EP1250412B1 - Method for producing surfactant granulates - Google Patents

Description

Field of the Invention

The invention is in the field of surfactants and relates to a new spray crystallization process for the production of surfactant granules with limited grain size range.

State of the art

Surfactants such as alkyl benzene sulfonates or alkyl sulfates are usually solid Made up by mixing the raw materials in the form of aqueous solutions or pastes in one The tower is sprayed over nozzles, guiding the droplets of hot air that form. The In their free fall, fatty substances dry in countercurrent to the hot air and are usually found on the lower part of the cone of the spray tower continuously withdrawn as a finished product. The ones with organic content contaminated drying air is passed over cyclones to separate the entrained fine particles. A fan conveys the main volume flow in a circuit via the cooler back into the spray tower. On Partial flow is usually routed to the boiler house via the exhaust system, while the required one Fresh air flow is sucked in from the environment.

Usually there are several single-substance pressure nozzles in the head of the spray towers, e.g. Full cone nozzles installed, through which the product is atomized into the spray tower. The tears out with high turbulence Jet emerges after a short distance from the nozzle mouth and forms drops, the tearing is further increased by the swirl of the jet. That way and Powder produced in this way shows a wide range of grain sizes. Due to the resulting Particulate matter and the risk of a dust explosion, such spray systems are subject to the extended Obligations of an accident management company, which are not insignificant requirements for occupational safety includes and leads to an economic burden on the manufacturing process.

There is therefore a lively interest in surfactant manufacturers in a process which is the manufacture of surfactant granules with a narrow grain size spectrum, in particular with a negligible Fine grain or dust content (<0.5 mm) of less than 1% by weight. At the same time distinguish the surfactant granules by an improved dissolution rate.

The object of the present invention was therefore to develop a new process to provide surfactant granules which are free from the disadvantages described.

Description of the invention

The invention relates to a process for the production of surfactant granules, in which one Stream of an aqueous surfactant preparation with the help of a pouring plate by vibration and the Drops a gaseous desiccant. which evaporates the water and the Granules dry.

Surprisingly, it was found that the goal set by a changed drop generation can be reached. Here, the surfactants in the form of aqueous solutions or pastes placed a vibrating perforated plate in the spray tower. As a result of the effects on the liquid Vibration is applied to the liquid at a frequency, the liquid thread is interrupted again and again and spheres are formed due to the interfacial tension, which subsequently form in the actual Spray tower and then during free fall, for example by a hot gas counterflow be dried. Depending on the hole diameter and vibration frequency a defined spectrum of particles can be set without dust. Such a system is therefore subject to no longer the extended duties of an accident operation, which leads to a drastic reduction the technical effort and the associated costs. Another unexpected benefit is that the surfactant granules show an improved dissolution rate and this Effect also transfers to the final preparations thus produced, which are preferably are solid detergents and especially detergent tablets.

surfactants

Anionic, nonionic, cationic, amphoteric and / or zwitterionic surfactants are suitable for the purposes of the process according to the invention, but anionic surfactants or combinations of anionic and nonionic surfactants are preferably used. Typical examples of anionic surfactants are soaps, alkylbenzenesulfonates, alkanesulfonates, olefin sulfonates, alkyl ether sulfonates, glycerol ether, α-methyl ester sulfonates, sulfofatty acids, alkyl sulfates, fatty alcohol ether sulfates, Glycerol ether, Hydroxymischethersulfate, monoglyceride (ether) sulfates, fatty acid amide (ether) sulfates, mono- and dialkyl sulfosuccinates, mono - And dialkyl sulfosuccinamates, sulfotriglycerides, amide soaps, ether carboxylic acids and their salts, fatty acid isethionates, fatty acid sarcosinates, fatty acid taurides, N-acyl amino acids such as, for example, acyl lactylates, acyl tartrates, acyl glutamates and acyl aspartate, alkyl sulfate, vegetable based (alkyl oligate protein phosphate) products (alkyl oligate protein phosphate) products (alkyl oligate protein phosphate), (alkyl oligate protein phosphate) products (in particular alkyl oligate protein phosphate products). If the anionic surfactants contain polyglycol ether chains, these can have a conventional, but preferably a narrow, homolog distribution. Alkylbenzene sulfonates, alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkane sulfonates, olefin sulfonates, methyl ester sulfonates, monoglyceride (ether) sulfates and alkali soaps and mixtures thereof are preferably used.

