JP2001096143A - Rotation type cylindrical granulator and method for producing granule using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rotation type cylindrical granulator capable of providing a sharp particle diameter distribution of a surfactant-containing granule without increasing the number of production processes and decreasing the productivity of the surfactant-containing granule and to provide a method for producing a granule using the granulator. SOLUTION: A cylindrical container 1 agglomerates a plurality of solid raw materials to be agglomerates of a prescribed size to obtain granulates by fluidizing a plurality of the solid raw materials and mixing them by being rotated. Eight blades W are step-wise installed in the inner face of the cylindrical container 1 while forming, for example, an angle θa to the line Q perpendicular to the rotation direction Z. In this case, the blades W in the region R are so set as to tilt downward in the right and the blades W in the region T are so set as to tilt upward in the right while being kept at the angle θa to the line Q. The height of the blades W are set at the position, for example, 80% height of the depth of the solid granule at the time when the cylindrical container is not rotated and kept static and the blades W are attached to the inner face of the cylindrical container 1 at a prescribed angle.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rotary cylindrical granulator for producing a granulated product by spraying a liquid raw material while fluidizing a plurality of solid raw materials, and a production method using the same. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when granulating high-density surfactant-containing granules suitable for compact detergents using a rotary cylindrical granulator, coarse particles are generated as granules. There is. In particular, when a granulated product having a large amount of liquid components such as a nonionic detergent is generated, a large amount of a coarse granulated product is generated. This nonionic detergent contains a nonionic surfactant exhibiting relatively high surface activity at a low concentration, and has good biodegradability, and is therefore frequently used.

As described above, coarse particles are generated and the particle size distribution becomes broad (the particle diameter of the granulated portion varies).
In some cases, the solubility is reduced. In the process for producing the surfactant-containing granules, a step of sieving to remove coarse particles is introduced. Furthermore, by increasing the number of rotations per hour of the cylindrical container for performing the granulation treatment of the rotary cylindrical granulator, the dispersion of the particle size is reduced, and the surfactant-containing granulated product having a sharp particle size distribution. The method of manufacturing has been done.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned method has a problem that the number of manufacturing steps is increased, and the cost of the surfactant-containing granules to be manufactured is increased. In addition, in the above-described method, by increasing the rotation of the cylindrical container, the life of the bearing of the rotary cylindrical granulator can be shortened, and continuous production of the surfactant-containing granulated material for a long time cannot be performed. There is a disadvantage that the properties are reduced.

The present invention has been made under such a background, and does not increase the number of manufacturing steps and does not decrease the productivity of the surfactant-containing granules, and thus the surfactant-containing granules are produced. An object of the present invention is to provide a rotary cylindrical granulator capable of obtaining a sharp particle size distribution of a granulated product and a method for producing a granulated product using the same.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to a rotary cylindrical granulator, in which a cylindrical container for rotating and granulating granules is provided. Spraying means for spraying the solid raw material with a liquid raw material that is formed by aggregating the granulated product from a plurality of solid raw materials,
A plate-like blade having a predetermined angle with respect to a line perpendicular to the rotation direction of the cylindrical container and provided on an inner surface of the cylindrical container and having a predetermined height for mixing the solid raw material. It is characterized by.

The present invention also relates to a method for producing a granulated product using a rotary cylindrical granulator, wherein a predetermined height and a predetermined angle are provided on the inner surface of a cylindrical container by a blade. Fluidizing the plurality of solid raw materials and mixing the materials, and without directly touching the liquid raw material to be sprayed by the spraying means to the solid raw material being dropped from the blades, the solid raw material is fluidized. And a granulating step of agglomerating the solid raw material with the liquid raw material to produce a granulated product.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION As a result of a study by the inventor of the present invention, in a rotary cylindrical granulator, a plurality of solid raw materials as powders are mixed while fluidizing, and a liquid raw material is sprayed to form a solid. When agglomerating the raw materials to produce granules, the sprayed liquid raw material comes into direct contact with a small amount of solid raw material that falls in a cascade from the fluidizing blades provided on the inner surface of the cylindrical container. It was found that this was the cause of the formation of coarse granules. That is, during rotation of the cylindrical container, from the blades on the inner surface of the cylindrical container to mix the solid raw material,
When the spray of the liquid raw material touches the small amount of the solid raw material falling in a cascade, the liquid raw material more than necessary adheres to the solid raw material (the ratio of the liquid raw material to the solid raw material G is too large). The agglomeration of the products is performed, and coarse granules are generated.

