EP0425804B1 - Granular additive containing nonionic surfactents for detergent and cleaning agents with improved rinsing properties - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a granular additive for granular detergents and cleaning agents, consisting of a granular adsorbent (I) and, adsorbed thereon, non-ionic surfactants (II) from the class of polyglycol ether derivatives, where component (I) has the following composition based on anhydrous substance: (a) 50 to 75 % by weight of microcrystalline zeolite, (b) 2 to 10 % by weight of a sheet silicate and (c) 2.5 to 10 % by weight of the sodium salt of a (co)polymeric carboxylic acid. The remainder consists of up to 10 % by weight of sodium sulphate and of water and minor constituents. The ratio of adsorbent (I) to non-ionic surfactant (II) is 2 : 1 to 20 : 1 by weight. The agents have improved rinsing properties in domestic washing machines.

Description

The invention relates to a granular detergent additive consisting of an adsorbent with high adsorption capacity and liquid non-ionic surfactants adsorbed thereon or melting when heated. The additive is suitable for use in phosphate-free or low-phosphate detergents and cleaning agents which, after mixing with the additive, have a very good wash-in behavior, i.e. they do not form undissolved residues in the washing machines of washing machines.

As is known, nonionic surfactants have a very high cleaning ability, which makes them particularly suitable for use in cold detergents or 60 ° C. detergents. However, their proportion cannot be increased significantly beyond 8 to 10 percent by weight in the generally customary production of detergents by spray drying, since this would otherwise result in excessive smoke formation in the exhaust air from the spray towers and inadequate pouring properties of the spray powder. Processes have therefore been developed in which the liquid or melted nonionic surfactant is mixed onto the previously spray-dried powder or sprayed onto a carrier substance. Loose, in particular spray-dried phosphates, borates or Perborate, sodium aluminosilicate (zeolite), silicon dioxide (Aerosil) or salt mixtures previously prepared in a certain way, e.g. B. proposed from sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate, but all known agents have certain disadvantages. Phosphates are often undesirable because of their eutrophic properties. Borates or perborates have only a limited absorption capacity for liquid substances, which also applies to finely powdered zeolites, while special adsorbents, such as diatomaceous earth and aerosil, do not contribute to the washing action as inert components.

Absorbent carrier grains, which consist of several components and are usually produced by spray drying, are e.g. B. from US 3 849 327, US 3 886 098 and US 3 838 027 and US 4 269 722 (DE 27 42 683) known. However, these carrier grains, developed especially for the adsorption of nonionic surfactants, contain considerable amounts of phosphates, which limits their possible uses. Phosphate-free carrier grains are known from DE 32 06 265. They consist of 25 to 52% sodium carbonate or hydrogen carbonate, 10 to 50% zeolite, 0 to 18% sodium silicate and 1 to 20% bentonite or 0.05 to 2% polyacrylate. However, the high proportion of carbonate favors the formation of calcium carbonate in hard water and thus the formation of incrustations on the textile fiber or the heating elements in the washing machine. In addition, the absorption capacity of the carrier grains cited above is limited. With proportions of more than 25% by weight of mixed liquid or sticky nonionic surfactants, the free-flowing properties of the products decrease considerably and are unsatisfactory above 30% by weight.

DE 34 44 960-A1 discloses a granular adsorbent which is able to absorb high proportions of liquid to pasty detergent constituents, in particular nonionic surfactants, and (based on anhydrous substance) 60 to 80% by weight zeolite, 0.1 to 8% by weight. % Sodium silicate, 3 to 15% by weight of homo- or copolymers of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and / or maleic acid, 8 to 18% by weight of water and optionally up to 5% by weight of nonionic surfactants and obtainable by spray drying is. In practice, it has been shown that in washing machines with poorly designed washing-in devices, the products do not completely detach during the washing-in phase and leave residues. This worsened washing-in behavior is not only shown by the particles themselves, but also has an unfavorable influence on the washing-in behavior of the other powdered detergent components. The result of this is that a powder mixture which is intrinsically easy to flush in becomes difficult to flush in overall if it additionally contains such a powder component in the mixture.

