CH656396A5 - SOFTENING PARTICLE-SHAPED DETERGENTS FOR TEXTILES AND METHOD FOR THEIR PRODUCTION. - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a plasticizing, particulate synthetic laundry detergent containing particles of a detergent composition with finely divided bentonite powder and detergent particles not covered with bentonite powder. A particulate synthetic detergent, which consists only of detergent particles, on the outer surface of which finely divided bentonite particles adhere, is also encompassed by the present invention.

The present invention also encompasses processes for the preparation of the detergents mentioned.

It is known that spray-dried detergent compositions that are offered for use in automatic washing machines can contain a larger proportion of particulate coarse detergent products. However, laundry washed with such detergent compositions can become uncomfortably hard or "board-like" stiff to the touch, especially when dried on a line instead of in an automatic dryer. Fabric softening agents have therefore already been added, sometimes in the rinse of the washing process and sometimes in an automatic clothes dryer, with the softening agent being deposited on the surface of the laundry. Waxy fabric softeners, e.g. quaternary ammonium halides

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have also been used in detergents, but have the disadvantage that only a small proportion of such a plasticizer is not drained off with the washing water, ie only a small amount remains on the laundry. Such cationic materials also react with anionic surfactants and fluorescent brightening dyes, which is undesirable and disadvantageous.

Bentonite has already been used in detergent compositions as a filler and as a softening agent. The bentonite particles, which are of extremely small particle size, tend to adhere to the material to be washed and form sliding spots on such material, as a result of which they become softer to the touch. However, various naturally occurring bentonites, such as Wyoming bentonite, which per se can advantageously be used as plasticizers in detergent compositions, tend to be off-color or brownish in shade, which can adversely affect the appearance of the products containing these bentonites. This effect is even more objectionable when the bentonite is used as a surface coating for surfactant particles or spheres (because agglomeration appears to intensify the bentonite color and also because the color is not masked by other particles of the spheres). In addition, bentonite, which is usually in the form of a finely divided powder, can separate from other, larger particles of the detergent composition during storage if it is not firmly attached to them.

The object of the present invention is to create plasticizing, particulate synthetic detergents in which the disadvantages which arise as a result of the addition of bentonite are overcome. It is also an object of the invention to provide softening detergent products which are less prone to caking than conventional detergent compositions and which have a more uniform appearance than the previously known products with bentonite agglomerates mixed with detergent beads. Another object of the invention is to provide detergent products in which the beads have greater strength than in conventional detergent products, into which clay is incorporated in the form of a powder, or subsequently. Finally, the softening detergent according to the invention should have better flow properties than corresponding products which contain a comparable amount of sticky materials in the detergent composition.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a plasticizing, particulate synthetic detergent for textiles, which is characterized in that it is a mixture of 10 to 60% by weight of particles of a detergent composition with finely divided bentonite powder, which adheres to the outer surface of the particles, and 90 contains up to 40 wt .-% detergent particles without such bentonite powder.

In preferred embodiments according to the invention, the detergent composition is in the form of spray-dried white beads and the bentonite is in the form of an off-color or yellowish-brown powder, the amount of bentonite making up 20 to 80% by weight of the beads on which it takes up part of the surface, the Bentonite is retained on these beads by a small amount of sodium silicate binder. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the beads covered with bentonite have a greater content of sticky synthetic organic surfactants than the beads without bentonite on the surface.

Another softening, particulate synthetic detergent for textiles according to the invention is characterized in that it consists of spray-dried detergent particles, on the outer surfaces of which finely divided bentonite particles adhere, the particles having a particle size in the range from 2.38 to 0.250 mm, the individual bentonite particles, the adhere to the detergent particles, have a particle size such that they pass through a sieve with a mesh size of 0.074 mm and that the bentonite is held onto the detergent beads by coating with sodium silicate, the silicate binder being 0.01 to 2% of the bentonite agglomerate part matters.

The invention further relates to a process for producing the plasticizing, particulate synthetic detergent, which is characterized in that finely divided bentonite powder and larger detergent particles are agglomerated with one another in such a way that the bentonite powder adheres to the outer surface of the detergent particles, and that 10 to 60% by weight. % of these detergent particles covered with bentonite are mixed with 90 to 40% by weight detergent particles not covered with bentonite.

In preferred embodiments of this invention, the bentonite powder is mixed with spray-dried beads of synthetic organic detergent compositions and agglomerated by spraying a dilute aqueous sodium silicate solution onto the mixture during mixing.

Such a method is also suitable for the production of detergent compositions in which all detergent particles are agglomerated with bentonite if the bentonite is of excellent purity, so that incorrect colors are not objected to, or if the beads are colored or pigmented.

In accordance with the present invention, a preferred method of making a particulate, fabric softening synthetic organic detergent composition is to mix a smaller amount of a finely divided bentonite powder with a larger amount of larger detergent particles and to apply a smaller portion of an aqueous sodium silicate solution to the surface of this mixture sprayed on while the mixture is being moved so that new surfaces of the mixture are continuously sprayed by the spray, the aqueous sodium silicate solution being present in a concentration of 2 to 8% by weight and being sprayed in such an amount that 0, Precipitate 1 to 0.4% by weight sodium silicate and 2 to 8% by weight moisture on the mixture. Mixing usually continues after application of the aqueous sodium silicate solution and the agglomerated particulate detergent, on the surface of which the bentonite powder adheres, is removed.

The bentonite particles are preferably of a particle size such that essentially all of the particles pass through a sieve with a mesh size of 0.074 mm; A bentonite powder, the particles of which all pass through a sieve with a mesh size of 0.044 mm, is particularly preferred. The detergent particles are preferably spray-dried particles of a composite synthetic organic detergent with a particle size in the range from 2.38 to 0.149 mm, particularly preferably from 2.00 to 0.250 mm. The sodium silicate used usually has a Na20: SiO2 weight ratio of 1: 2.4, and the droplets of the sodium silicate spray in particular have a diameter of not more than 1 mm, preferably in the range from 0.1 to 0.5 mm.

The process can be carried out in a rotating drum mixer.

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656396 4

shear (free fall mixer) carried out in "Surface Active Agents and Detergents" Volume II, Inter

Longitudinal direction at an angle of about 2 to 15 ° to the Science Publishers, Inc. (1958), pages 25-138.

extends horizontally, the first mixing within the Although various nonionic surfactants with suitable

upstream third of the drum, spraying physical properties including condensation and agglomeration within the middle third of the 5 products of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide.

