Process for the preparation of a powder detergent composition of high bulk density

Claim 1

A process for the preparation of a nonionic surfactant-containing powder detergent composition having a total surfactant content from 5 to 15% and of greater than 0.60 kg/l bulk density, comprising the steps of: (a) spray-drying a base powder comprising from about 4% to about 6% by weight of said detergent composition of a nonionic surfactant; (b) spraying onto said base powder a further amount of nonionic surfactant in an amount from about 4% up to not more than half of the total nonionic content by weight of said detergent composition; (c) subsequent to step (b) adding a final amount of nonionic surfactant obtained by granulation with a carrier, the amounts of said surfactant and carrier being from about 2.85 to 4.0% and being about 22%, respectively, by weight of said detergent composition; and (d) subsequently adding adjunct detergent components to the base powder, said base powder being essentially free of sodium sulfate and the carrier for the nonionic surfactant comprising a mixture of zeolite and alkali metal perborate monohydrate in the amount of about 3 to 4% and about 8.5%, respectively, by weight of said detergent composition; said base powder and nonionic containing granulated carrier being present from about 59% and about 26%, respectively, by weight of said detergent composition.