SE458763B - PARTICLES OF SODIUM BORATE - Google Patents

Description

458 763 10 15 20 25 30 35 the components in the washing water and can lead to incorrect concentrations of cleaning and softening agents being used. It can also lead to an unpleasant accumulation that the consumer may find disturbing. The results are in both cases undesirable and should be avoided if possible.

According to the invention, sodium perborate particles are provided according to claim 1. An embodiment of the invention is stated in claim 2. The invented particles have improved flowability properties which facilitate industrial handling of the particles and also improve the properties of detergent compositions in which they are included.

A high performance washing and fabric softening particulate detergent composition, useful in automatic water washing machines and dispensable via a filling or dosing compartment of machines by means of water fed through this compartment, may comprise a wash enhanced synthetic organic transit consisting of: an anionic or a nonionic surfactant or a mixture thereof, a detergent amount of a detergent for the synthetic organic surfactant, which consists of a water-soluble or water-insoluble detergent, or a mixture thereof, and an emollient amount of bentonite in the form of bentonite particles which preferably include an amount involved in the dispensing, preferably at least 0.15% of a siliconate and / or a derivative facilitating derivative thereof.

The synthetic organic surfactant may comprise both an anionic surfactant which preferably consists of a linear higher sodium alkylbenzenesulfonate, and a nonionic surfactant which preferably consists of a condensation product of a higher fatty alcohol and polyethylene oxide, and a higher fatty acid soap is present in the wash. pentasodium tripolyphosphate or NTA or a mixture thereof with a small amount of sodium silicate, the bentonite is a swelling bentonite having a water content of at least 3% and the siliconate is a lower alkali metal alkyl silicone or more preferably potassium methylsiliconate and 5 % sodium perborate, which releases oxygen in aqueous solution at elevated temperature is present, the sodium perborate particles being according to the invention.

The invented sodium perborate particles find use in, among other things, the products and processes disclosed in the parent application, Swedish Patent Specification 83 01 906-7, the relevant parts of which are hereby incorporated herein.

The siliconate applied to the sodium perborate particles as a coating thereon and can also be used as a coating on other particles contained in a detergent composition, which helps to prevent adhesion to the walls of the dosing compartment of an automatic washing machine (and to the walls). in other "containers" of the product) is one which can be easily applied and which can at least partially cover these particles and prevent their adhesion to the walls of a space in which it can be temporarily stored, even if the walls are damp or wet. the siliconate is a salt of silicic acid, preferably an alkali metal salt thereof, and the silicic acid is preferably a lower alkylsiliconic acid. Although it is desirable that the salt-forming metal or other cation be such as to give a water-soluble siliconate so that it can be applied to the particles in aqueous solution, this is not necessary, but it may also be possible to use water-dispersible siliconates. . It is further within the scope of the invention to use lipophilic silicones which can be applied dissolved in an organic solvent or in an aqueous organic solvent, or in corresponding emulsions or dispersions.

The alkali metal in the siliconate is preferably either sodium or potassium, but other salt-forming cations may also be used, provided that the siliconate is suitable for the intended purpose. It is also conceivable that alkali metal salts of silicic acids other than the lower alkyl silicones may be used, including both aliphatic and aromatic siliconates, but the lower alkyl silicones in which the lower alkyl group has 1 to 3 or 4 carbon atoms, for example potassium methyl silicone and sodium propyl silicone, are considered to prefer. Instead of using the siliconate, an equivalent amount of the corresponding silicic acid and a corresponding base can be used.

To achieve the most effective results, it is very convenient to use the lower alkyl silicones described above, but it is also conceivable that these compounds may polymerize, at least in part, into silicone-containing or other film-forming and defoaming compounds or polymers, and consequently, it is within the broader limits of the present invention to directly incorporate these "derivative" materials, at least in part, as a component of the detergent compositions in question.When a silicone derivative is used, it should be one which helps to improve the portioning. of the particles of detergent composition from a dosing compartment of an automatic washing machine, such as a compartment from which the particulate contents are rinsed out by the stream of water into the washing drum of the machine, although the process of the present invention is not to be limited by the process should be described, however, it may be that the water-soluble lower alk the alimetallicalkylsilonates (which may also be described as lower alkali metalalkylsilanolates) may be converted to polymethylsiloxanes, such as by the action of atmospheric carbon dioxide or any other acidic material, which may also result in the formation of alkali metal carbonate, such as sodium carbonate, 35 458 763 salt. The polymethylsiloxanes are known to be hydrophobic and it is possible that their presence is the reason for the improved properties of the coated bentonite (or other detergent particles) in the improved dispensing from the dosing compartment of an automatic washing machine. The formation of siloxanes by the described reaction has been mentioned in the paper "Chemistry and Technology of Silicones", by Walter Noll, published by Academic Press, 1968. Although silicones have previously been included in detergent compositions, often due to their antifoam properties, however, there is no known description of the use of water-soluble silicates as a coating on the particles to facilitate unimpeded release from moist surfaces in the dosing compartment, as in the present invention, and this process and the resulting compositions cannot be clearly seen from the prior art.