Drum and the subsequent mixing in the downstream of and with hydroxyl-containing bases such as nonylphenol or lying third of the drum is carried out. Oxo alcohols can be used, are completely

A preferred embodiment of the present, particularly preferably those nonionic surfactants which are a compound is explained in more detail below in connection with the figures, the condensation product of ethylene oxide and higher fatty alcohol. It shows: io len are. In these products, the fatty alcohol in particular

Figure 1 is a schematic central longitudinal section of one of the 10 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 16 carbon atoms, and rotating drum mixer (free-fall mixer) with further the nonionic surfactant contains about 3 to 20 or 30 ethyl equipment, which in the practical implementation of the invented oxide groups per mole. It is very particularly preferred that the process according to the invention can be used; nonionic surfactant a compound that is a higher

2 shows a cross section through the rotary drum 15 fatty alcohol residue with about 12 to 13 or 15 carbon atoms and the mixer along the surface 2-2; it shows the spraying of about 6 to 7 or 11 moles of ethylene oxide. Such ten silicate solution on the mixing detergent and benides are under the trade names NeodolR 23-6.5 and 25-7 tonite particles. (Shell Chemical Company). To the specific

The detergent particles, which here admit the basic particles of the advantageous properties of these nonionic surfactants, some of which can be agglomerated on the surface with a fine hearing, in addition to the good detergency in the case of oily soiling and divided up bentonite powder, can be any comparatively low Melting point, which, however, may be any suitable particle that is in any way noticeably above room temperature, so that the products have been made by appropriate routes. However, spray-dried particles, with partial but usually little or no surfactant, are particularly preferably sprayed onto the base beads (which may contain builder salts) as a liquid size in the range from 2.38 to 0.49 mm, preferably 2 seconds can, which solidifies. If from 2.38 or 2.00 to 0.250 mm and particularly preferably e.g. non-ionic surfactants as a spray on the detergent tub from 2.00 to 0.42 or 0.250 mm. Normally containing gels can be used, then such a spray can be used from such products as a synthetic organic detergent, finally for the surface coating of the spheres that either an anionic or nonionic surfactant is used with bentonite, or a part of the nonionic builder for The surfactant, adjuvants and moisture can see 30 together with the builder salt and stabilizer. len auxiliaries are spray dried. Alternatively and

The preferred various anionic surfactants, sometimes preferred (but this is rare) that cannot be used, include unbranched higher ionic surfactants on the agglomerated bentonite-Grundkü alkylbenzenesulfonates, higher alkyl sulfates and higher fatty algae or a mixture of these Beads are sprayed with no alcohol polyethoxylate sulfates, usually in the form of their products containing sodium 35 bentonite.

salts, which are particularly preferred. As a water-soluble builder, one or more of the higher alkyl radicals in alkylbenzenesulfonate can be used linearly with conventional materials which have hitherto been on average 11 or 12 to 15 carbon atoms, e.g. 12 or 13 builder used or proposed for this purpose wor-C atoms, the sulfonate being in the form of the sodium salt. These include primarily inorganic or organic compounds. However, other alkylbenzenesulfonates, 40 see builders and mixtures thereof. Among the inorganic e.g. With 10 or 12 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl groups, builders see the different Phos will usually be used. The alkyl sulfate is preferably a high phosphate, especially polyphosphates, e.g. Tripoly-res fatty alkyl sulfate with 10 to 18 carbon atoms, preferably with phosphates and pyrophosphates, for example pentasodium 12 to 16 carbon atoms, e.g. 12 carbon atoms, also in tripolyphosphate and tetrasodium pyrophosphate. Also tri-form of the sodium salt. The higher alkyl ethoxamer sulfates 45 sodium nitrilotriacetate (NTA), preferably as monohydric, similarly have 10 or 12 or 18 carbon atoms, e.g. 12 drat, and other nitrilotriacetates, e.g. Disodium nitrilotria carbon atoms, in the alkyl radical, which is preferably a fatty alkyl radical, acetate, are preferred organic builder salts. Sodium tripo and the content of ethoxy groups is normally 3 lyphosphate, sodium pyrophosphate and NTA can be used up to 30 ethoxy groups per mole, preferably 3 or 5 bis in hydrated as well as in anhydrous form-20 ethoxy groups per mole. Here too the form is of the 50's. Other effective water-soluble builders preferably include in the salts. Accordingly, the alkyl groups are generally the various inorganic and organically preferably linear or higher fatty alkyl groups with 10 to 18 phosphates, borates, e.g. Borax, citrates, gluconates, carbon atoms, the cation preferably sodium, and if an EDTA and iminodiacetate. The ver-polyethoxy chain is preferably present, then the sulfate residue is located on the different water-soluble builder in the form of its alkali metal end of the chain. Other suitable anionic surfactants are the 55 tall salts, namely the sodium and / or potassium higher olefin sulfonates and paraffin sulfonates, for example salts, sodium salts normally particularly preferably the sodium salts, the olefin or paraffin being added.

grappe has 10 to 18 carbon atoms. Specific examples of the silicates, preferably sodium silicates with a preferred surfactant, are sodium tridecylbenzenesulfonate, Na20: SiO2 weight ratio in the range from 1: 1.6 to sodium dodecylbenzenesulfate, sodium tallow alcohol polyetho 60 1: 3.0, preferably 1: 2 to 1: 2.8 , e.g. 1: 2.35 or 1: 2.4, xysulfate with three ethoxy groups and hydrogenated sodium tallow can also serve as water-soluble builder salts, are all-alcohol sulfate. In addition to the preferred tenants mentioned, especially because of their strong binding properties, other compounds from this group can also be useful for supporting agglomeration. The silicate - especially in smaller quantities - will be present. Also, content of 10 to 15% by weight can usually be used in the product, and these can not be exceeded in some cases, contents of 5 to 15% by weight being even more effective than the individual in certain cases Surfactants. The are suitable, preferably 3 to 7 or 8% by weight if no different anionic surfactants are well known and will be zeolites, and 0 to 2 or 5% by weight if zeolites are described in detail by Schwartz, Perry and Berch (with only small proportions of silicates, which as binary

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can be used to bind the bentonite to the detergent or detergent base particles when zeolite is present). In some cases it may be desirable to add free flowing sodium silicate, e.g. hydrated sodium silicate particles.

In addition to the water-soluble builders mentioned, water-insoluble builders, e.g. Zeolites, especially Zeolite A, preferably in hydrated form, e.g. with 20% water.

