEC from Niro, ring layer mixers (eg type K-TTE4) from the company. Drais / Mannheim, Eirich mixer (eg type R02), Telschig mixer (type WPA6), Zig-Zag mixer from Niro.

The initially formed hydrous product mixture is dried in a suitable dryer. Dryers according to the invention can be: fluid bed dryers from Hosokawa Schugi (types: Schugi Fluid-Bed, Vometec fluidized bed dryers), fluidized bed dryers from Waldner and Glatt, turbo-dryers from Waldner, spin-flash dryers the company Anhydro and drum dryer.

Preferably, the dryer should assist agglomeration into a granular material by suitable movement of the material. Performing the agglomeration at this stage results in more uniform products than the continued mixing in the mixer.

Even then you get an agglomeration. However, the grain is less uniform and there are strong bonds and caking.

Preferred operating conditions in the fluid bed dryer are: air inlet temperature 120-180 ° C, product temperature approx. 60 ° C.

As described above, it has now surprisingly been found that the above-mentioned surfactant compounds differ greatly in their flowability, depending on the type of silicate used.

Assuming an equal content of linear alkylbenzenesulfonate in the surfactant compound as given, so zeigein granular surfactant compounds prepared from finely divided sodium disilicate having a d ₉₀ value below 150 microns, preferably below 100 microns and more preferably below 50 microns surprisingly much better flowability than Surfactant compounds with coarser silicate starting material. Such surfactant compounds of finely divided crystalline sodium disilicate and linear alkylbenzenesulfonate are thus much more advantageous for the detergent manufacturing process than surfactant compounds made with coarsely particulate sodium disilicate.

If, on the other hand, a certain flow behavior is predetermined, a significantly larger amount of linear alkylbenzenesulfonate can be brought into the granular, readily flowable form with finely divided crystalline sodium disilicate than with coarse-particle crystalline sodium disilicate.

The surfactant compounds according to the invention can be used in the entire range of powder detergents commonly used today. Preferably, the phyllosilicate content and particularly preferably the LAS content in the formulation via the surfactant compounds according to the invention are introduced.

Examples 6 to 9 show that the surfactant compounds of the invention (prepared with finely divided crystalline sodium silicate) can be advantageously used in detergent formulations and are equivalent to surfactant compounds of coarse crystalline sodium silicate with respect to the key factor "inorganic incrustations" which is important for the detergency builder.

The main advantage of surfactant compounds of finely divided crystalline sodium silicate is the better fluidity of the resulting surfactant compound and the ability to dispense with the energy and costly spray tower technology.

The properties of the granular surfactant compounds according to the invention were determined by the following measurement methods.

Determination of grain distribution by sieve analysis

In a screening machine from the company Retsch the inserts are used with desired sieves. The mesh size of the sieves decreases from top to bottom. 50 g of the powder to be tested are placed on the widest sieve. Due to the oscillating motion of the screening machine, the powder material is conveyed through the various screens. The residues on the sieves are balanced and calculated based on the material weight. From the values d ₅₀ and d ₉₀ values can be calculated.

flowability

The ability of powders and granules to move freely to be free-flowing is what the person skilled in the art refers to as fluidity. This is a very important parameter, because it is a measure of how well the material can be handled, ie transportable, can be stored in containers and above all the containers can be removed again. For the production of modern detergents in powder or granular form, the raw materials already have to have a number of advantageous properties. Both the detergent itself (equivalent to the sum of all ingredients) and the intermediates in the preparation must have a sufficiently high flowability to ensure good handling in the detergent production and on the way to and at the consumer. By good handling is meant, for example, the simple transport of the material in the production (free-flowing), the lack of clumping and caking in the production and finally in the final packaging.

The flowability of bulk solids can be characterized by the ff _c value. The measurement of the flow properties is carried out in a ring shear device. For this purpose, a material sample is solidified in the cylindrical ring measuring chamber under the action of a voltage and simultaneous rotation of the chamber bottom against the chamber lid. For better power transfer are mounted on the chamber floor and lid driver plates Then the voltage is determined at which the material is just sheared by the torsional motion. This is described by D. Schulze in Chem. Ing. Techn. 67 (1995) 60-68. The ff _c value is equal to the quotient of solidification stress Sigma _l by the bulk solids strength Sigma _c .

Afterwards, ff _c values of 2 to 4 cohesive bulk solids, values of 4 to 10 lightly flowing and values over 10 free flowing products.