The silicone used should be added in an amount sufficient to achieve the desired facilitation effect, and this amount should normally be between 0.05 and 1%, preferably 0.15 to 1%, although up to 3%. % can be deposited. A preferred range for the siliconate content is between 0.1 or 0.15 and 0.3 or 0.4%, for example 0.15% or 0.3%.

For the perborate, the siliconate content should be the same as for the final detergent composition, but these levels can be increased by 10 to 100%, depending on the conditions and levels of the different adjuvants in the detergent composition. e ~.

After preparation of the spray-dried part of the detergent compositions, other components thereof can be mixed with the granules or sprayed on them (and on other components of the product, if desired). In general, it is preferred that the bentonite, enzymes, bleaches and any other particulate products, such as those in powder, agglomerated or spherical form (excluding the siliconate), which are subsequently added to the spray dried the granules, are mixed with them, after which any liquids (including the silicone in solution) which are to be added afterwards are sprayed on the mixture. However, the order in which the components are subsequently added may vary, and in some cases some of the particulate material may be added after one or more of the liquids. Two or more of the particulate materials may be mixed together before they are added afterwards and mixtures of liquids may also be present.

Solvents can be used for various components to be applied in the form of liquids and in some cases emulsions can be used. Although the siliconate is preferably applied in dissolved form, in water, this can thus be applied in the form of a water emulsion if a less soluble siliconate is used. In some cases it may be desirable to use the siliconate in the form of an aqueous emulsion together with perfume and / or nonionic surfactant. However, it is much better to first coat the non-perfumed detergent composition with a silicone aqueous solution spray and then spray perfume on the "siliconized" product. It may sometimes be desirable to dilute the perfume with a suitable solvent, such as a comparatively odorless alkylate (hydrocarbon). Instead of spraying the siliconate on the mixture of spray-dried detergent grains (or otherwise prepared products with similar properties), bentonite agglomerates, enzyme beads or agglomerates and perborate particles, the siliconate can be applied separately to any of these different components or to different combinations thereof. This can be accomplished with separate spray liquids of the siliconate, in which case the amount of this deposited on the various components can be easily controlled, or a single siliconate spray liquid can be sprayed on different fed streams of these components when they fed into a suitable mixer. When nonionic surfactant is added afterwards (and it may sometimes be preferable to introduce the whole amount of nonionic surfactant into the mixer so that the beneficial effect of the siliconate on the portioning is the best possible) it can be sprayed on or otherwise satisfactorily applied to the spray dried grains. surface before mixing with the other particulate components of the final product and before applying the silicone spray liquid thereon. As previously mentioned, the nonionic surfactant in liquid form can also be mixed with the silicone and / or the perfume to be sprayed on the product, in which case it can serve as an emulsifier.

The amount of siliconate to be sprayed on the surface of the various particulate components of the detergent composition should be such that the final product contains a proportions-facilitating amount of siliconate (or a derivative thereof). Since it is likely that the bentonite agglomerate may to some extent counteract a satisfactory discharge of the particulate detergent composition from the dosing compartment of an automatic washing machine (of the "European type"), it may be advantageous for a larger portion of the siliconate to be applied to the agglomerated bentonite particles. , eg up to 5%, whenever possible. In some cases, only the bentonite particles should be treated with the siliconate, in which case the siliconate content of the final detergent composition can often be reduced, for example by as much as 50%. The application of the siliconate involves the addition of water to the composition to be treated, when the siliconate is in the form of an aqueous solution or water emulsion (but not if it is in the form of a non-aqueous solution). This can be both desirable and undesirable, depending on the water content and the properties of the detergent composition and the manufacturing apparatus. The concentration of silicone in the spray liquid can thus be adjusted.

