GB793255A - Detergent compositions - Google Patents

Abstract

A detergent composition consists of an alkali metal polyphosphate or polymetaphosphate in a voluminous form, i.e. with a bulk weight below 70 g. per 100 ccs., together with other cleaning agent constituents, also present in voluminous form and previously produced in a separate process. The phosphate is converted into a voluminous form either (i) indirectly, by spray-drying a solution of an alkali metal orthophosphate to a voluminous calcinate, and then raising this calcinate to 250-400 DEG C. to produce a voluminous polyphosphate, or (ii) directly, by redissolving a solidified polyphosphate or polymetaphosphate melt in water and spray-drying the solution. If desired, alkali metal sulphates or silicates and magnesium sulphates may be incorporated in the phosphate melts or solutions to be treated. The other ingredients of the composition, such as soap, alkyl sulphate, alkyl aryl sulphonate, ethylene oxide condensate, cellulose derivatives such as sodium cellulose glycolate, diglycolic acid, optical clarifiers, protective colloids or fillers, may be sprayed separately to voluminous form before being mixed with the phosphate. The uniformly low bulk density is said to overcome the separation of the ingredients during transport and handling, and the separate spray-drying of the phosphate melt is said to result in diminished hydrolysis of the polyphosphate.