Therefore, when the cylindrical container rotates, the solid material G falling in a cascade from the blades is directly sprayed onto the sprayer S.
By preventing the spray B of the liquid raw material ejected from the container from touching, coarse granules are not generated, the granulation size is uniform (sharp particle size distribution), and the solubility is good. Granules are obtained. This eliminates the need for a step of sieving the size of the formed granules in the production of granules in a rotary cylindrical granulator, making it possible to cope with mass production and without rotating the cylindrical container at high speed. In order to improve the durability of the rotary cylindrical granulator, long-term continuous production becomes possible.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a rotary cylindrical granulator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, a cylindrical container 1 has, for example, a diameter of 0.6 m.
And a container having a capacity of 136 L (liter), and a plurality of solid raw materials G are mixed by rotating and stirring and fluidizing the plurality of solid raw materials G by a blade W provided on the inner surface of the cylindrical container 1. Then, the mixed solid raw materials G are aggregated to a predetermined particle size, and the granulated product is granulated.

On the inner surface of the cylindrical container 1, for example, eight blades W are provided with a line Q perpendicular to the rotation direction Z as shown in FIG.
Θa (for example, 20 °, and 0 ° <θa <
90 °), so that the solid raw material G falling from the blade W does not directly touch the spray B ejected from the central sprayer S but flows down to the left and right of the cylindrical container 1. , Are provided in a step-like manner.

Here, the blade W in the region R is formed so as to fall rightward, and the blade W in the region T is formed so as to rise rightward and has an angle θa with respect to the line Q. FIG. 2 shows the cylindrical container 1 shown in FIG.
FIG. Here, the number of blades W is appropriately changed depending on the diameter of the cylindrical container 1 and the size of the blades W. The length m and the shape of the blade W are not limited.

As shown in FIG. 3, the height j of the blade W is 50% to 85%, for example, 80% of the depth h of the solid granulation when the cylindrical container 1 is stationary without rotating. The blade W is set and attached such that the surface in the Z direction in the rotation direction has an angle θb with the inner surface of the cylindrical container 1. The angle θb indicates the ease of holding the solid raw material G that has been scraped up during rotation of the cylindrical container. Basically, the blade W is at a right angle to the inner surface of the cylindrical container 1. There are no special restrictions. FIG. 3 shows the height j of the blade W.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of the inside of the cylindrical container 1 for comparing the depth h of the solid raw material G in the cylindrical container 1 at rest.

The blade W may be directly attached to the inner surface of the cylindrical container 1 as shown in FIG. 3 or may be attached to the inner surface of the cylindrical container 1 as shown in FIG. For the sake of simplicity, a length m (eg, 120 mm) × a vertical width n (eg, 100 m
The blade W of m) may be connected to the inner surface of the cylindrical container 1 (having a clearance). FIG. 4 shows the height j of the blade.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of the inside of the cylindrical container 1 for comparing the depth h of the solid raw material G in the cylindrical container 1 at rest.

In FIG. 1, a sprayer S supplies a liquid raw material as a spray B to a solid raw material G. As shown in FIG. 1, the blades W are provided on the inner surface of the cylindrical container 1 in the above-described shape, so that when the solid raw material G is fluidized, the cascade of the solid raw material G is added to the spray B ejected from the sprayer S. The solid raw material G is dropped so as not to touch directly. The blades G in the region R fluidize the solid raw material G to the right when rotating in the rotation direction Z. On the other hand, area T
Is rotating the solid raw material G to the left when rotating in the rotation direction Z.