• (a) 50 bis 75 Gew.-% feinkristalliner Zeolith,
• (b) 2 bis 10 Gew.-% eines Schichtsilikates,
• (c) 3 bis 15 Gew.-% des Natriumsalzes einer (co-)polymeren Carbonsäure,
• (d) 0 bis 10 Gew.-% Natriumsulfat,
• (e) 0 bis 3 Gew.-% eines organischen Tensides,
• (f) Rest Wasser und Minderbestandteile,

mit der Maßgabe, der Anteil an nichtionischem Tensid (II) 5 bis 35 Gew.-%, bezogen auf das Adsorbat, beträgt.The object was therefore to develop a granular detergent additive which is essentially free of phosphates and carbonates and which avoids the disadvantages mentioned and improves the washing-in behavior of powder mixtures. The invention accordingly relates to a granular, nonionic surfactant-containing additive for detergents and cleaning agents with improved washing-up behavior, consisting of a granular adsorbent (I) and nonionic surfactants (II) adsorbed thereon, where (I) is the following composition based on anhydrous substance having:

• (a) 50 to 75% by weight of finely crystalline zeolite,
• (b) 2 to 10% by weight of a layered silicate,
• (c) 3 to 15% by weight of the sodium salt of a (co) polymeric carboxylic acid,
• (d) 0 to 10% by weight sodium sulfate,
• (e) 0 to 3% by weight of an organic surfactant,
• (f) remainder water and minor components,

with the proviso that the proportion of nonionic surfactant (II) is 5 to 35% by weight, based on the adsorbate.

The adsorbent (I) has an average particle size of 0.2 to 1.2 mm, the portion with a particle size of less than 0.05 mm not more than 2 percent by weight and the portion with a particle size of more than 2 mm more than 5 wt .-% and the bulk density of the detergent additive is 500 to 750 g / l.

“Phosphate-free” is understood to mean an agent which contains less than 0.1% of inorganic phosphorus.

The component (a), which is present in proportions of 50 to 75% by weight, preferably 60 to 72% by weight, consists of synthetic sodium aluminosilicate containing bound water, preferably of the zeolite A type. It is also possible to use zeolite NaX and its mixtures with zeolite NaA, the proportion of zeolite NaX in such mixtures advantageously being less than 30%, in particular less than 20%. Suitable zeolites have no particles larger than 30 µm and consist of at least 80% particles smaller than 10 µm. Their calcium binding capacity, which is determined according to the information in DE 24 12 837, is in the range from 100 to 200 mg Ca0 / g.

Suitable layered silicates (component b), which belong to the group of water-swellable smectites, are, for example, those of the general formulas

(OH) ₄ Si _8-y Al _y (M _8x Al _4-x ) O ₂₀

Montmorrilonite

(OH) ₄ Si _8-y Al _y (Mg _6-z Li _z ) O ₂₀

Hectorite

(OH) ₄ Si _8-y Al _y (Mg _6-z Al _z ) O ₂₀

Saponite with x = 0 to 4, y = 0 to 2, z = 0 to 6.

In addition, small amounts of iron can be incorporated into the crystal lattice of the layered silicates according to the above formulas. Furthermore, due to their ion-exchanging properties, the layered silicates can contain hydrogen, alkali and alkaline earth ions, in particular Na ⁺ and Ca ⁺⁺ . The amount of water of hydration is usually in the range from 8 to 20% by weight and depends on the state of swelling or the type of processing. The particle size is in the range from 0.05 to 25 µm, usually less than 10 µm. Useful sheet silicates are known, for example, from US 3,966,629, US 4,062,647 (DE 23 34 899-B2), EP 26 529 A1 and EP 28 432 A1. Layered silicates are preferably used which are largely free of calcium ions and strongly coloring iron ions due to an alkali treatment.

The layered silicate content of the adsorbent (I) is 2 to 10% by weight, preferably 3 to 7% by weight.

The component (c) consists of a homopolymeric and / or copolymeric carboxylic acid in the form of the sodium salt. Suitable homopolymers are polyacrylic acid and polymethacrylic acid. Suitable copolymers are those of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid with maleic acid. Copolymers of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid with maleic acid, as described, for example, in EP 25 551-B1, have proven particularly suitable. It is about copolymers containing 40 to 90% by weight of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid and 60 to 10% by weight of maleic acid. Copolymers in which 45 to 85% by weight of acrylic acid and 55 to 15% by weight of maleic acid are present are particularly preferred. The molecular weight of the homopolymers or copolymers is generally 1,000 to 150,000, preferably 1,500 to 100,000. Their proportion of the composition is 2.5 to 10% by weight and preferably 3 to 8% by weight.

