Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft Auf Aktien

Basf Se Corporation

Werner Pichler

Wilfried Raehse

Kathleen Paatz

Horst Upadek

Beatrix Kottwitz

Matthias Sunder

Jochen Jacobs

Josef Penninger

Juergen Haerer

Theodor Voelkel

Norbert Kuehne

Birgit Burg

Wilfried Rahse

Norbert Kuhne

Dieter Baur

Wilfried Rähse

Hans Raker

Jens Van Holt

A granulate for particulate detergents or cleaning agents, the granulate containing a detergent or cleaning agent active ingredient and an outer encapsulation layer formed of polyvalent metal salts of an unbranched or branched, unsaturated or saturated, mono- or polyhydroxylated fatty acid having at least 12 carbon atoms or a mixture of the salts. Also, a process for making the granulate by applying to the granules an encapsulation material that comprises one or more polyvalent metal salt or salts, preferably in the form of an aqueous dispersion in a fluidized bed process.

Encapsulated active ingredient preparation for use in particulate detergents and cleaning agents

Enzyme granules suitable for incorporating into detergents or cleaners are provided containing an enzyme, a carrier material and a granulation auxiliary containing phosphated starch. The phosphated starch preferably has a mean degree of phosphation ranging from 1.5 to 2.5. Carrier materials include starch, cereal flour, cellulose, alkali metal aluminosilicate, layer silicate and alkali metal salts. Enzymes include proteases, lipases, amylases and cellulases. A preferred carrier material contains water-swellable starch, sucrose, cereal flour and cellulose powder. The granulation auxiliary may contain a co-granulation auxiliary selected from polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of from 200 to 6,000, 1,2-propylene glycol and a poly-ethoxylate having a specified formula. Preferred granules have a mean particle size of from 0.3 to 3 mm. The granules are produced by forming a mixture containing an aqueous enzyme-containing liquid such as a concentrated fermentation broth, the carrier material and the granulation auxiliary, extruding the mixture, cutting the extruded mixture to obtain granules, and optionally spheronizing and drying the granules.

Enzyme granules containing phosphated starch

An enzyme granule and means for producing the enzyme granule is presented. The enzyme granule is composed of an enzyme, a carrier material, and a coating system of 5 to 70 percent by weight fine-particle inorganic water-insoluble pigment, 45 to 90 percent by weight of a water-soluble organic substance having a melting point of from 40 to 70&deg; C., and 0 to 30 percent by weight of a flow improver. The granule can be produced by mixing an aqueous enzyme liquid with an inorganic or organic carrier material to form an enzyme compound, extruding the enzyme compound, spheronizing the extrudate, and applying an outer coating layer of the coating system listed above to form an enzyme granule having a mean particle size of 0.8 to 1.4 millimeters. The coated enzyme granule has increased storage stability, even coloration, reduced odor, and releases enzyme activity quickly in water. The enzyme granule is useful in solid detergents.

Coated enzyme preparation with an improved solubility

The invention relates to the use of mutated protease of the subtilisin type which carries at least one mutation in its amino acid sequence, leading to a reduced positive charge or an increased negative charge in the substrate binding region of the molecule, in liquid to gel-form laundry detergents. This protease shows increased stability above all in detergents such as these.

Use of protease in liquid to gel-form detergents

A fluidized bed apparatus for the production and treatment of granules and a method for its operation is provided. The fluidized bed apparatus includes an entry chamber through which a gas is designed to flow upwards; a fluidization chamber for fluidizing the material located above the entry chamber; pivotal slats located between the entry chamber and the fluidization chamber; and a nozzle arm located in the chamber below the slats with a nozzle line ending in a nozzle which is directed into the fluidization chamber through cutouts in the slats and extends partly into the fluidization chamber. The fluidized bed apparatus has rigid nozzle arms and lines which are easily jacketed for heating and cooling applications.

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Kundl, Austria

Werner Pichler