Preferred alkylbenzenesulfonates preferably follow the formula (I) R ¹ -Ph-SO ₃ X (I) in which R ^{1 is} a branched but preferably linear alkyl radical having 10 to 18 carbon atoms, Ph is a phenyl radical and X is an alkali and / or alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkylammonium, alkanolammonium or glucammonium. Of these, dodecylbenzenesulfonates, tetradecylbenzenesulfonates, hexadecylbenzenesulfonates and their technical mixtures in the form of the sodium salts are particularly suitable.

Alkyl and / or alkenyl (ether) sulfates , which depending on the raw material base are also referred to as fatty alcohol (ether) or oxo alcohol (ether) sulfates, are to be understood as meaning the sulfation products of primary and / or secondary alcohols or of alkylene oxide adducts with these alcohols which preferably follow the formula (II) , R ² O (CH ₂ CHR ³ O) _a -SO ₃ X (II) in which R ^{2 is} a linear or branched, aliphatic alkyl and / or alkenyl radical having 6 to 22, preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms, R ^{3 is} hydrogen or a methyl group, a is 0 or numbers from 1 to 0, preferably 2 to 10 and X represents an alkali and / or alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkylammonium, alkanolammonium or glucammonium. Typical examples of alkyl sulfates which can be used in the context of the invention are the sulfation products of capron alcohol, caprylic alcohol, capric alcohol, 2-ethylhexyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, palmoleyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, isostearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, aryl selenyl alcohol, elaidyl alcohol, Behenyl alcohol and erucyl alcohol as well as their technical mixtures, which are obtained by high pressure hydrogenation of technical methyl ester fractions or aldehydes from Roelen's oxosynthesis. Typical examples of alkyl ether sulfates are the sulfation products of addition products with an average of 1 to 20 and preferably 2 to 10 moles of ethylene and / or propylene oxide onto the abovementioned alcohols. The sulfation products - that is to say both the sulfated alcohols and the sulfated alcohol polyglycol ethers - can preferably be used in the form of their alkali metal salts and in particular their sodium salts. Alkyl (ether) sulfates based on C _16/18 tallow spring alcohols or vegetable fatty alcohols of comparable C chain distribution in the form of their sodium salts are particularly preferred. In the case of branched primary alcohols, these are oxo alcohols, as are obtainable, for example, by converting carbon monoxide and hydrogen to alpha-permanent olefins using the shop process. Such alcohol mixtures are commercially available under the trade names Dobanol® or Neodol®. Suitable alcohol mixtures are Dobanol 91®., 23®, 25®, 45®. Another possibility are oxo alcohols, such as those obtained by the classic Enichema or Condea oxo process by adding carbon monoxide and hydrogen to olefins. These alcohol mixtures are a mixture of strongly branched alcohols. Such alcohol mixtures are commercially available under the trade name Lial®. Suitable alcohol mixtures are Lial 91®, 111®, 123®, 125®, 145®.

in der R⁴CO für einen linearen oder verzweigten Acylrest mit 6 bis 22 Kohlenstoffatomen, R⁵ für Wasserstoff oder eine Methylgruppe, R⁶ für Wasserstoff oder R⁴CO, b1, b2 und b3 in Summe für 0 oder für Zahlen von 1 bis 30, vorzugsweise 2 bis 10, und X für ein Alkali- oder Erdalkalimetall steht. Typische Beispiele für im Sinne der Erfindung geeignete Monoglycerid(ether)sulfate sind die Umsetzungsprodukte von Laurinsäuremonoglycerid, Kokosfettsäuremonoglycerid, Palmitinsäuremonoglycerid, Stearinsäuremonoglycerid, Ölsäuremonoglycerid und Talgfettsäuremonoglycerid sowie deren Ethylenoxidaddukte mit Schwefeltrioxid oder Chlorsulfonsäure in Form ihrer Natriumsalze. Vorzugsweise werden Monoglyceridsulfate der Formel (III) eingesetzt, in der R⁴CO für einen linearen Acylrest mit 8 bis 18 Kohlenstoffatomen und R⁶ für R⁴CO steht. Monoglyceride sulfates and monoglyceride ether sulfates are known anionic surfactants which can be obtained by the relevant methods of preparative organic chemistry. The usual starting point for their production is triglycerides, which, if appropriate, are transesterified to the monoglycerides after ethoxylation and subsequently sulfated and neutralized. It is also possible to react the partial glycerides with suitable sulfating agents, preferably gaseous sulfur trioxide or chlorosulfonic acid. If desired, the neutralized substances can be subjected to ultrafiltration in order to reduce the electrolyte content to a desired level. The monoglyceride (ether) sulfates to be used for the purposes of the invention preferably follow the formula (III)