Optional component (d) is sodium sulfate, the proportion of which, calculated on anhydrous salt, is 0 to 10% by weight, preferably 0 to 8% by weight. In some cases, sodium sulfate, calculated as an anhydrous salt, can improve both the granule properties and the flushing behavior. It also increases the bulk density of the product, which is often desired.

As an optional component (e), the adsorbent (I) can contain small amounts of surface-active compounds, which can be added during the production and processing of the synthetic zeolites in order to increase the stability of the aqueous zeolite dispersions (master batch) . Such additives, which are introduced into the compositions with the zeolite, are described in DE 25 27 388-B2. These can be nonionic surfactants containing polyglycol ether groups, for example primary alcohols having 12 to 18 carbon atoms reacted with 2 to 7 mol of ethylene oxide. The proportion of stabilizers introduced into the composition via such zeolite dispersions can be, for example, 0.5 to 3% by weight. This proportion, insofar as it consists of nonionic surfactant, is added to component (II) in the overall balance.

The water content of the adsorbent (I) depends on the drying conditions. The one at a drying temperature of 145 ° C Removable water content is about 8 to 18 wt .-%, usually 10 to 16 wt .-%. Other amounts of water bound by the zeolite or layered silicate that are released at higher temperatures are not included in this amount. If these are taken into account by calcining the zeolite or layered silicate at temperatures of 800 ° C., the total water content of the compositions is 12 to 25% by weight.

The average grain size of the adsorbent (I) is usually 0.2 to 1.2 mm, the fraction of the grains being below 0.1 mm not more than 3% by weight and being above 1.8 mm to 2.4 mm no more than 20% by weight. At least 80% by weight, in particular at least 90% by weight, of the grains preferably have a size of 0.2 to 2.0 mm, the proportion of the grains between 0.1 and 0.05 mm not more than 2% by weight .-%, in particular less than 1 wt .-% and the proportion of grains between 1.6 to 2.4 mm is not more than 15 wt .-%, in particular not more than 10 wt .-%. Larger proportions of fine grain generally lead to a deterioration in the induction behavior and should therefore be avoided. Larger proportions of coarse grain cause a lower bulk density and make the product appear visually inconsistent, but are otherwise not disadvantageous.

The bulk density of the adsorbent (I) is 400 to 700 g / l, usually 450 to 650 g / l in the presence of sodium sulfate and 400 to 650 g / l, usually 450 to 600 g / l in the absence of sodium sulfate. The agent consists essentially of rounded grains, which have a very good flow behavior. This very good flow behavior is still present even after the grains have been impregnated with large proportions of liquid, semi-liquid or solid nonionic surfactants (II). The amount these adsorbed components can be 5 to 35% by weight, preferably 10 to 30% by weight, based on the adsorbate.

The adsorbent (I) is preferably produced by spray drying an aqueous, liquid to pasty batch (slurry) by means of heated gases (combustion gases) in conventional drying towers. Since the combustion air, which is widely used as a dry gas, contains comparatively high proportions of carbon dioxide, it may be advantageous to add small amounts of sodium hydroxide to the slurry before spraying, in order to counteract a pH reduction by a corresponding excess of alkali. The recommended proportions of NaOH are usually between 0.1 and 1% by weight. The minor constituents that can also be added to the agents during production include dyes or color pigments with which the intrinsic color of individual active ingredients, in particular of the layered silicate, can be covered.

The liquid to pasty nonionic surfactants (II) bound to the adsorbent (I) from the class of the polyglycol ethers are preferably derived from alcohols having 10 to 22, in particular 12 to 18, carbon atoms. These alcohols can be saturated or olefinically unsaturated, linear or methyl-branched in the 2-position (oxo radical). Their reaction products with ethylene oxide (EO) or propylene oxide (PO) are water-soluble or water-dispersible mixtures of compounds with different degrees of alkoxylation. The number of EO or PO groups in technical alkoxylates corresponds to the statistical mean and is generally 2 to 25.

