Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.

Frans A Van Der Hoeven

Christophe Michel Joyeux

A free-flowing granular detergent composition or component having a bulk density of at least 550 g/liter comprises an anionic surfactant of which the acid form is a liquid at ambient temperature, preferably primary alcohol sulphate and/or alkylbenzene sulphonate; zeolite; and alkali metal, preferably sodium, carbonate. The level of sodium carbonate is 2-12 wt % when the anionic surfactant is wholly primary alcohol sulphate, otherwise 2-25 wt %. The compositions have lower levels of carbonate and higher surfactant loadings than previously disclosed materials, without loss of powder properties. The materials are preferably prepared by a granulation process involving in-situ neutralisation of anionic surfactant acid by carbonate in a high-speed mixer/granulator.

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Rotterdam, Netherlands

Frans A Van Der Hoeven