Preparation of Compounds of Fine-Formed Crystalline Sodium Disilicate and Linear Alkylbenzenesulfonate (LAS )

1750 g of SKS-6 powder are introduced into a mixer of the type M 20MK from Lödige. With continuous mixing, 1000 g of Marlon A 375 (from Hüls) are rapidly added dropwise as linear alkylbenzenesulfonate. It is mixed for 1/2 min. The product is dried in a laboratory dryer from Retsch for 25 min at 100 ° C air inlet temperature, then sieved (as granules) through a sieve with a mesh size of 1180 microns and discarded the low oversize fraction.

Preparation of the test detergents

The optical. Brighteners are mixed in a quarter of the nonionic amount and mixed in household Multimixer (Braun) with half of the amount of soda. In the ploughshare mixer from Lödige, the rest of the soda and the total quantities of zeolite and polymer are added at 300 rpm for 15 minutes. mixed. Then half of the remaining nonionic is sprayed on in 5 minutes. Then the SKS-6 is added and mixed for 10 minutes. Then the rest second half Nonionic sprayed in another 5 minutes. Finally, anionic, soap, antifoam, phosphonate and Opt. Brightener are added and left for 10 minutes at 300 rpm. remixed. In the tumble mixer, the mixture from the Lödigemischer is mixed with Perborat, TAED and enzymes under low shear stress and mixed for 15 minutes.

It is of course also possible to change the order of the combination of the substances.

washing tests

In a household washing machine (type: Novotronic 927 WPS, Miele), special test fabrics are repeatedly (15 times) washed at 60 ° C. and a water hardness of 18 ° dH with this test detergent at a dosage of 65 g / wash. The test fabrics, these are in particular a cotton terry (Vossen), in each case a cotton double ribbed, polyester / cotton blended fabric (type 20A) and standard cotton fabric (type 10A) from the company Wäschereiforschung Krefeld Testgewebe GmbH and a standard cotton fabric from the Eidgenössisches Materialprüfanstalt St. Gallen, Switzerland, additional laundry ballast (3.75 kg) is attached. After 15 washes, each of the fabrics is sampled and ashed in a muffle furnace at a temperature of 1000 ° C for a period of 24 hours.

Example 1 (comparison)

• >1000 µm: 5,5 %
• > 500 µm: 19,8 %
• > 300 µm: 27,9 %
• > 150 µm: 42,2 %
• > 75 µm: 63,2 %
• d₅₀ =122 µm
• d₉₀ =843 µm

On an electric vibrating screen (type TMA 3070 from Siemens) with a metal mesh of mesh size 1000 μm, 10 kg of commercially available SKS-6 (Clariant GmbH, Frankfurt) are added in portions. The starting material has the following particle size distribution after this sieve analysis:

• > 1000 μm: 5.5%
• > 500 μm: 19.8%
• > 300 μm: 27.9%
• > 150 μm: 42.2%
• > 75 μm: 63.2%
• d ₅₀ = 122 μm
• d ₉₀ = 843 μm

• > 1000 µm: 0,2 %
• > 850 µm: 0,4 %
• > 710 µm: 2,15 %
• > 500 µm: 6,9 %
• > 300 µm: 13,7 %
• > 150 µm: 26,9 %
• d₅₀ = 68µm
• d₉₀ = 321 µm

As undersize, about 9 kg of SKS-6 powder with the following particle size distribution (sieve analysis) were obtained:

• > 1000 μm: 0.2%
• > 850 μm: 0.4%
• > 710 μm: 2.15%
• > 500 μm: 6.9%
• > 300 μm: 13.7%
• > 150 μm: 26.9%
• d ₅₀ = 68μm
• d ₉₀ = 321 μm

The sieve residue test yielded 91.3% residue.

According to the general specification "preparation of compounds of finely divided crystalline sodium disilicate", this coarse-particle product was processed with Marion A 375 to form a surfactant compound. The starting material had an ffc value of 10.0, the surfactant compound of 6.1. The surfactant compound is therefore less fluid than the starting material. The further analysis data are listed in Table 1.

Example 2 (comparison)

SKS-6 powder was sieved as in Example 1. The starting material had the following phase distribution: alpha disodium disilicate 5.6%, beta disodium disilicate 2.3%, delta disodium disilicate 90.4%, amorphous content 1.4% (wt .-%).