The larger the volume of the spray liquid and the larger the dilution of the siliconate, the more evenly a spray liquid can of course be distributed on the particulate material. On the other hand, if the product is at the boundary line or has too high a water content, a dilute silicone spray liquid can aggravate this condition. In general, the concentration of siliconate in the liquid should be at least 5% and preferably at least 10%. Since the siliconate is completely miscible with water, higher concentrations can be used, which are usually in the range of 5 or 10 to 25 or 50%.

The various mixing and spraying procedures are generally to be carried out at about room temperature, but operating temperatures in the range of 10 to 40 ° C, preferably 20 to 30 ° C are preferred. The particle sizes of the materials to be coated with siliconate must generally be the same as in the final product, within the sieve areas Nr. 10 to 100 or 200 (the range of perborate and enzyme may extend to No. 200). The agglomerated bentonite particles shall be those resulting from the agglomeration or pressing of finer particles, such as those of which more than 50% pass through a Nr. 200 sieve. The particles should be substantially sand-free and usually between 0.05 or 0.15 and 3 or 5%, preferably 0.1 or 0.15 to 0.5 or 1% siliconate, such as potassium methylsilicone or sodium propylsilicone, be sprayed on the surface of the particles so that this is at least partially covered herewith.

They may be colored with a suitable dye or pigment, such as Acilan Brilliant Blue FFR, or this or any other suitable color may be applied together with the siliconate. The silicone does not weaken the color. The bentonite agglomerate can sometimes be larger than the other particles in the product, eg 10 to 50% larger in diameter, to accentuate the difference. In many cases, the bentonite agglomerate should preferably consist of sodium carbonate treated bentonite (which treatment improves the color of discolored clay) and contain magnesium carbonate and / or calcium carbonate derived from this treatment. When the particles are only partially coated with siliconate, it is desirable that at least 10% of the surface (in equivalent spheres) is covered with the siliconate, and more preferably a larger part thereof should be covered, eg 50%, to facilitate dispensing.

Similar assessments and conditions apply when treating enzyme, bleach and detergent particles except that in this case a smaller amount of siliconate may be used than is the case when coating bentonite agglomerates.

In the various cases mentioned above, the solid siliconate coating should usually be present on the outside and constitute 1% of the particle thickness. For a particle with a thickness of 1 millimeter, for example, the siliconate coating should have a thickness of about 5 microns. Preferably, the coating should be present on 0.5% of the outer part of the particle diameter, and more preferably on 0.2% of the outer part thereof.

When only partial coating is applied and when larger percentages of the siliconate are used, such as when only the bentonite agglomerate is coated, the siliconate thickness will of course be greater, but preferably less than 2%. usually the thickness should be at least 0.05% of the particle thickness.

The application of siliconate to the surface of the particles, even when the whole particle is not coated with the siliconate, improves the dispensing properties of the particles without causing any adverse effects. Detergent compositions of the types described herein, and the particulate components of said compositions, are easier to dispense from the dosing compartment of a European-type automatic washing machine than control products not treated with silicone. This difference is most noticeable when it comes to the agglomerated bentonite particles. The experiments performed to compare the results were practical experiments, using a number of different 458 763 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 10 manufacturers of European washing machines and the evaluation was done by noting the number of particles that remained in the dosing compartment after normal filling and dispensing. or after repeated execution thereof.

To emphasize the differences and make the experiment more difficult, the walls of the dosing compartment were first soaked to facilitate the adhesion of the bentonite (and the other materials) thereto.

To mimic this experiment, one can sprinkle the same amount of weight of test product and control product on a wet horizontal surface, leave it for one or two minutes and then direct a weak jet of water towards the particles for a measured period of time, eg 30 seconds, the number of particles can be compared. whereas in these experiments the products according to the invention showed a marked improvement over the control products: in general it can be expected that less than half the number of particles still adhere to the pre-moistened surfaces when the "experiment" product is used, the product. compared to control- Often no particles adhere to the pre-moistened surface when at least 0.15% silicone is used, several particles adhere when at least 0.05% but less than 0.15% silicone is used, and a considerable number of particles adhere fixed when no siliconate is present. Although most of the detergent is introduced into the washing drum during normal use of the automatic washing machine, so that the retention of some particles in the dosing compartment can initially be only psychologically disturbing, in repeated washing procedures a larger number of particles can be retained, whereby the fabric softener the composition of the detergent changes and possibly also significantly affects the amount of weight invested. The appearance of the dosing compartment with particles retained therein is also unsatisfactory and can lead to the consumer refusing to use the product. Due to the different washing techniques used in the USA, the coating of the detergent's bentonite particles with siliconate may not be as significant there, but it should be noted that the presence of siliconate on the particles helps to make the detergent more stable and free flowing, in particular. under humid conditions, and 10 15 20 25 30 45 45 765 111 helps to counteract gelation of the bentonite under these conditions.