Here, the above-mentioned angle θa indicates the easiness of the flow of the solid raw material G scraped up by the blades W, so that the falling cascade-shaped solid raw material G is not applied to the spray B of the liquid raw material. It is adjusted to the angle to be timely. The length m and the shape of the blade W are not particularly limited as long as the falling cascaded solid raw material G does not fall on the spray B of the liquid raw material.

Thus, the rotary cylindrical granulator according to the first embodiment mixes a plurality of solid raw materials G in the cylindrical container 1 and directly touches a small amount of the cascaded solid raw materials G falling from the blade W. Instead, by supplying the liquid raw material as a spray B to the solid raw material G fluidized in the cylindrical container 1, the granulated product can be produced by agglomeration so as to have a sharp particle size distribution. I can do it.

Next, a production example of a granulated product, for example, a granular detergent composition will be described with reference to FIG. First, a powder component, which is a solid raw material of a detergent, is charged into the cylindrical container 1 so that the filling rate in the cylindrical container 1 becomes 20% to 50%. Here, the powder component is, as described later, an alkaline agent,
Inorganic builders, organic builders, oil-absorbing carriers, phosphors, anionic surfactants, anti-redeposition agents, extenders, reducing agents and the like.

The filling rate in the cylindrical container 1 indicates the ratio of the volume of the solid raw material G to the volume of the cylindrical container 1. First, as a mixing step of the above-described solid raw materials, the cylindrical container 1 is rotated as shown in FIG. At this time, the rotational speed of the cylindrical container 1 is changed to the Froude number Fr of 0.14 (0.03 to
(In the range of 0.14), the solid raw material G is fluidized by the blades W provided on the inner surface of the cylindrical container 1, and the above-mentioned solid raw material G is mixed, for example, for one minute.

Here, the Froude number Fr is a numerical value obtained from an equation of Fr = (2πp) ² / r · g, where p is the rotation number of the cylindrical container 1, and r is the radius of rotation of the cylindrical container 1 , G: gravity acceleration.

Next, as a granulation step, while rotating the cylindrical container 1 in the same manner as in the mixing step, a liquid raw material, for example, a nonionic surfactant is sprayed as a spray B from the sprayer S and fluidized in the cylindrical container 1. To the solid raw material G. At this time, the cascade-shaped solid raw material G falling from the blade W moves with respect to a line Q perpendicular to the rotation direction Z.
Since the blades W are provided on the inner surface of the cylindrical container 1 at an angle θa, they flow down along the blades W and the spray B of the liquid raw material is not directly applied.

Then, while fluidizing the liquid raw material G with the blades W, the liquid raw material G is supplied with a spray B of the liquid raw material G for 16 minutes, for example, to thereby agglomerate the liquid raw material G to perform granulation. Next, after the end of the supply of the spray B of the nonionic surfactant, the cylindrical container 1 is further rotated, for example, for 3 minutes, and fluidized by the blades W in the cylindrical container 1 to continue the granulation process, Make the grain size uniform.

Next, as a coating step, in order to coat the surface of the granulated material, that is, the granular detergent composition, P-type zeolite (surface modifying agent) is charged into the cylindrical container 1, and By rotating 1 and fluidizing the granular detergent composition in the cylindrical container 1, for example, a coating process is performed for 3 minutes.

In the above-mentioned series of granulation treatments, the timing of adding enzymes, bleaching agents, fragrances and the like is not particularly limited.
It may be before the granulation of the granular detergent composition or during the granulation treatment. In other words, the addition of enzymes, bleach, fragrance, etc.
Alkaline agents, inorganic builders, organic builders, oil-absorbing carriers, phosphors, anionic surfactants, anti-redeposition agents, extenders, reducing agents, etc. may be added at the same time or may be added during the mixing process. Then, it may be introduced just before the coating step.

