Process for the production of detergent granules

1. A process for the preparation of detergent granules, the process comprising:

(i) a first step of admixing in a mechanical granulator, a solid component and a first liquid binder, to produce a powder; and

(ii) a second step of admixing in a low shear granulator, the powder produced in step (i), and a second liquid binder comprising a liquid nonionic surfactant and also, a soap and/or wherein the weight ratio of the liquid nonionic surfactant to the soap and/or fatty acid is at least 2:1, to produce the detergent granules;

the second liquid binder having a different composition from said first liquid binder and the weight ratio of the first liquid binder to the second liquid binder being from 15:1to 1:1, preferably from 10:1to 1:1, more preferably from 5:1to 1:1, most preferably from 3:1to 2:1.

2. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the first or the second binder comprises a synthetic non-soap anionic surfactant.

3. A process according claim 2 , wherein the weight ratio of synthetic non-soap anionic surfactant to nonionic surfactant in the first liquid binder is greater than 1:4, preferably from 1:2to 3:1, more preferably from 1:1to 2:1.

4. A process according to claim 2 , wherein the weight ratio of synthetic non-soap anionic surfactant to nonionic surfactant in the second liquid binder is from 0:1to 1:4.

5. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of the liquid nonionic surfactant to the fatty acid in the second liquid binder is at least 1:1, preferably at least 2:1, and preferably no more than 5:1.

6. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of liquid binder to solid component in step (i) is from 1:9to 2:5, preferably from 1:7to 1:3.

7. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the total water content of the total of all materials dosed in step (i) or step (ii) is lower than 10% by weight of the total weight of those materials.

8. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the powder produced in step (i) has a d50 average particle size of from 150 μm to 450 μm.

9. A process according to claim 1 , wherein at least some, preferably more than 50% by weight, more preferably more than 75% by weight of the solid component is non-spray dried material.

10. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the granules produced in step (ii) have a d50 average particle size of at least 1.5×the d50 average particle size of the powder produced in step (i).

11. A process according to claim 1 , wherein a water soluble salt is introduced into the low shear granulator of step (ii).

12. A process according to claim 11 , wherein no more than 9%, preferably no more than 7%, most preferably 0% by weight of water soluble salt, based on the weight of the detergent granules is introduced into the mechanical granulator of step (i).

13. A process according to claim 11 , wherein the water soluble salt comprises sodium carbonate.

14. A process according to claim 11 , wherein an aluminosilicate is introduced into the mechanical granulator of step (i).

15. A process according to claim 14 , wherein in step (ii), no more than 2%, preferably 0% by weight of the aluminosilicate based on the weight of the detergent granules is introduced into the low shear granulator of step (ii).

16. A process according to claim 14 , wherein the amount of aluminosilicate in the detergent granules is from 10% to 60%, preferably from 15% to 50% by weight of those granules.

17. A process according to claim 14 , wherein up to 90%, preferably up to 70% by weight of the aluminosilicate in the detergent granules is replaced by an insoluble absorbent powder substance.

18. A process according to claim 17 , wherein the insoluble absorbent powder substance is selected from clays, silica, calcite and insoluble silicate salts.