In addition to facilitating the dispensing, the siliconate also has the desirable effect of preventing excessive foaming of the detergent composition in aqueous solution. The bentonite also helps to limit the foaming and the combination of the two is superior to the individual components. The siliconate also appears to have a stabilizing effect on enzymes and bleaches coated therewith, and it helps to prevent reactions between perfume components and other constituents of the detergent, thereby helping to stabilize the perfume. It can also_have such an effect on dyes. However, these various advantages are obtained without the disadvantage that the product becomes excessively hydrophobic. because it is water soluble from the beginning. The silicone does not interfere with the desired rapid dissolution and dispersion of the detergent components and does not appear to cause any undesired accumulation of hydrophobic deposits on washed and softened laundry. It does not counteract the special emollient effect of the hydrophilic bentonite and it does not impair the good cleaning ability of the composition. The resulting detergent compositions are excellent detergents which effectively soften washed laundry, as determined by comparative experiments with similar compositions which did not contain either bentonite or siliconate. The products are satisfactorily free-flowing and have the desired cream volume and appealing appearance. In addition, they are non-dusting, which can be attributed at least in part to the siliconate.

Processes in which silicone solutions or emulsions are sprayed onto surfactants, bentonite and other particulate detergent components can be easily performed and do not require any special equipment. Due to the water solubility of the silicone, it can be applied in an aqueous solvent without the addition of other components to the detergent.

However, it can also be emulsified or otherwise distributed among the other detergent components. The methods can be modified to allow different concentrations of siliconate on different detergent components. The coating materials do not gel or thicken improperly, they do not clog spray nozzles and they do not form rubbery deposits on the spraying and mixing devices.

The silicone can be applied at rust temperature because it does not require any heating, as is the case with some other protective coating materials. The silicone can mainly be held on the surface of the particles, which means that a smaller amount can be used while still obtaining the desired contributing effect in the portioning. In addition, probably due to the properties of the siliconate or derivative thereof present on the detergent or component particles, this is also effective even when the particles are not completely coated therewith.

The following examples illustrate the present invention without limiting it. Unless otherwise indicated, all parts are by weight, and all temperatures are in ° C.

Example 1 A basic mixture consisting of a total of 3,199.5 kg of material was prepared by adding 364 kg of dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (Dobane JNQ (48.8% active ingredient) and 167 kg of hydrogenated fatty acids (16 to 18 carbon atoms per mole of fatty acid). was reacted with 47 kg of caustic soda (38% Ha 2 O) in an aqueous medium containing a suitable proportion (to maintain the reaction) of 952 kg of tap water (300 ppm hardness, as CaCO 3). The remainder of the water was used to cool the reaction mixture, according to If desired, dilute the other components in the basic mixture, then 242 kg of aqueous sodium silicate solution (Na 2 O: SiO 2 = 1: 2.4) were introduced into the mixer with a concentration of 44. 1% solids, 7.5 kg stilbene type fluorescent bleach, 7 kg Sydex 808 (85% MgSiO 3 and 15% magnesium DTPA), 1252 kg hydrated sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP "H"), S4 kg anhydrous sodium sulphate ( 99.5% purity) and 107 kg of nonionic active surfactant, which was considered a cow condensation product of 11 moles of ethylene oxide and 1 mole of higher fatty alcohol with 12 to 15 carbon atoms per mole.

The base mixture was heated for about 1 hour with stirring so that its temperature rose to about 55 ° C, and then it was pumped to a spray drying tower where it was sprayed at elevated pressure through a plurality of spray nozzles into drying air at a temperature of about 300 ° C.