The bentonite used is a colloidal clay (aluminum silicate) containing montmorillonite. The bento-nit-clay type, which is particularly suitable for producing the base beads contained in the agent according to the invention, is a sodium bentonite (or Wyoming or Western bentonite), which is normally a light to off-white or yellowish brown very fine powder, that forms a colloidal suspension with strong thixotropic properties in water. The swelling capacity of clay in water is usually in the range from 3 to 15 or 20 ml / g, preferably in the range from 7 to 15 ml / g, and its viscosity at a concentration of 6% by weight in water is usually in the range from 0.003 to 0.03 Pa.s, preferably from 0.008 to 0.03 Pa.s. The preferred swelling bentonites of this type are sold under the trade name Mineral Colloid as industrial bentonites by the Ben clay Clay Company, a subsidiary of the Georgia Kaolin Co. These products, which correspond to the products previously sold under the trade name THIXO-JEL, are selectively mined and processed bentonites, of which the commercially available mineral colloid no. 101 etc., which is used in the earlier products THIXO-JEL no. 1,2,3 and 4 corresponds. In a concentration of 6% by weight in water, these products have a pH in the range from 8 to 9.4, a maximum free moisture content of approximately 8% by weight and a specific density of approximately 2.6. The powdery products are of such a quality that about 85% of the particles pass through a sieve with a mesh size of 0.074 mm. Processed Western or Wyoming bentonite is preferred as a component of the compositions of the invention, but other bentonites including synthetic bentonites (e.g., those obtained from ben-tonites with exchangeable calcium and / or magnesium by sodium carbonate treatment) are also useful. The particle size can also be reduced so that all bentonite particles pass through a sieve with a mesh size of 0.044 mm.

Although it is desirable to limit the maximum free moisture content as stated above, it is more important to ensure that the bentonite to be used includes enough free moisture, most of which is suspected between adjacent sheets of the bentonite. This facilitates the rapid disintegration of the bentonite and neighboring materials in the particles when they are brought into contact with water. It has been found that at least about 2% by weight, preferably at least 3% by weight and particularly preferably about 4% by weight

or more water should be present in the bentonite before it is mixed with the other components of the detergent in the soap mixer ("crutcher") and that such components should also be present after spray drying or any other drying. In other words, overdrying to the point where the bentonite loses its "internal" moisture can be very disadvantageous for the usability of the compositions according to the invention. If the moisture content of the bentonite is too low, the bentonite does not contribute satisfactorily to the fact that the beads disintegrate in the wash water. If the bentonite is sufficient

Moisture content, it can have an effective exchangeable calcium oxide content in the range of about 1 to 1.8 wt .-% and a corresponding magnesium oxide content of 0.04 to 0.41 wt .-%. Typical chemical analyzes of such substances give values of 64.8 to 73.0% by weight of SiO 2, 14 to 18% by weight of A1203.1.6 to 2% by weight of MgO, 1.3 to 3.1% by weight % CaO, 2.3 to 3.4% by weight Fe203.0.8 to 2.8% by weight Na20 and 0.4 to 7.0% by weight K20.

Although a number of auxiliaries such as optical brighteners, pigments, e.g. Ultramarine blue, titanium dioxide, polyacrylate and inorganic filler salts can be added to the soap mixer, other additives such as perfumes, enzymes, bleaching agents, some colorants, bactericides, fungicides and flow promoters are usually sprayed onto the base beads or in another way mixed with the base beads or the spray-dried detergent composition, together with non-ionic surfactants to be added subsequently or individually, so that they are not adversely affected by elevated temperatures during the spray drying process and their presence in the spray-dried beads does not prevent the absorption of nonionic surfactants,

if these are subsequently sprayed onto the beads. Stable and normally solid adjuvants are often also mixed initially with the slurry in the soap mixer. Furthermore, less stable auxiliaries can also be added to the agglomerate subsequently.

Of course, there is also water in the soap mixer, which serves as a medium for dispersing the various other constituents of the detergent beads, and some water is present in the products both in free and in hydrated form. During the drying of the beads, the initial moisture content, which is about 25 to 60% by weight, can be reduced to about 5 to 15% by weight er-35, such a moisture content being sufficient that the bentonite in the dried beads contains at least 2% by weight and preferably at least 4% by weight of moisture. The use of deionized water is preferred so that the level of ions that cause the hardness of the water can be very low and the level of metal ions that cause the decomposition of organic materials in the soap mixer mixture or in the post-added materials can be present, favor, is reduced to a minimum. Tap water can also be used. Typically, the hardness of such water is less than about 300 ppm, calculated as CaCO3, preferably less than 150 ppm.

The proportions of the various constituents in the base beads and in the spray-dried detergent beads are selected so that they give effective cleaning agents with acceptable flow properties and suitable bulk density and a desirable appearance. In most cases, the products obtained are preferably white, with the exception of 55, with the exception that the beads coated with bentonite often appear dark in their color (off-color) when carefully checked. If desired, a whitener can be used, e.g. Ti02, in an amount of 0.2 to 5 wt .-%, based on the Bentonit-6o amount. However, dyes or pigments can also be used in the soap mixer mixture, so that the spray-dried beads (or the beads produced in another way) are colored.

It has been found that satisfactory detergent beads can be made which contain 2 or 5 to 30 or 35% by weight, preferably 5 or 15 to 25 or 30% by weight, e.g. 6 to 15% or 20 to 25% by weight of the synthetic organic surfactant, preferably an anionic

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Surfactant, 20 or 30 to 90% by weight, preferably 30 or 35 to 80 or 85% by weight and particularly preferably 35 or 45 to 70% by weight of a builder, 0.2 or 0.5 to 35 or 40 % By weight, preferably 0.5 or 1 to 20 or 30% by weight and particularly preferably 1 to 10% by weight or 1 to 20% by weight of one or more auxiliaries and 3 to 20% by weight, preferably 4 to 15% by weight and particularly preferably 5 to 12% by weight, for example 7 or 8 wt .-%, contain moisture. Such beads, which can be produced by normal spray drying processes or by other equivalent measures, usually have a characteristic spherical or other known shape which results from spray drying and which often give ideal core particles on which the bentonite powder can be agglomerated. They usually have a bulk density in the range of 0.2 to 0.7 g / cm3, in particular 0.3 to 0.4 g / cm3, e.g. of 0.35 g / cm3. The particle size is normally in the range from 2.38 to 0.149 mm, and particles outside this range can be removed by sieving or other separation methods. The particle sizes of the beads are particularly preferably in the range from 2.38 or 2.00 to 0.42 or 0.250 mm, and the beads obtained are white or colored and would have an adverse appearance on their surfaces by applying commercial yellow-brown or off-color bentonite particles even if a dye is experimentally used to reinforce the original color of the beads. If the beads, the surfaces of which are covered with bentonite, are to be used directly, i.e. without being mixed with detergent pellets, those with a white appearance are preferred, even if a whitener, e.g. Titanium dioxide to be used.