Examples of suitable ethoxylated fatty alcohols are C _12-18 coco alcohols with 3 to 12 EO, C _16-18 tallow alcohol with 4 to 16 EO, Oleyl alcohol with 4 to 12 EO and ethoxylation products of corresponding chain and EO distribution available from other native fatty alcohol mixtures. From the series of ethoxylated oxo alcohols are, for example, those of the composition C _13-15 oxo alcohol + 3 to 5 EO and C _12-14 oxo alcohol + 8 to 12 EO. Agents in which the adsorbed nonionic surfactants have both long hydrophobic residues and higher degrees of ethoxylation have particularly favorable flushing properties.

Further nonionic surfactants that can be bound to the adsorbent are ethoxylated alkylamines, ethoxylated fatty acid ethanolamides and ethoxylated fatty acid ethanolamides and ethoxylated vicinal diols, which can contain the same number of carbon atoms and the same number of EO groups in the glycol ether residue as the aforementioned alcohol ethoxylates . Preferred compounds are ethoxylated C _12-18 fatty amines, ethoxylated C _12-18 -1,2-diols with 1 to 5 EO groups, which act as detergency boosters and can be bound to the adsorbent (I) alone or as a mixture with alcohol ethoxylates .

Together with the nonionic surfactants (II), further detergent constituents can also be bound to the adsorbent. These include sensitive substances such as enzymes, biocides, fragrances, bleach activators, softeners, optical brighteners and anionic or cationic surfactants. They can be mixed with the adsorbents after they have been dissolved or dispersed in water or organic solvents or the liquid or molten nonionic surfactants. These substances penetrate into the porous grain together with the solvent or dispersant and are thus protected against interactions with other powder components.

The adsorbent (I) can be impregnated with the nonionic surfactants or other constituents to be adsorbed in a manner known per se by spraying the granules kept in motion with the liquid or melted nonionic surfactants or mixtures containing surfactants. Conventional spray mixing devices and granulating drums are suitable for this. When using the adsorbents (I), the adsorption process runs comparatively quickly and completely, so that free-flowing adsorbates (additives) are produced in one operation without aftertreatment or rest. The impregnation process also leads to an increase in the bulk density to values of 500 to 800 g / l, depending on the type and amount of the starting materials.

The granular additives impregnated with the nonionic surfactants or with the mixtures of nonionic surfactant and additive are usually mixed in any ratio with further powdery to granular detergents or detergent components, such as are obtainable for example by spray drying or granulation. Here, their good flowability and their high grain stability are of great advantage, since an undesirable formation of abrasion and dust is avoided. The powder mixtures are in turn stable in storage and do not tend to clump or exude the nonionic surfactant. When used, they are very easy to flush in compared to known mixtures, which is particularly surprising since the additive according to the invention itself has only a moderately good to poor flushing behavior. It was therefore not to be expected that the additive according to the invention would not only not impair the induction behavior of conventional detergents and cleaning agents, but would in many cases even improve them and would make their use in washing machines possible in the first place.

The proportion of additive in such washing and cleaning agents is usually 5 to 40% by weight, preferably 10 to 35% by weight and in particular 15 to 30% by weight, based on the finished mixture. These detergents and cleaning agents to be mixed with the additive can be produced in the customary manner, ie by spray drying or granulation, and can contain customary detergent components, such as surfactants, builder substances, sequestering agents, neutral salts, polymers, optical brighteners, etc., and further granular mixture components, such as bleaching agents , Bleach activators, enzymes, defoamers and fragrance carriers. The powder components can be mixed continuously or discontinuously in conventional mixing devices and, because of the favorable grain properties of the additives according to the invention, presents no problems.

Examples

• a) 66,5 GT Zeolith NaA,
• b) 3,0 GT Schichtsilikat,
• c) 4,0 GT copolymeres Salz,
• d) 4,4 GT Natriumsulfat,
• e) 2,1 GT Talgfettalkohol, 5fach ethoxyliert,
• f1) 0,45 GT Natriumhydroxid.

1. The following constituents were mixed with or with the addition of water to form a slurry (GT = parts by weight) in a batch container equipped with a stirring device.

• a) 66.5 pbw of zeolite NaA,
• b) 3.0 GT layered silicate,
• c) 4.0 pbw of copolymeric salt,
• d) 4.4 pbw of sodium sulfate,
• e) 2.1 pbw of tallow fatty alcohol, 5-fold ethoxylated,
• f1) 0.45 pbw of sodium hydroxide.