According to the above-described processing in the rotary cylindrical granulator according to the present invention, in the granulation step, the blade W has an angle θa with respect to the cascade-shaped solid raw material G falling from the blade W. Therefore, the solid raw material G flows down along the blade W, and the spray B of the liquid raw material is not directly applied.

As a result, in the rotary cylindrical granulator of the present invention, the anionic surfactant is supplied as a spray B from the sprayer S to the solid raw material G fluidized in the cylindrical container 1. Since no excess liquid material is supplied to the solid material G, the ratio of the liquid material to the solid material does not increase, the generation of coarse aggregates of the solid material G is eliminated, and the distribution of sharp particle size (average particle size 750 μm) And a granular detergent composition having a bulk density (BD) of 0.85 (g / ml).

Here, the average particle size of the granular detergent composition is 7
Although it was 50 μm, it is not particularly limited. The average particle size of the granular detergent composition is preferably 300 μm to 2000 μm. If the average particle size of the granular detergent composition is less than 300 μm, there are problems such as fluidity and cloth adhesion,
If it exceeds, the solubility decreases.

FIG. 5 is a table showing an example of the composition ratio of the components of the above-mentioned granular detergent composition. That is,
The composition ratio of the granular detergent composition is as follows. Nonionic (nonionic surfactant) is 18% by weight, and Zeo (zeolite) is used.
Is 35% by weight and Ash (sodium carbonate) is 2% by weight.
9.9% by weight, PC (sodium percarbonate)
% Of the enzyme, 1% by weight of the enzyme, and the remaining amount of other minor components (moisture, impurities, etc.).

The following is a composition example of a granular detergent composition containing a nonionic surfactant as a main surfactant. Nonionic activator: generally 5% to 35% by weight, preferably 7% to 30% by weight, more preferably 10% to 25% by weight Zeolite (as inorganic builder or surface modifier): generally 10% by weight 60% by weight, preferably 15% by weight to 5%
5% by weight, more preferably 20% to 50% by weight sodium carbonate: generally 10% to 60% by weight, preferably 15% to 55% by weight, more preferably 20% by weight
% By weight to 50% by weight

Examples of materials which can be blended as a liquid component or a powder component of the granular detergent composition of the present invention are listed below. (1) Examples of the nonionic surfactant include the following. (A) an aliphatic alcohol having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, preferably 8 to 18 carbon atoms and an alkylene oxide having 2 to 4 carbon atoms on average 3
A polyoxyalkylene alkyl (or alkenyl) ether added to an amount of up to 30 mol, preferably 5 to 20 mol.
Among them, polyoxyethylene alkyl (or alkenyl) ether. Among them, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene alkyl (or alkenyl) ether is preferable.

(B) Polyoxyethylene alkyl (also
Alkenyl) phenyl ether. (C) between the ester bonds of the long-chain fatty acid alkyl ester
Fat represented by the following formula to which alkylene oxide has been added
Acid alkyl ester alkoxylates. R¹CO (OA)_nOR^Two  (R¹CO is a fat having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, preferably 8 to 18 carbon atoms.
Represents a fatty acid residue. OA is ethylene oxide, propylene
C2-4, preferably 2-3, carbon atoms such as lenoxide
Represents an additional unit of alkylene oxide. n is alk
Indicates the average number of moles of added lenoxide, generally 3 to 3
0, preferably a number from 5 to 20. R2 has 1 carbon atom
Represents a lower alkyl group of 1 to 3. This lower alkyl group is
It may have a substituent. )

(D) Polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester. (E) Polyoxyethylene sorbite fatty acid ester. (F) Polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester. (G) Polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil. (H) glycerin fatty acid esters. (I) fatty acid alkanolamide

Among these nonionic surfactants, polyoxyethylene alkyl (or alkenyl) ether having a melting point of 40 ° C. or lower and HLB of 9 to 16 or fatty acid methyl ester ethoxylate obtained by adding ethylene oxide to fatty acid methyl ester is particularly preferable. Used for Also,
These nonionic surfactants can also be used as a mixture.