• >1000 µm: 3,4 %
• > 500 µm: 17,5 %
• > 300 µm: 26,6 %
• > 150 µm: 44,6 %
• > 75 µm: 65,9 %
• d₅₀ =131 µm
• d₉₀ =766 µm

It had the following particle size distribution after sieve analysis:

• > 1000 μm: 3.4%
• > 500 μm: 17.5%
• > 300 μm: 26.6%
• > 150 μm: 44.6%
• > 75 μm: 65.9%
• d ₅₀ = 131 μm
• d ₉₀ = 766 μm

• >500 µm: 0,1 %
• >300 µm: 9,1 %
• >150 µm: 29,8 %
• >100 µm: 51,7 %
• d₅₀ = 81 µm
• d₉₀ = 245 µm

As undersize, about 8 kg of SKS-6 powder with the following particle size distribution (sieve analysis) were obtained.

• > 500 μm: 0.1%
• > 300 μm: 9.1%
• > 150 μm: 29.8%
• > 100 μm: 51.7%
• d ₅₀ = 81 μm
• d ₉₀ = 245 μm

The sieve residue test gave 86.9% residue.

According to the general procedure "preparation of compounds of finely divided crystalline sodium disilicate", this coarse-particle product was processed with Marlon A 375 to form a surfactant compound. The surfactant compound had an ffc value of 5.6. The further analysis data are listed in Table 1.

Example 3 (comparison)

SKS-6 powder was sieved as in Example 1. The starting material had the following phase distribution: alpha disodium disilicate 10.8%, beta disodium disilicate 4.4%, delta disodium disilicate 79.4%, amorphous content 5.4%.

• >1000 µm: 4,4 %
• > 500 µm: 18,3 %
• > 300 µm: 26,9 %
• > 150 µm: 43,6 %
• > 75 µm: 64,4 %
• d₅₀ =127 µm
• d₉₀ =799 µm

It had the following particle size distribution after sieve analysis:

• > 1000 μm: 4.4%
• > 500 μm: 18.3%
• > 300 μm: 26.9%
• > 150 μm: 43.6%
• > 75 μm: 64.4%
• d ₅₀ = 127 μm
• d ₉₀ = 799 μm

• > 150 µm: 13 ,8 %
• >75 µm: 44,3 %
• >63 µm: 54,3 %
• >53 µm: 67,1 %
• d₅₀ = 72 µm
• d₉₀ = 157 µm

The oversize was ground in a ball mill for 3 h with a ball mill U 280A0 Fa. Welte, the metal-lined inside and the drum rotates at about 50 rev / min. The grinding media is 44kg porcelain balls with diameters of 1.8, 2.9, 3.5 and 5cm used. Then it was sifted again. The sub-grain fractions, a total of 9 kg, were combined and had the following particle size distribution (sieve analysis):

• > 150 μm: 13, 8%
• > 75 μm: 44.3%
• > 63 μm: 54.3%
• > 53 μm: 67.1%
• d ₅₀ = 72 μm
• d ₉₀ = 157 μm

The sieve residue test showed 73.5% residue.

According to the general procedure "preparation of compounds of finely divided crystalline sodium disilicate", this coarse-particle product was processed with Marlon A 375 to form a surfactant compound. The surfactant compound had an ffc value of 6.8. The further analysis data are listed in Table 1.

Example 4 (Invention)

• > 1000 µm: 3,9 %
• > 500 µm: 19,5 %
• > 300 µm: 28,8 %
• > 150 µm: 47,1 %
• > 75 µm: 68,6 %
• d₅₀ =140 µm
• d₉₀ =805 µm

10 kg of SKS-6 powder were ground analogously to Example 3. It had the following particle size distribution after sieve analysis:

• > 1000 μm: 3.9%
• > 500 μm: 19.5%
• > 300 μm: 28.8%
• > 150 μm: 47.1%
• > 75 μm: 68.6%
• d ₅₀ = 140 μm
• d ₉₀ = 805 μm

• >53 µm: 0,5 µm
• >33 µm: 10 µm
• >20 µm: 30,6 µm
• d₅₀ = 11,9 µm
• d₉₀ = 33,9 µm

The resulting ground product (about 10 kg) has the following particle size distribution (Microtrac):

• > 53 μm: 0.5 μm
• > 33 μm: 10 μm
• > 20 μm: 30.6 μm
• d ₅₀ = 11.9 μm
• d ₉₀ = 33.9 μm

The ground product had the following phase distribution: alpha disodium disilicate 22.0%, beta disodium disilicate 12.1%, delta disodium disilicate 65.3%, amorphous content 0.6%. The sieve residue test gave 20.3% residue.

According to the general procedure "preparation of compounds of finely divided crystalline sodium disilicate", this finely divided product was processed with Marion A 375 to form a surfactant compound. The starting material had an ffc value of 5.6, the surfactant compound of 10.0. The surfactant compound is therefore better flowable than the starting material. The further analysis data are listed in Table 1.