It was found that in a mixture of 10 to 60% by weight of detergent particles which have an agglomerate of finely divided bentonite powder on their surface and 90 to 40% by weight of detergent particles without such bentonite powder, the human eye does not have the dark spots of the Bentonite-covered detergent pellets and also not noticed any disadvantageous speckling of the product, at least not in comparison with products of a similar composition in which the bentonite powder is uniformly distributed over the spray-dried pellets or in which only bentonite agglomerates are used, so that the detergent according to the invention is used by the consumer the color appearance is not perceived as not perfect. Preferred ranges for such a mixture are 20 to 50% by weight and 30 to 45% by weight, e.g. 40% by weight, for the material covered with bentonite on the surface and the respective rest of uncoated detergent particles. The weight fraction of the bentonite on the surface of the detergent pellets is normally in the range from 10 or 20 to 80% by weight, preferably from 35 to 65% by weight and particularly preferably from 40 to 60% by weight, e.g. at 50% by weight of the product to be mixed with bentonite-free detergent particles. If the agglomerated particles are direct, i.e. without mixing with other detergent particles, the corresponding weight proportions are usually in the range from 10 to 30%, preferably from 15 to 25%, e.g. at 20% of the product.

It has also been found that the use of these relatively large amounts of bentonite does not result in a significant change in the particle size, since the spray-dried beads are not massive; however, there may be some enlargement, e.g. come from about 5 to 15% or 30% of the bead diameter. This relatively small increase in particle size does not cause sedimentation or "buoyancy" problems

on the contrary, the presence of the bentonite on the outer surfaces of the spheres seems to have the effect of preventing separation of different sized particles during storage (compared to particles with a smooth surface, similar to non-sticky spheres). In addition, this does not cause any adverse changes in the bulk density of the product.

The application of the bentonite to the detergent beads (which in some cases consist of inorganic builders, if nonionic surfactants are to be added subsequently) can be carried out with the aid of standardized agglomeration techniques and devices, for example with a rotating drum mixer-ag-glomerator, as described in the Figures is shown schematically.

One method that has been found to be particularly advantageous is to mix the desired amounts by weight of the detergent pellets and the finely divided bentonite powder and to spray water or, preferably, a dilute sodium silicate solution onto the moving surfaces of the particles during the mixing. Spraying can be done at room temperature and is gradual enough to prevent undesirable clumping of the mixture. Mixing is continued in a known manner until all of the bentonite powder adheres to the detergent pellets, whereupon the mixing process is stopped and the product is sieved or otherwise classified according to particle size so that a product within the desired particle size range is obtained.

The silicate solution commonly used when the agglomerate is to be mixed with detergent particles normally has a concentration of 0.05 to 10%, preferably 0.2 to 6%, e.g. 1,2 or 4%. A sufficient amount is used so that it is on the beads in an amount of 0.01 to 2%, e.g. from 0.02 to 0.2 or 0.4%. At such application concentrations, satisfactory agglomeration and surface coating are obtained using a suitable agglomeration system, for example an O-Brien agglomerator or a conventional inclined drum, which is equipped with spray nozzles, partition walls, etc. Furthermore, the moisture that is sprayed onto the beads is not used in excess; usually it is in the range of about 1 to 10% by weight of the beads, e.g. at 2 to 5%, which means, based on the end product, a lower moisture content. The product obtained is sufficiently strong to be able to withstand the effects of handling, packaging and storage without undesired pulverization or loss of bentonite coating. Furthermore, the silicate concentration is not so high that it could prevent the bentonite from dispersing in the wash water when the product is used in washing processes. Although silicate is preferably used in the agglomerating spray, suitable products are also obtained if only water is used alone as the agglomerating agent or if aqueous solutions of other binders are used, e.g. Gums, resins, surfactants; but even in the absence of such products, the bentonite normally has sufficient binding properties to form coated particles of the desired physical stability, which disperse rapidly in the wash water.

If desired, a dye can be added to the liquid spray to be used for the agglomeration so that the particles obtained are colored. Usually the dye concentration is less than 1% based on the liquid to be sprayed, e.g. 0.01 to 0.1%. If you only use the dye for those with bentonite

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If particles are covered on the surface, a detergent product with an attractive appearance is obtained, in which the "softener particles" can be identified by the dye. If the entire product is to be colored (with blue being a preferred color), all of the base beads can also be colored. In particular, ultramarine blue pigments can be mixed together with the other components of the spray-dried detergent composition, while acanan blue or polar brilliant blue (dyes) can be sprayed onto the surfaces of the agglomerated bentonite particles.

In one embodiment of the invention, part or all of the particularly sticky constituents of the end product can be incorporated into the beads which are to be provided with bentonite on the surface, as a result of which the flowability of the product obtained can be improved. Such beads can then be coated with a protective film made of agglomerated, finely divided bentonite particles, so that the sticky component is located under the bentonite surface and is thereby prevented from impairing the good flowability. The other detergent particles that do not contain such a component have a better flow than if they also contained such a sticky component.

The sticky material can also serve to promote the agglomeration of the bentonite and its firm binding to the surfaces of the base particles. For this reason, in a further embodiment of the invention, part or all of the synthetic organic surfactants, either an aqueous solution of an anionic surfactant or a nonionic surfactant in a liquid state, are sprayed onto the base particles of the detergent composition before they are mixed with the bentonite . This subsequent spraying on of the surfactant, rather than a corresponding incorporation of part or all of the amount of the surfactant in the mixer with subsequent spray drying, improves the spray drying process and increases the throughput rate in the spray tower. In cases in which the flowability is not a problem and in which relatively large proportions of nonionic surfactants are to be subsequently sprayed onto the surfaces of the detergent base beads, it is of course not necessary or desirable to apply all or more than a proportionate proportion of the surfactant to them to use spheres covered with bentonite; however, where fluidity is unsatisfactory, this embodiment of the invention can provide the means necessary for significant improvement. If at least a portion of the synthetic organic surfactants in the base beads are to be spray dried, then the beads to be coated with bentonite normally contain at least 10%, preferably 25%, and particularly preferably 50% more surfactants than the rest of the beads.