(2) Water-soluble carbonates, silicates and the like as alkaline agents. As the carbonate, a salt with a strong base such as an alkali metal salt or an alkaline earth metal salt is used, and sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate are mainly used, and sodium bicarbonate and potassium bicarbonate are used. Double salts such as carbonates and potassium sodium carbonate can also be used. As the silicate, alkali metal salts such as sodium silicate and potassium silicate are generally used.

(3) Zeolite as an inorganic builder;
Sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium pyrophosphate. (4) Citrate, succinate,
Polyacrylate, polyacrylic acid, maleic acid copolymer, iminocarboxylate, EDTA and the like. (5) As an oil-absorbing carrier, amorphous silica, amorphous calcium silicate, amorphous aluminosilicate and the like.

(6) As a fluorescent agent, bis (triazinylamino) stilbene disulfonic acid derivative, bis (sulfostyryl) biphenyl salt [Tinopearl CBS] and the like. (7) As enzymes, lipase, protease, cellulase, amylase and the like. (8) As a bleaching agent, percarbonate,
Perborate and the like. (9) Cationic surfactants such as dialkyl-type quaternary ammonium salts as antistatic agents. (10) As a surface modifier, fine calcium carbonate, fine zeolite, polyethylene glycol and the like are used.

(11) As anionic surfactant, α-
Examples include sulfo fatty acid alkyl ester salts, linear alkyl benzene sulfonates, α-olefin sulfonates, and alkyl sulfates. (12) Cellulose derivatives such as carboxymethylcellulose as the anti-redeposition agent. (13) As a bulking agent, sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate, sodium chloride and the like. (14) Reducing agents such as sodium sulfite and potassium sulfite.

As described above, one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and a design change or the like may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. The present invention is also included in the present invention.

For example, as a second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the length L 'of the length of the blade W projected on a line Q perpendicular to the rotation direction Z of the cylindrical container 10 is 0.5L. When <L ′ <L, the blades W can be provided in an eight-shape. Here, L indicates the width of the cylindrical container 10. FIG. 6 is a development view of a cylindrical container 10 that replaces the cylindrical container 1 shown in FIG. A sprayer S is provided inside in the same manner as the cylindrical container 1 in a relationship shown in FIG. 1, and a spray B is ejected from the sprayer S.

That is, in the developed view of the cylindrical container 10 shown in FIG. 6, the blades W alternately rotate the blades W provided near the left end of the cylindrical container 10 at an angle θa with respect to a line Q perpendicular to the rotation direction Z. And the blade W provided near the right end of the cylindrical container 10 is moved upward by a line Q perpendicular to the rotation direction Z.
Can be provided at an angle θa to the upper left. The blade W is, as in the first embodiment, a cylindrical container 1
0 may be directly connected to the inner surface, or may be connected via a mounting bracket to provide a clearance.

The above-mentioned angle θa indicates the easiness of the flow of the solid raw material G scraped up by the blade W, and prevents the falling cascade-shaped solid raw material G from being sprayed with the spray B of the liquid raw material. Angle (0 ° <θa <
90 °). In addition, the shape of the blade W
The cascaded solid raw material G that falls is sprayed with the liquid raw material B
There is no particular limitation as long as it does not affect. further,
As in the first embodiment, the height of the blade W is 50% of the depth of the solid raw material G in the cylindrical container 10 at rest.
To 85%. Further, the blade W is attached so that the surface in the Z direction in the rotation direction has an angle θb with the inner surface of the cylindrical container 1. The angle θb indicates the ease of holding the solid raw material G that has been scraped up during rotation of the cylindrical container, and is basically perpendicular to the inner surface of the cylindrical container 10, but any angle that can be held is particularly preferable. No restrictions.