The zeolite used had a calcium binding capacity of 165 mg CaO / g and an average particle size of 3 μm, with no proportions above 20 μm. It was used as an aqueous dispersion containing 48% by weight of anhydrous zeolite, 1.5% by weight of component (s) and 50.5% by weight of water. The product Laundrosil ^(R) DG-A (treated with soda solution) was used as layered silicate. A copolymer of acrylic acid and maleic acid with a molecular weight of 70,000 (Sokalan ^(R) ) in the form of the sodium salt was used as the polycarboxylic acid. The sodium hydroxide was used as 50% sodium hydroxide solution.

The slurry, which had a temperature of 70 ° C. and a viscosity of 10,400 mPa · s, was sprayed at a pressure of 40 bar in a tower in which combustion gases at a temperature of 185 ° C. (measured in the ring channel) were directed towards the spray product. The outlet temperature of the dry gas was 58 ° C. The granular adsorbent leaving the spray tower contained
f2) 19.55 GT water.

The grain spectrum determined by sieve analysis gave the following weight distribution: mm to 0.8 to 0.4 up to 0.2 to 0.1 less than 0.1 % By weight 0 7 60 30th 3rd

The liter weight was 490 g / l.

• G1) 18,0 Gew.-% Talgalkohol + 5 EO
• G2) 18,4 Gew.-% 1 : 4 - Gemisch aus Cocosalkohol + 3 EO und Talgalkohol + 5 EO
• G3) 15,2 Gew.-% Ethoxylat gemäß (II) und 0,3 Gew.-% eines 1:1 Gemisches aus Talgfettsäurepartialglycerid und Talgfettsäureamid des Hydroxylethyl-ethylendiamins (Textilweichmacher).

The grains were sprayed in a spray mixing apparatus consisting of a horizontally arranged cylindrical drum equipped with mixing and conveying elements and spray nozzles (LÖDIGE mixer) with nonionic surfactants or surfactant mixtures heated to approx. 45 ° C. The temperature of the adsorbent was 20 ° C, that of the surfactant melt 50 ° C. The surfactant melt consisted of (based on the final weight of the impregnated granulate):

• G1) 18.0% by weight tallow alcohol + 5 EO
• G2) 18.4% by weight 1: 4 mixture of coconut alcohol + 3 EO and tallow alcohol + 5 EO
• G3) 15.2% by weight of ethoxylate according to (II) and 0.3% by weight of a 1: 1 mixture of tallow fatty acid partial glyceride and tallow fatty acid amide of hydroxylethyl ethylenediamine (fabric softener).

For comparison, (V1) was a granular, spray-dried zeolite NaA and (V2) one made according to DE 34 44 960 Backing material (free of layered silicate) used and processed in the same way.

• A = vollständiges Einspülen (die Zahl gibt die benötigten Liter Wasser an),
• B = Rückstand weniger als 10 g (die Zahl gibt die Rückstandsmenge in g an),
• C = mehr als 10 g Rückstand (mit Angabe des Rückstandes in g). A- und B-Herte sind für die Praxis sehr gut bis befriedigend. C-Werte bezeichnen ein unzureichendes Einspülverhalten.

In a series of experiments, the induction behavior was investigated, conditions being simulated that correspond to an induction device of a household washing machine operated under critical conditions. In each case, 100 g of product were introduced into the test device (ZANUSSI induction channel) and, after a rest period of 1 minute, 10 liters of tap water were fed in within 90 seconds. After flushing in 10 liters, the remaining residues were weighed out while wet and 30% of the weight was calculated as water. The following ratings were assigned for the induction behavior:

• A = complete flushing (the number indicates the liters of water required),
• B = residue less than 10 g (the number indicates the amount of residue in g),
• C = more than 10 g of residue (stating the residue in g). A and B crops are very good to satisfactory in practice. C values indicate inadequate induction behavior.

The additive was very free-flowing and had a wash-in grade of B 1 before the impregnation process. In addition, 2 test series were carried out, namely with the additive after impregnation, but without the addition of a detergent and after mixing 25 parts of the impregnated additive with 50 parts of tower spray powder and 25 parts of perborate (term "with detergent").

The results are summarized in the following table: example Induction behavior before impregnation after impregnation with detergent G1 B1 C 21 A 8 G2 B1 C 15 A 6 G3 B1 C 12 A 4 V1 A5 C 48 C 11 V2 B2 C 48 C 40

• a) 69,8 % Zeolith NaA,
• b) 3,0 % Schichtsilikat,
• c) 4,0 % copolymeres Salz
• e) 2,2 % Talgalkohol, 5fach ethoxyliert,
• f1) 0,45 % NaOH (im Ansatz)
• f2) 20,55 % Wasser.