After the spheres covered with bentonite have been produced, they can then be mixed with materials to be added subsequently, or such materials can be sprayed onto the spherical surfaces. Normally, however, the beads with the bentonite on their surface are first mixed with the rest of the spray-dried detergent composition, whereupon materials to be added subsequently can be mixed with them or brought together in some other way. These materials mainly include enzyme powder, bleach and perfumes. Optionally, these materials can also be applied or mixed with the various beads before the bentonite-covered beads and the others

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Detergent pellets are mixed together. It is also possible to add some of the auxiliaries to the detergent pellets subsequently before these pellets are provided with the bentonite, but such a process is usually not practiced. After the various proportions of the present ingredients have been mixed together, the mixture can be stored, for example, for drying for 1 to 24 hours, but such a drying time is usually not necessary. The particles can then be mixed with the desired auxiliaries if this has not already been done earlier. The finished mixture is then usually transported to the packaging system, packaged, inserted into containers, stored and / or shipped.

When the detergent beads are white, the products obtained according to the invention appear remarkably whiter than corresponding products in which the bentonite is evenly distributed over all the particles. This phenomenon appears to depend on the mixing ratios of the beads and, to a certain extent, on their particle size. It is also important that the products according to the invention do not look speckled, although they contain both white and brownish-colored particles. The detergents according to the invention nevertheless appear uniform and of a light color. If the proportions of the particles covered with bentonite are used less than the lower limit of the broadest range given above, the darker color of such particles not being unpleasantly noticeable, the bentonite content of the product is usually lower than desired. If a larger proportion of particles covered with bentonite are used than the upper limit of the broadest range given above, the product will be noticeably darker and off-color and its appearance will appear objectionable to an average consumer, so that Product is difficult to market.

There are no specific differences in reflection here, since the natural and synthetic bentonites which are commercially available are of different nature and accordingly also have different shades; however, the differences can be determined using a reflection meter, e.g. detectable with a Hunter reflectometer or with the help of a spectrophotometer. However, it is normally not necessary to use such tools to determine the differences in color, as these differences are also easily recognized visually by the average consumer.

If, as stated above, the spheronized and non-bentonite spheres contain surfactants in various percentages and when the surfactants are applied to the spheres to be bentonite coated, the products obtained show improved fluidity , less stickiness when touched and less tendency to clump when stored in containers. The improvements in such properties are through standard tests used in the detergent industry, e.g. verifiable by checking the flow time and the natural slope angle and compaction tests.

It is therefore evident that the properties of the final detergent product are improved without the need for auxiliaries to improve the color, flowability or non-stickiness. The expenditure for such auxiliary substances and their sometimes undesirable further properties are thereby avoided. Since only some of the detergent pellets are subject to agglomeration below 7

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throughput times in the agglomeration plant are reduced. In this way, advantages are obtained both for the composition according to the invention and for the method according to the invention, and the end product has surprising improvements compared to a product whose detergent particles are all coated with the same total amount of bentonite.

The invention is further illustrated by the following examples, without being limited to the examples. Unless otherwise stated, all parts and percentages are by weight.

example 1

A detergent of the following composition was produced:

Unbranched sodium tridecylbenzenesulfonate

% 12

Pentasodium tripolyphosphate, hydrated

34

Sodium silicate (Na20: Si02 = 1: 2.4)

7

Sodium sulfate

12

borax

12

Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose

0.5

Bentonite (Mineral Colloid No. 101, with a

Particle size smaller than 0.074 mm, 7% H20)

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Perfume

0.5

humidity

12.0

100.00

The above detergent composition was prepared by spray drying a mixture of the components other than the bentonite and the perfume (and small amounts of silicate added afterwards), the moisture content of the mixture coming from the mixer being about 35%, and the spray drying in one standardized technical countercurrent spray drying tower was carried out under normal conditions, the air drying temperature being in the range of 200 to 400 ° C. Spherical particles with a normal particle size distribution in the range from 2.00 to 0.149 mm were obtained. Some of these beads were transferred to an O'Brien agglomerator or a similar agglomeration plant and mixed there with an equal amount by weight of bentonite. While mixing was continued, a 5% aqueous solution of sodium silicate was sprayed onto the surfaces of the moving particles at room temperature using a total of about 0.04 parts by weight of the spray. Agglomeration continued for about 20 minutes, during which time some moisture evaporated. Thereafter, essentially all of the particles had a particle size in the range from 2.38 to 0.149 mm. Particles outside this range were removed. The 1.5 times the weight of the remaining particles (without added water) of the spray-dried detergent pellets without a bentonite coating was then mixed with the pellets covered with bentonite in a mixing drum for 20 minutes. The product was then mixed with perfume and packed in boxes. The spray-dried product used here had a moisture content of about 8 to 10%. However, this can be changed if beads and bentonite with different moisture contents are used and the spray is varied accordingly.

A comparison of the product produced with a control product which had been produced in a similar manner, but with all surfactant particles coated with bentonite (the total proportion of bentonite being the same as in the end product according to the invention),

showed that the product according to the invention is lighter in color, more uniform in appearance (not stained) and more attractive to the eye, as a result of which it is more appealing to consumers.

5 To produce a colored product, 0.2% ultramarine blue pigment in the spray-dried beads with 0.004% acelan blue on the bentonite agglomerates is sufficient to adjust the color. Even if the silicate is missing in the agglomerating spray, satisfactory products 10 can be obtained, however, such a product can crumble significantly more easily with aging.

The process described above can be modified so that 0.3 parts of enzyme powder (Alcalase, 2 ton units per gram) in tablet or powder form are added before perfuming 1S, the improvement in the appearance of the product is still evident .

The various products described in this example are all satisfactory fabric softening particulate detergents that are well suited as coarse detergents in automatic washing machines for washing soiled laundry.

Example 2

A detergent product according to the recipe of Example 1 was prepared by spray drying two different compositions, one composition containing 24% and the other composition containing 12% linear sodium tridecylbenzenesulfonate. The difference was compensated accordingly by lowering or increasing the sodium 30-sulfate content. The product with the higher anionic surfactant content (and lower sulfate content) felt stickier; this product was coated with the same amount by weight of bentonite powder (the particles of which passed through a sieve with a mesh size of 35 0.044 mm). The agglomerate obtained, 1.5 times its weight, was then mixed with beads not covered with bentonite on the surface and which had a lower content of anionic surfactants. The mixture was then perfumed in a customary manner.