During the spray drying, particles with a water content of about 12% were obtained, most of which were within the sieve area No. 10 to 100. Particles outside this range were screened away. 63.1 parts of the spray-dried powder (bulk volume about 0.4 g / ml) were then mixed with 0.3 parts of proteolytic enzyme in spherical form (Älcalase, 2 Anson units per gram, although Maxatase P 440,000 can be used instead) , 20 parts granulated sodium perborate and 16 parts agglomerated bentonite. All of these powders had particle sizes within the size range of the spray dried component of the detergent composition, but smaller particles of single and perborate can also be used, down to about do. 1200. The bentonite particles consisted of 82.3 parts of anhydrous bentonite, 16.1 parts of water, 1.5 parts of sodium silicate (previously described) and 0.06 parts of Acilan Brilliant Blue dye, the dye being applied to the surface of the particles. The bentonite particles were prepared by agglomerating more finely divided bentonite particles (Laviosa AGB) together with dilute sodium silicate solution (in water). after which they were dried. The bentonite used was * one treated with sodium carbonate for the exchange of calcium and magnesium therein for sodium (see above detailed description of this material) and from which a natural content of sandy material (hard enough to be difficult to crush with a hammer) after treatment had been removed by centrifugal separation.

The water content of suitable agglomerated bentonite can vary and it can be as low as 3% when mixed with the other components of the emollient detergent in question.

A mixture of 0.5 parts of nonionic active surfactant, 0.25 parts of Rhodorsil Siliconate Sl T (50% solution of potassium methyl silicone) was sprayed onto the mixture of spray dried grains, enzyme, perborate and colored bentonite particles in an inclined drum mixer. 0.25 parts_detergent perfume. The spraying was adjusted so that the sprayed liquid evenly covered the particles in the mixer or the drum drum, whereby about 100 parts of uniform product were obtained.

The final product had a particle size within the sieve range 25 No. 10 to 60, a bulk volume of about 0.5 g / ml, and a water content of about 12% (although this could be reduced to about 9% when the product was allowed to stand). The resulting particulate fabric softening detergent was free-flowing and had an attractive appearance, with 30 slightly larger (on average 20 to 200% larger diameter) blue agglomerated bentonite particles contrasting with the other white particles. and it was not dusty. The product produced was subjected to practical washing tests and it proved to be an excellent detergent with the desired fabric softening properties. The assessment noted that it was easier to portion out and leave a smaller number of particles in the dosing compartment of a European-type automatic washing machine than a control product without a silicone coating. This is especially important when the bentonite particles are larger, as these may have a greater tendency to adhere to the wet walls of the compartment during dispensing.

When the above experiments were repeated but with 100 kg of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, 1324 kg of TPP "H" and 0.6 parts of Rhodorsil Siliconate 51 T instead of the previously stated amounts, the resulting product had the same appealing physical properties and functions but was in addition, even more easily automatically dispensable, and it left no particles in the dosing compartment of a European-type automatic washing machine.

In modifications of the above examples, the anionic surfactant was exchanged for the same amounts by weight of sodium lauryl sulphate, hydrogenated sodium tallow alcohol sulphate and sodium tallow alcohol polyethoxy (3EtO) sulphate, respectively. Alternatively, mixtures of these materials were used, for example equal parts of sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and hydrogenated sodium tallow alcohol sulphate were used together. In all these cases, the final detergent composition was an excellent fabric softening detergent. All products: also had improved dispensing properties-when they _. were tested using the methods described above. Similar results could also be obtained when, instead of changing the anionic surfactant, the nonionic surfactant was changed, which was exchanged for a block polymer of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide, such as Pluronic L-44 or 458 763 16 L-62, nonylphenol polyoxyethylene (12 EtO ) glycol or a condensation product of C12-25 fatty alcohol with 3 or 7 moles of ethylene oxide per mole, or against a mixture of two or more of these surfactants, for example 5 in equal parts.

When half or all of the sodium tripolyphosphate was exchanged for NTA, the final product was also a satisfactory detergent having emollient properties, and it had improved dispensing properties compared with a control sample of the same composition but without silicone.

When soap was excluded from the composition, a reduced foam control was obtained, but otherwise the product was acceptable and similar to those described above. When the sodium perborate was exchanged for other bleaching agents, such as sodium persulfate and magnesium dimonoperoxyphthalate, good bleaching and cleaning products were still obtained. When known activators of the oxidizing agents were present, the bleaching could be carried out using the composition at lower temperatures than the near boiling points (which are generally used in the performance of this example to achieve maximum bleaching effect). When it is desired to include more silicate in the product, the amount of silicate is doubled by the subsequent addition of aqueous silicate particles of the same size together with the other subsequently added particulate solids. When sodium propyl silicone was used instead of 30: for potassium methyl silicone, comparable products could. obtained, and this was also the case when siliconates - with less solubility in water were used instead of some, eg 25%, of the other siliconates. Example 2 The procedures of Example 1 were varied by applying the silicone, 1 aqueous solution (20% solids) in the form of a finely divided spray liquid (preferably with the sprayed droplets of "micron size"). for example 1 to 50 or 1 to 10 microns in diameter), or otherwise in the form of satisfactory droplets of liquid, on each of the particulate components to be mixed, separately before this mixing. The various coated particles all had a bulk volume within the prescribed range (0.3 to 0.6 g / ml, eg 0.5 g / ml). Then the perfume was sprayed on the mixture in the same way. The nonionic surfactant was not sprayed afterwards but was instead incorporated into the base mixture. The resulting product also had improved dispensing properties.