2. In the manner described in Example 1, an adsorbent of the following composition was prepared by adding an aqueous slurry and spray drying (proportion in% by weight):

• a) 69.8% zeolite NaA,
• b) 3.0% layered silicate,
• c) 4.0% copolymer salt
• e) 2.2% tallow alcohol, 5-fold ethoxylated,
• f1) 0.45% NaOH (in the batch)
• f2) 20.55% water.

At a slurry concentration of 58% by weight, the atomization pressure in the nozzle area was 40 bar. The counter-current heating gas had a temperature of 223 ° C in the ring channel and 60 ° C in the area of the nozzle level. The flushability was determined with grade B 10. The liter weight was 530 g / l with the following particle size distribution: mm 2.4 to 1.6 to 0.8 to 0.4 up to 0.2 to 0.1 less than 0.1 % By weight 0 2nd 42 46 10th 0

• 45,5 % Turmsprühpulver,
• 26,0 % Natriumperborat,
• 0,5 % Enzymgranulat,
• 2,1 % Bleichaktivator-Granulat,
• 2,1 % Schauminhibitor-Granulat,
• 0,2 % Parfümöl,
• 23,6 % Additiv gemäß Beispiel 2

ergab eine Einspültestnote von A3.As described in Example 1, 80.9 parts by weight of the adsorbent became 19.1 parts by weight of the surfactant mixture B2 treated. The surfactant-containing, free-flowing granules (additive) had a bulk density of 685 g / l and a wash-in grade of C 39. A dry mix of (in% by weight):

• 45.5% tower spray powder,
• 26.0% sodium perborate,
• 0.5% enzyme granules,
• 2.1% bleach activator granules,
• 2.1% foam inhibitor granules,
• 0.2% perfume oil,
• 23.6% additive according to Example 2

gave a wash-in test grade of A3.

Claims (10)

1. A granular additive containing nonionic surfactants for granular detergents with improved dispensing behaviour, consisting of a granular adsorbent (I) and nonionic surfactants (II) adsorbed thereon, component (I) having the following composition, based on water-free substance:

   (a) 50 to 75% by weight of finely crystalline zeolite,

   (b) 2 to 10% by weight of a layer silicate,

   (c) 2.5 to 10% by weight of the sodium salt of a (co)polymeric carboxylic acid,

   (d) 0 to 10% by weight of sodium sulfate,

   (e) 0 to 3% by weight of an organic surfactant,

   (f) remainder water and minor constituents,

   with the proviso that the percentage content of nonionic surfactant (II) is from 5 to 35% by weight, based on the adsorbate.
2. An additive as claimed in claim 1, in which component (I) has an average particle size of 0.2 to 1.2 mm, the percentage with a particle size of less than 0.05 mm being no more than 2% by weight and the percentage with a particle size of more than 2 mm being no more than 5% by weight and the apparent density of the detergent additive being from 500 to 750 g/l.
3. An additive as claimed in claims 1 and 2, in which (a), based on component (I), consists of 60 to 72% by weight, expressed as water-free substance, of zeolite of the NaA type.
4. An additive as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 3, in which (b), based on component (I), is present in quantities of 3 to 7% by weight and consists of montmorillonite, hectorite or saponite.
5. An additive as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 4, in which (c), based on component (I), consists of 3 to 8% by weight of a sodium salt of a polyacrylic acid or an acrylic acid/maleic acid copolymer.
6. An additive as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 5, in which the percentage content of (d), based on component (I), is from 0 to 8% by weight.
7. An additive as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 6, in which the nonionic surfactant (II) is derived from fatty alcohols and oxo alcohols containing 12 to 18 C atoms and contains 2 to 25 glycol ether groups.
8. A process for the production of the additive claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that an aqueous suspension of the ingredients present in component (I) is spray-dried and the granules obtained are impregnated with nonionic surfactants (II).
9. The use of the additive claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 7 as a mixture component in granular detergents.
10. The use claimed in claim 9 in quantities of 5 to 40% by weight and preferably in quantities of 10 to 35% by weight, based on the final mixture, as a mixture component in granular detergents.