Example 5 (invention)

• >1000 µm: 5,8 %
• > 500 µm: 20,0 %
• > 300 µm: 28,3 %
• > 150 µm: 45,5 %
• > 75 µm: 68,6 %
• d₅₀ =135 µm
• d₉₀ =852 µm

In an Aeroplex fluidized bed counter-jet mill from Hosokawa-Alpine AG (type AFG-200), SKS-6 was milled at a material input of 6-10 kg / h and a Sichterscheibrehdrehzahl of 6000 rev / min. It had the following particle size distribution after sieve analysis:

• > 1000 μm: 5.8%
• > 500 μm: 20.0%
• > 300 μm: 28.3%
• > 150 μm: 45.5%
• > 75 μm: 68.6%
• d ₅₀ = 135 μm
• d ₉₀ = 852 μm

• d₅₀ = 5,5 µm
• d₉₀ = 12 µm

The resulting ground product (about 600 kg) gave the following particle size distribution (Microtrac):

• d ₅₀ = 5.5 μm
• d ₉₀ = 12 μm

The ground product had the following phase distribution: alpha disodium disilicate 10.6%, beta disodium disilicate 6.9%, delta disodium disilicate 80.3%, amorphous content 2.3%. The sieve residue test gave 21.1% residue.

According to the general procedure "preparation of compounds of finely divided crystalline sodium disilicate", this finely divided product was processed with Marlon A 375 to form a surfactant compound. The surfactant compound had an ffc value of 12.3. The further analysis data are listed in Table 1. Table 1 Characteristics of the surfactant compounds Example 1 Ex.2 EX3 EX4 Bsp.5 Salary Silicate 66.7 66.4 66.5 65.9 62.7 Salary LAS 32.9 33.3 32.6 33.7 36.5 Loss on drying [%] 0.40 0.29 0.88 0.41 0.83 Loss on ignition [%] 27,37 27.56 27.60 28.04 30.75 Grain fraction> 1180 μm [%] 0.71 0.35 0.21 0.68 0.00 Grain fraction> 1000 μm [%] 8.62 2.40 3.39 12.38 0.74 Grain fraction> 710 μm [%] 45.84 18,04 23,69 39.14 12.30 Grain fraction> 425 μm [%] 88.02 66.15 74.19 68.39 42,90 Grain fraction> 212 μm [%] 99.25 98.19 99.12 96.16 80.28 Grain fraction> 150 μm [%] 99.85 99.79 99.69 99.19 85.97 Grain fraction> 150 μm [%] 0.15 0.21 0.31 0.81 14.03 d50 value [μm] 681.9 520.7 561.5 604.2 384.5 Flowability [ffc] 6.1 5.6 6.8 10.0 12.3 Flowability of the starting material [ffc] 10.0 - - 5.6 - LAS = linear alkyl benzene sulfonate

Example 6 (invention)

According to the general procedure "preparation of the test detergents", a test compact heavy-duty detergent with 27.4% by weight of surfactant compound from Example 5 and 13.8% by weight of commercially available SKS-6 powder (corresponding to 31% by weight) was used. silicate and 10% by weight of linear alkyl benzene sulfonate). In model washing tests according to the general procedure "washing tests", the formation of inorganic incrustations was investigated. The mean of the ash values of all five fabrics is 1.7%.

Example 7 (Invention)

According to the general procedure "preparation of the test detergents", a test compact color detergent with 20.8 wt .-% surfactant compound from Example 4 and 21.3 wt .-% commercially available SKS-6 powder (which corresponds to 35 wt .-% silicate and 7% by weight of linear alkylbenzenesulfonate). In model washing tests accordingly The general procedure "washing tests" was used to investigate the formation of inorganic incrustations. The mean ash value of all five fabrics is 1.9%.

Example 8 (Invention)

According to the general procedure "preparation of the test detergents", a test compact heavy duty detergent with 27.4 wt .-% surfactant compound from Example 5 and 3.1 wt .-% commercially available SKS-6 powder was prepared (which corresponds to 20.3 wt .-% of silicate and 10 wt .-% of linear alkylbenzenesulfonate). In model washing tests according to the general procedure "washing tests", the formation of inorganic incrustations was investigated. The mean of the ash values of all five fabrics was 1.9%.