The silicone-coated bentonite agglomerate, the spray-dried grains of detergent composition (without bentonite), enzymes and perborates can all be prepared separately and stored, and are later suitable for use in the preparation of fabric softening detergents of different compositions and with different desired properties. eg coated bentonite plus uncoated spray-dried grains.

Example 3 An emollient detergent, similar to the first composition of Example 1, was prepared from a mixture of 10.24 parts of the dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, 2.81 parts of the hydrogenated fatty acid, 0.81 parts of the caustic sedan, 26, 54 parts of water, 37.2 parts of pentasodium tripolyphosphate (hydrated), 6.8 parts of sodium silicate solution, 0.21 parts of fluorescent fluid, 1.46 parts of sodium sulfate and 3.0 parts of the nonionic surfactant, which were added sequentially. The mixture was spray dried in the manner described in Example 1 to give 62.5 parts of a product of similar bulk volume and particle size. The spray-dried particles were then mixed with 0.3 parts of proteolytic enzyme, 20 parts of sodium perborate granules, 16.0 parts of the agglomerated bentonite and 0.2 parts of Sydex 808, and a mixture of 0 parts was sprayed onto the tumbling powder mixture. , 3 parts of the detergent perfume and 0.4 parts of linear C10-13 alkylate, and 0.15 parts of potassium methylsilicone spray suitably liquid state, preferably dissolved in water (50% concentration). The product produced had better distributing properties when dispensed from the dosing compartment of an automatic washing machine in normal use. It showed a slightly greater foaming tendency than the similar product according to Example 1.

When 0.3 parts of the siliconate was used, the dispensing properties of the detergent composition were further improved. When instead of an agglomerated sodium carbonate-treated Italian bentonite which is freed from sand. as in Example 1, used a comparable product (Winkelmann agglomerate), or a Wyoming-type bentonite, such as that sold under the trademark Mineral Colloid No. l0l (formerly Thixogel No. 1), similar end products were obtained, which were good emollient detergents which could be easily portioned out.

When other lower alkyl silicones, such as sodium propyl silicone, were used, similar results could be obtained. When the Acilan Blue dye, which was used to dye the bentonite agglomerate, was replaced with ultramarine blue, good coloring and bluish effect was also obtained. Similarly, when the siliconate was applied only to the agglomerated bentonite, with the same total amount of siliconate in the product, or in some cases with 50% less amount, the properties of the resulting detergent were the same as those previously mentioned. and the portioning was also improved. compared to a control sample.

Example 4 When the levels of the various components in the previous examples were modified by in 10%,: 20% and in 30%, while maintaining them within the previously given limits and maintaining the ratio of anionic surfactant to nonionic surfactant in the range of about 1: 1 to 3: 1 The ratio of the total surfactant content to the detergent content in the range of about 1: 3 to 1: 8 and the ratio of the sodium bentonite to the total amount of surfactant in the range of about 1: 1 to 2: 1, products with properties similar to those described in Example 1 were obtained; This was also the case when the water-soluble detergent builder or salts of Example 1 were exchanged for zeolite A (20% hydration) and when any of a number of synthetic anionic and nonionic surfactants were added to the mixture, optionally together with an amphoteric surfactant, such as one of the Miranol type. The present invention can also be applied to improve the dispensing properties of various other bentonites and particulate detergent compositions of widely differing compositions, densities (0.2 to 0.9 g / ml) and particle sizes (preferably No. 10- 40 field of view). The present invention has been described with reference to various examples and embodiments thereof, but it is not limited thereto, as one skilled in the art of the specification above may, of course, use substituents and equivalents without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (2)

458 763 20 P a t e n t k r a v Particles of sodium perborate, characterized in that their sizes are in the range 0.074 mm to 2.0 mm and that they are at least partially coated with a siliconate and / or a derivative thereof. Sodium perborate particles according to claim 1, characterized in that they are coated with between 0.05 and 1% potassium methyl silicone.