The product obtained showed improved fluidity compared to the product of Example 1, apparently due to the "isolating" effect of the bentonite particles agglomerated on the surface of the beads with a higher content of anionic surfactants. Because of the stickiness of such beads, the amount of silicate solution used could also be reduced, in some cases up to half the amount used in Example 1. Apart from the fact that in this way a product is obtained which shows better flowability, less stickiness and less tendency to cake when stored than the products of Example 1 (although these products are perfectly acceptable for technical purposes), the Presence of the greater amount of anionic surfactants in the beads containing bentonite, a faster disintegration and a faster dispersion of these beads in the wash water, this improvement being supported by the presence of a smaller amount of silicate in the bentonite material on the surface. 6o As in example 1, in some cases the silicate may also be missing in the agglomerating spray or by appropriate amounts of another binder, e.g. Sodium polyacrylate, polyvinyl pyrolidone or hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose can be replaced. An additional advantage of the process described in this example is that the amount of bentonite fines that sometimes occur with the bentonite agglomerates is reduced, which is partly attributed to the sticky surfactant.

Example 3

The process according to Example 1 was changed in that the content of anionic surfactant in the spray-dried beads was reduced from 15 to 14% and the remaining anionic surfactant was sprayed onto the surface of the portion of the beads to be coated with bentonite. The agglomerating spray has also been changed. The sprayed aqueous material had a solids concentration of about 10%. If the product made became too sticky, heat and air flow could be used to reduce the moisture content, reducing the stickiness to an acceptable level. The properties of the resulting detergent composition, which was obtained after mixing the beads covered with bentonite on the surface with the beads without bentonite, are comparable to the properties of the products prepared according to Example 2.

Example 4

The linear sodium tridecylbenzenesulfonate in the formulation of Example 1 was by hydrogenated sodium tallow alcohol polyethoxysulfate with three ethoxy groups, hydrogenated sodium tallow alcohol sulfate, sodium paraffin sulfonate or sodium olefin sulfonate with 16 carbon atoms in the paraffin or. Olefmgruppe or replaced by a two-component mixture of these compounds (with equal proportions of both components), giving products whose properties are comparable to those of the products in Example 1. This also applies if the total content of pentasodium tripolyphosphate and sodium sulfate is replaced by pentasodium polyphosphate, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, zeolite A or an equal proportion of a mixture of two of these components. Even if the proportion of bentonite for coating the beads was changed to 15 or 15%, acceptable products with an improved appearance were obtained. The same applies if the proportion of the particles coated with bentonite has been changed to 15 or 25%.

Example 5

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22

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16

Zeolite A, hydrated (20% moisture)

32

Fluorescent brightener (Tinopal)

1.5

humidity

9.0

Perfume

0.5

non-ionic surfactant (Neodol 23-6.5)

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Detergent pellets having the composition given above were prepared by spray drying from a soap mixer mixture containing 60% solids, the pellets containing all of the ingredients listed above except for the perfume and the nonionic surfactant; the latter components were subsequently sprayed onto the surfaces of the moving spheres (although the perfume is preferably applied to the spheres containing bentonite after agglomeration). As a result of the zeolite A content, the nonionic surfactant was absorbed satisfactorily. Part of this composition was agglomerated on the surface with part of the bentonite powder (particle size smaller than 0.044 mm), the particles appearing yellowish brown after coating. After the agglomeration was complete, 1/2 'of the small detonate beads containing bentonite were mixed with the bentonite-containing product. The end product obtained was a

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excellent softening detergent of the type of non-ionic compound heavy-duty detergent which had a whiter appearance than a control product which, at the same total concentration of bentonite, consisted of particles which all contained bentonite agglomerated on the surface. The product according to the invention is a satisfactory heavy-duty detergent.

In a modification of this method according to the invention, a small amount of 0.1% of a blue dye (acan blue) was added to the silicate solution and sprayed together with it onto the surfaces of the particles in the agglomerator, the particles being colored.

If the manufacturing process is changed so that a larger amount of nonionic surfactant, e.g. '/ 10 to' / 4 more, onto which beads to be coated with bentonite are sprayed than onto the beads which are not coated in this way, then products with improved flowability and less stickiness are obtained.

The above description relates primarily to the production of a softening detergent product according to the invention with improved color or improved appearance and improved flowability. The preparation of a detergent composition which contains bentonite agglomerated on detergent particles is described in detail below. The resulting composition can be mixed with other detergent particles or as such, i.e. without previous mixing with other ingredients.

1 shows an open-ended, inclined cylindrical rotary drum 11 which rotates about an axis which forms a relatively small acute angle to the horizontal, the rotation taking place in the direction indicated by the arrows 13 and 15. The drum 11 rests on rollers 17, 19 and 21 which rotate in the opposite direction to the drum (counterclockwise rather than clockwise when looking from the left), thereby rotating the drum in the direction indicated.

The rotary drum 11 contains a mixture 23 of spray dried composite synthetic organic detergent beads and bentonite powder which is agglomerated in the drum onto the detergent beads or particles due to the spraying of a dilute sodium silicate solution onto the particles while the mixture is in motion. The finished agglomerated softening detergent particles 25 are removed from the drum 11 via the removal device 27. Spray nozzles 29, 31 and 33 produce essentially conical spray mist from silicate solution, which is indicated by number 35. This silicate solution hits the moving mixture of detergent cooler. gel and bentonite powder and promotes agglomeration of the powder on the surfaces of the beads, although in some cases the agglomerates can also be formed from bentonite alone or detergent beads alone (the latter is less common). In the rotating drum, the right or upstream third or a similar part is the mixing zone in which the bentonite and detergent beads are dry mixed, the middle part is the spraying and agglomerating zone, while in the downstream third part or a similar part, in Since no more spraying takes place, the moistened particles and agglomerates are finished to produce relatively free-flowing products, so that agglomerates of the desired shape and properties are obtained.

Although the rotary drum explained in the above description represents a preferred device, equivalent or replacement devices can also be used. In addition to the rotary drum, supply devices are provided, from which the

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various components for the end product. The storage container 37 thus contains the sodium silicate solution 39, which is supplied to the spray nozzles 29, 31 and 33 via line 41. Storage container 43 contains detergent pellets 45, which are delivered to storage hopper 47 via conveyor belt 55. Similarly, the storage container 51 contains bentonite powder 53, which is transported via the conveyor belt 55 to the storage hopper 47. The arrows 57 and 59 indicate the directions in which the relevant conveyor belts are moving.