Example 9 (comparison)

In accordance with the general procedure "preparation of the test detergents", a test compact heavy-duty detergent with 30.4% by weight of surfactant compound from Example 1 was prepared (corresponding to 20.3% by weight of silicate and 10% by weight of linear alkylbenzenesulfonate ). In model washing tests according to the general procedure "washing tests", the formation of inorganic incrustations was investigated. The mean ash value of all five tissues is 2.2%. Table 2 Composition of the test detergents Bsp.6 Bsp.7 Bsp.8 Bsp.9 Zeolite A 0 0 10.7 10.7 SKS-6 13.8 21.3 3.1 0 compound 27.4 20.8 27.4 30.4 polymer 5 5 5 5 soda 15.8 0 15.8 15.8 bicarbonate 0 15 0 0 percarbonate 18 0 0 0 perborate 0 0 18 18 perborate 0 0 0 0 TAED 5 0 5 5 Linear alkyl benzene sulfonate 0 0 0 0 nonionics 8th 10 8th 8th Soap 2 1.5 2 2 defoamers 1 0.5 1 1 Enzyme I 1.5 1 1.5 1.5 Enzyme II 1.5 1 1.5 1.5 Opt. Brightener I 0.25 0 0.25 0.25 Opt. Brightener II 0.25 0 0.25 0.25 phosphonate 0.5 0 0.5 0.5 sodium citrate 0 2 0 0 polyvinylpyrrolidone 0 1 0 0 Soil release polymer 0 1 0 0 CMC 0 1 0 0 sulfate rest rest rest rest Dosage [g / wash] 65 65 65 65 Ash [%] 1.7 1.9 1.9 2.2 Zeolite A: Wessalith P, Degussa SKS-6: Phyllosilicate SKS-6 powder, Clariant Polymer: Sokalan CP5, BASF Soda: Schwersoda, Fa. Matthes & Weber bicarbonate Solvay percarbonate: Oxyper C, Solvay Interox perborate: Degussa Perborate tetrahydrate: Degussa TAED: TAED 4049, Clariant Linear alkyl benzene sulphonate: Marlon A 375, Fa. Huls nonionics: Genapol OAA 080, Clariant Soap: League Soap HM11E defoamers: 11 .Plv.ASP3, Wacker Enzyme I: Termamyl 60T, Solvay Enzymes Enzyme II: Savinase 6.0 TW, Solvay Enzymes Optical brightener I: Tinopal CBS-X, Ciba Optical brightener II: Tinopal DMS-X, Ciba phosphonate: Dequest 2041, Monsanto sodium citrate: Fa. Fluka polyvinylpyrrolidone: Sokalan HP50, BASF Soil release polymer: SRC 1, Clariant CMC: Tylose 2000, Clariant Sulfate: Light sulphate, Solvay

Claims (12)

1. A granular surfactant compound comprising sodium silicate and other constituents, which comprises from 20 to 95% by weight of sodium silicate and from 5 to 80% by weight of at least one linear alkylbenzenesulfonate, and has a mean particle diameter of ≥ 50 µm and a ff_c value of ≥ 7, where the ff_c value is equal to the quotient of consolidation stress sigma-1 and the bulk material strength sigma-C, prepared by mixing a finely divided crystalline sodium disilicate having a particle diameter d90 of ≤ 150 µm with at least one linear alkylbenzenesulfonate.
2. The granular surfactant compound as claimed in claim 1, which has a mean particle diameter of ≥ 150 µm.
3. The granular surfactant compound as claimed in claim 1 or 2, which has a mean particle diameter of ≥ 300 µm.
4. The granular surfactant compound as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 3, which comprises from 60 to 80% by weight of sodium silicate and from 20 to 40% by weight of at least one linear alkylbenzenesulfonate.
5. The granular surfactant compound as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 4, which has a ff_c value of ≥ 10.
6. A process for the preparation of the granular surfactant compound as claimed in claim 1, which comprises mixing a finely divided crystalline sodium disilicate having a particle diameter d₉₀ of ≤ 150 µm with at least one linear alkylbenzenesulfonate.
7. The process as claimed in claim 6, wherein the finely divided crystalline sodium disilicate has a particle diameter d₉₀ of ≤ 100 µm.
8. The process as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the finely divided crystalline sodium disilicate has a particle diameter d₉₀ of ≤ 50 µm.
9. The use of granular surfactant compounds as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 5 for the preparation of detergents and cleaners, including dishwashing detergents.
10. A detergent or cleaner which comprises from 1 to 80% by weight of the granular surfactant compound as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 5.
11. A detergent or cleaner which comprises from 1 to 80% by weight of zeolite and from 1 to 80% by weight of the granular surfactant compound as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 5.
12. A detergent or cleaner which comprises from 1 to 80% by weight of zeolite, from 1 to 80% by weight of crystalline sodium phyllosilicate and from 1 to 80% by weight of the granular surfactant compound as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 5.