Thus, the blade G provided near the right end of the inner surface of the cylindrical container 10 fluidizes the solid raw material G to the right when rotating in the rotation direction Z. On the other hand, the blade G provided near the left end of the inner surface of the cylindrical container 10 fluidizes the solid raw material G to the left when rotating in the rotation direction Z. Therefore, with respect to the cascade-shaped solid raw material G falling from the blade W, since the blade W has the angle θa, it flows down along the blade W, and the spray B of the liquid raw material ejected from the sprayer S directly flows. It does n’t matter.

In the second embodiment, the number of blades W is six, but the size of the cylindrical container 10 and the number of blades W
It is changed as needed by changing the dimension L ′. Thereby, the rotary cylindrical granulator according to the second embodiment mixes the plurality of solid raw materials G in the cylindrical container 10 and does not directly touch the cascade-shaped small amount of the solid raw materials G falling from the blade W. Raw material G fluidized in the cylindrical container 10
By supplying the liquid raw material as spray B, the granulated product can be produced by agglomeration so as to have a sharp particle size distribution.

In the second embodiment, the manufacturing method of the granular detergent composition is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the cylindrical container 1 is replaced with the cylindrical container 10 in which the configuration of the blade W is changed. The description is omitted for the same reason. Also,
The solid raw material, the liquid raw material, and the material of the coating for producing the granular detergent composition are the same as those in the first embodiment.

[0045]

As described above, according to the rotary cylindrical granulator of the present invention and the method for producing a granulated product using the same,
In the granulation step, with respect to the cascade-shaped solid raw material that falls from the blade provided on the inner surface of the cylindrical container, the solid raw material flows down along the blade because the blade has a predetermined angle. Since the liquid raw material sprayed from the spraying means is not directly applied, the liquid raw material is supplied to the solid raw material fluidized in the cylindrical container, and the generation of coarse aggregates of the solid raw material is eliminated, and the sieve is eliminated. In addition, it is possible to obtain a granulated product having a sharp particle size distribution without increasing the number of steps in the manufacturing process, so that the production cost of the granulated product can be reduced, and a sharp It is not necessary to increase the rotation of the cylindrical container in order to obtain granules having a particle size distribution.This prevents rapid wear of bearings on the rotating shaft of the cylindrical container, extends the life of the equipment, and reduces the frequency of maintenance. Is, to enable long-term continuous operation, it is possible to improve the productivity of the granules.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a rotary cylindrical granulator according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration of the cylindrical container 1 of FIG.
FIG.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of a cylindrical container 1 for comparing a height j of a blade and a depth h of a solid raw material G in the cylindrical container 1 at rest.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of the cylindrical container 1 for comparing the height j of the blade and the depth h of the solid raw material G in the cylindrical container 1 at rest.

FIG. 5 is a table of composition ratios of components of the granular detergent composition according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a development view of the cylindrical container 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,10 Cylindrical container B Spray K Mounting bracket S Sprayer W Blade

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page F-term (reference) 4G004 HA01 HA05 4H003 AC08 AC11 AC12 BA10 CA15 CA18 CA20 CA21 EA16 EA28 FA40

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A cylindrical container for rotating and granulating a granulated material, and a liquid raw material provided in the cylindrical container and aggregating the granulated material from a plurality of solid raw materials to produce the solid raw material. Spraying means for spraying, having a predetermined angle with respect to a line perpendicular to the rotation direction of the cylindrical container, provided on the inner surface of the cylindrical container, a plate-like plate of a predetermined height for mixing the solid raw material A rotary cylindrical granulator comprising a blade. 2. A mixing step of fluidizing a predetermined plurality of solid raw materials and mixing materials by means of blades provided at a predetermined height and a predetermined angle on the inner surface of the cylindrical container; A granulation method in which the solid raw material is fluidized while the solid raw material is fluidized, and the solid raw material is agglomerated with the liquid raw material to form a granulated product without directly touching the solid raw material being dropped during spraying. And a process for producing a granulated product using a rotary cylindrical granulator.