A drum cross section is shown in FIG. The mixture 23 is guided in the drum 11 up the left drum wall, the direction of rotation of the drum being indicated by the arrow 13. As the mixture 23 falls along the surface 61 from the upper wall, the spray 35 consisting of the aqueous silicate solution, which is sprayed conically out of the nozzle 29 and the nozzles 31 and 33 not visible in this figure, hits the moving mixture, moistens the surfaces of the detergent base beads and promotes the agglomeration of the bentonite with the beads, the finely divided bentonite powder usually remaining attached to the surfaces of the larger detergent particles. In this way, the constantly renewing surfaces or curtains of falling particles are brought into contact with the sprays and are moistened essentially uniformly, with the silicate being applied to the particles at the same time, which leads to the production of a more uniform and better agglomerated product.

If the detergent particles agglomerated with the bentonite on their surface are to be used directly, a silicate solution is preferably used to bind the bentonite to the detergent particles. While the above solution concentrations and amounts can be used, the concentration of the silicate solution is usually 2 to 8%, preferably 3 to 7% and particularly preferably 3 to 6%, e.g. 4% or 5%. A sufficient amount is used so that the silicate sprayed onto the beads is about 0.1 to 0.4%, preferably 0.2 to 0.3%, based on the weight of the final product. At such application concentrations and amounts, satisfactory agglomeration and surface coating are obtained using a rotary drum or other suitable agglomeration device. The moisture sprayed onto the beads is not used in excess, the amount is usually 3 to 6%, based on the product weight.

Just like the products described above, these products are sufficiently strong that they can be handled, packaged and stored without undesired pulverization or loss of bentonite coating. The silicate concentration is not so high that it could impair the dispersion of the bentonite in the wash water when the product is used in washing processes. If desired, a dye can be used in the liquid spray used for agglomeration so that the particles obtained are colored. Usually the dye is used in a concentration of less than 1% based on the liquid spray, e.g. used in a concentration of 0.01 to 0.1%.

After the beads provided with bentonite on the surface are produced, they can subsequently be mixed with materials to be added subsequently, or such materials can be sprayed onto the surfaces of the beads. These materials include enzyme powder, bleach and perfumes. Optionally, some of these materials can be grounded with the or

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Bentonite can be mixed or brought together before agglomeration. After the agglomeration has ended, the products can e.g. Can be dried for 1 to 24 hours, however, such drying is usually not required and the agglomerates can be mixed directly with the desired auxiliaries, if these have not been added earlier. The agglomerated beads produced are good detergents with excellent softening properties. They are also free flowing, do not dust, are essentially non-friable and have good bead hardness and abrasion resistance.

Example 6

From 1009 parts of water, 2584 parts of a surfactant base (with about 37% active ingredients and about 20% sodium sulfate and the rest of water), 841 parts of sodium silicate (with a Na20: Si02 ratio of 1: 2.4), 1315 A slurry was made of parts of pentasodium tripolyphosphate, 542 parts of anhydrous soda, 24 parts of sodium sulfate and 293 parts of an aqueous solution of fluorescent brightener, anti-fouling agent, stabilizer and other minor components in dilute aqueous solution. After all the ingredients had been added to a technical detergent mixer, the mixing was carried out at a temperature of about 55 ° C. for 10 minutes, the solids content of the mixture being adjusted to about 58% during the mixing. The mixture was then pumped into a countercurrent spray drying tower, where it was pressed through 8 30 nozzles of the 10/10 type at a temperature of 52 ° C. under a pressure of about 24 bar. The temperatures in the tower were T] = 410 ° C and T2 = 120 "C. The surfactant beads produced had a moisture content of about 7%, the spraying rate was about 900 35 kg / h. The beads were sieved and those with a particle size in the range of 2.00 to 0.250 mm The beads were white and had a bulk density of about 0.3 g / ml.

In order to agglomerate the finely divided bentonite onto the surfaces of the spray-dried detergent pellets described, an installation was used which essentially corresponds to that in FIGS. 1 and 2. In order to produce the desired product with approximately 20% bentonite, a bentonite powder with a particle size that 45 all particles pass through a sieve with a mesh size of 0.044 mm and with a moisture content of approximately 5% was mixed with the detergent balls in a mixing ratio of 76. 4 parts of the base beads mixed to 12.2 parts of bentonite. 3.8 parts of a 5% sodium 50-silicate solution (Na20: SiO2 = 1: 2.4) were sprayed onto the moving mixture in the rotating drum mixer-ag-glomerator, with a spray lance with 6 nozzles (3 of which in Figure 1 are shown), which were distributed over a length of about 0.5 m, was used. The spray pressure 55 was approximately 5 bar, a spray having individual droplets with a diameter in the range from approximately 0.1 to 0.5 mm being generated. After mixing for about 8 minutes in the rotating drum, which was inclined at an angle of about 7 °, the last third of the drum being free of silicate-60 spray, the product was removed continuously and then with 0.2 part of a suitable one Perfumes added and mixed with 0.4 parts of an enzyme powder. In a modification of the process, the enzyme was mixed with the product in the last third of the rotating drum, with or without perfume.

A particularly advantageous fabric softening detergent was obtained which, if desired, can be sieved so that the particles have a particle size in the loading

range from 2.00 to 0.250 mm or in the range from 2.38 to 0.149 mm. The bulk density of the product was about 0.35 or 0.4 g / ml and the product contained about 18% sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, 25% sodium polyphosphate, 9.5% sodium silicate, 9% anhydrous soda, 10% sodium sulfate, 19% bentonite, 0.4% enzyme powder, 0.2% perfume, 0.1% fluorescent brightener and 9% water. The detergent pellets were free-flowing, non-sticky and had sufficient strength for commercial requirements, were easily dispersed in washing water and had an attractive appearance. The product was therefore an excellent fabric softening detergent.

Example 7

The procedure according to Example 6 was repeated with the exception that the silicate solution used contained 3% sodium silicate and the proportion of the solution used was 4%, based on the total weight of the end product. A product with satisfactory flowability and bead hardness was obtained, which was abrasion-resistant and not crumbly, similar to the product from Example 6. Accordingly, the product was a satisfactory fabric softening detergent.

Similar good results were obtained when the same proportion of a 6% sodium silicate solution was used. However, if the concentration of the silicate solution is 10%, the product is less satisfactory and has a coarse appearance. If only water was used as the spray, an agglomerate was obtained which tended to contain a higher level of fines and was generally less satisfactory than the agglomerates made using 2 to 8% sodium silicate solutions. From these and other experiments, in which the proportion of silicate solution as a spray was varied, it is evident that better products are obtained if the spray proportion is around 2 to 8% (based on the moist product) and the content of that deposited with the spray Silicate is 0.1 to 0.4% of the product.

Example 8

The procedure according to Example 6 was modified such that sodium sulfate was used instead of the anhydrous soda from the mixer. Further modifications could be carried out in such a way that the position of the spray nozzles in the rotary drum was changed so that the bentonite was mixed with the detergent balls in the first quarter of the drum, the spraying took place in the middle half of the drum and then

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mix in the last quarter of the drum. The product obtained was also a satisfactory fabric softening particulate heavy duty detergent, similar to the products of Examples 6 and 7. When a blue dye such as e.g. Polar brilliant blue, with a concentration of 0.2% (or from 0.01 to 0.4%) in the silicate spray solution, gave an attractively colored product. Ultramarine blue and other pigments can be used in place of the dye or together with the dye.

Example 9

Changes were made in the mixer formulation, the temperature and the mixing times as well as the mixing process and various spray drying conditions were used in the spray tower to produce the detergent base beads. With regard to the various components of Examples 6 to 8, quantitative changes of ± 10% and ± 20% were carried out and also the mixing times, the nozzle pressure and other conditions were changed (these changes remained within the limits of the ranges given above). In this way, high-quality basic beads with a bulk density in the range from 0.3 to 0.5 g / ml were obtained.

Furthermore, changes were made in the design of the nozzle shape, the pressure and the silicate concentration for the spray solutions, as previously described. As long as the silicate concentration, the amount of the solution used and the silicate deposited on the base beads with the bentonite were within the specified range, good products were obtained. This is also true when the bentonite concentration at the end point is varied within the range of 15 to 25%. Similar results can also be obtained if the surfactant beads agglomerated with the bentonite are prepared from nonionic surfactants by spraying the liquid nonionic surfactant onto inorganic builder beads, followed by agglomeration with bentonite and aqueous sodium silicate solution.

Good products are also obtained if instead of the finely divided bentonite (with a particle size below 0.044 mm), e.g. the commercial Thixo-Jel # 1 (Mineral Colloid # 1001) used in these examples uses other bentonites, such as products manufactured by the American Colloid Company, and other bentonites with replaceable calcium - And / or magnesium ions, which can be exchanged for sodium ions by treatment with sodium carbonate.

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Claims (11)

656 396 PATENT CLAIMS 1. Plasticizing, particulate synthetic detergent for textiles, characterized in that it is a mixture of 10 to 60 wt .-% particles of a detergent composition with finely divided bentonite powder, which adheres to the outer surface of the particles, and 90 to 40 wt .-% detergent particles without such bentonite powder. 2. Detergent according to claim 1, characterized in that the particles have a particle size in the range from 2.38 to 0.149 mm and the particles covered with bentonite powder are substantially the same size or larger than the other detergent particles. 3. Detergent according to claim 2, characterized in that the detergent particles are spray-dried beads, the agglomerate particles of detergent and ben-tonite particles have a particle size in the range from 2.38 to 0.250 mm and the individual bentonite particles which adhere to the detergent particles have a particle size such that they pass through a sieve with a mesh size of 0.074 mm. 4. Detergent according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the spray-dried detergent beads are white, the spheres covered with bentonite are incorrectly colored due to the natural color of the bentonite and the proportions of spheres covered with bentonite and not covered with bentonite are selected in this way are that the product appears uniformly light-colored and color differences of the particles are not easily recognizable for the human eye. 5. Plasticizing, particulate synthetic detergent for textiles, characterized in that it consists of spray-dried detergent particles, on the outer surfaces of which finely divided bentonite particles adhere, the particles having a particle size in the range from 2.38 to 0.250 mm, the individual bentonite particles which adhere to the detergent particles, have a particle size such that they pass through a sieve with a mesh size of 0.074 mm and that the bentonite is held onto the detergent beads by coating with sodium silicate, the silicate binder being 0.01 to 2% of the bentonite agglomerate particles matters. 6. A process for the production of a plasticizing, particle-shaped, synthetic detergent for textiles according to claim 1, characterized in that finely divided bentonite powder and larger detergent particles are agglomerated with one another in such a way that the bentonite powder adheres to the outer surface of the detergent particles, and that 10 to 60 % By weight of these detergent particles covered with bentonite are mixed with 90 to 40% by weight of detergent particles not covered with bentonite. 7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that spray-dried beads with a particle size in the range from 2.38 to 0.149 mm are used as detergent particles, that the bentonite powder which is agglomerated on the surface of the detergent beads has such a particle size before agglomeration that essentially all of the particles pass through a sieve with a mesh size of 0.074 mm, and that the agglomeration takes place by mixing the bentonite powder with the spray-dried detergent particles while spraying water onto the surfaces of the particles. 8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that white spray-dried beads and off-color bentonite powder are used, the proportion of bentonite which is mixed and agglomerated with the detergent beads being 20 to 80% by weight and the agglomeration by mixing the bentonite powder done with the spray dried detergent particles while on the A dilute aqueous sodium silicate solution is sprayed onto the surface of these particles. 9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that a sodium silicate with a Na20: Si02 weight ratio in the range from 1: 1.6 to 1: 3.2 is used, the concentration of the sodium silicate in the aqueous spray 0, 05 to 10 wt .-% and the proportion of sodium silicate, which serves as a binder to hold the bentonite powder on the spray-dried beads, in the end product is 0.01 to 2 wt .-%. 10. A process for producing a plasticizing particulate synthetic detergent for textiles according to claim 5, characterized in that a smaller proportion of a finely divided bentonite powder is mixed with a larger proportion of larger detergent particles, a smaller proportion of an aqueous sodium silicate solution on the surface of this mixture sprayed on while the mixture is being moved so that new surfaces of the mixture are continuously sprayed by the spray, the aqueous sodium silicate solution being present in a concentration of 2 to 8% by weight and being sprayed in such an amount that 0, 1 to 0.4% by weight of sodium silicate and 2 to 8% by weight of moisture precipitate on the mixture, that mixing continues after application of the aqueous sodium silicate solution and that the agglomerated particulate detergent, on the surface of which the bentonite powder is held, away. 11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that a bentonite powder is used which has such a particle size before the agglomeration that essentially all the particles pass a sieve with a mesh size of 0.074 mm, and that the detergent particles used prior to the agglomeration Particle size in the range of 2.38 to 0.149 mm, the bentonite accounts for 10 to 30 wt .-% of the softening detergent produced, a sodium silicate with a Na20: Si02 weight ratio in the range of 1: 1.6 to 1: 3.2 is used and the concentration of sodium silicate in the aqueous spray is in the range from 3 to 7% by weight.