in which R ⁴ CO represents a linear or branched acyl radical having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, R ^{5 represents} hydrogen or a methyl group, R ^{6 represents} hydrogen or R ⁴ CO, b1, b2 and b3 in total for 0 or for numbers from 1 to 30 , preferably 2 to 10, and X represents an alkali or alkaline earth metal. Typical examples of monoglyceride (ether) sulfates suitable for the purposes of the invention are the reaction products of lauric acid monoglyceride, coconut fatty acid monoglyceride, palmitic acid monoglyceride, stearic acid monoglyceride, oleic acid monoglyceride and tallow fatty acid monoglyceride as well as their ethylene oxide adducts or their formulated with sulfuric acid trioxide. Monoglyceride sulfates of the formula (III) are preferably used in which R ⁴ CO is a linear acyl radical having 8 to 18 carbon atoms and R ^{6 is} R ⁴ CO.

Finally, alkali soaps are to be understood as meaning fatty acid salts of the formula (IV) R ⁷ CO-OX (IV) in which R ⁷ CO is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated acyl radical having 6 to 22 and preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms and again X is alkali and / or alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkylammonium or alkanolammonium. Typical examples are the sodium, potassium, magnesium, ammonium and triethanolammonium salts of caproic acid, caprylic acid, 2-ethylhexanoic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, isotridecanoic acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, palmoleic acid, stearic acid, isostearic acid, oleic acid, elaoleic acid, petoleic acid, linoleic acid, petoleic acid, linoleic acid, petoleic acid, linoleic acid, linoleic acid, Linolenic acid, elaeostearic acid, arachic acid, gadoleic acid, behenic acid and erucic acid and their technical mixtures. Coconut or palm kernel fatty acid is preferably used in the form of its sodium or potassium salts.

Typical examples of nonionic surfactants are fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers, alkylphenol polyglycol ethers, fatty acid, fatty acid amide, fatty amine polyglycol ethers, alkoxylated triglycerides, mixed ethers and mixed formals, alk (en) yl oligoglycosides, fatty acid N-alkylglucamides, protein hydrolysates (in particular vegetable products based on wheat), polyol, Zuckerester, sorbitan esters , Polysorbates and amine oxides. If the nonionic surfactants contain polyglycol ether chains, they can have a conventional, but preferably a narrow, homolog distribution. Fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers, alkoxylated fatty acid lower alkyl esters, alkyl oligoglucosides and / or fatty acid N-alkyl polyhydroxyalkyl amides are preferably used.

The preferred fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers follow the formula (V) R ⁸ O (CH ₂ CHR ⁹ O) _n1 H (V) in which R ^{8 represents} a linear or branched alkyl and / or alkenyl radical having 6 to 22, preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms, R ^{9 represents} hydrogen or methyl and n1 represents numbers from 1 to 20. Typical examples are the addition products of an average of 1 to 20 and preferably 5 to 10 moles of ethylene and / or propylene oxide with capron alcohol, caprylic alcohol, 2-ethylhexyl alcohol, capric alcohol, lauryl alcohol, isotridecyl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, palmoleyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, isostyl alcohol , Petroselinyl alcohol, linolyl alcohol, linolenyl alcohol, elaeostearyl alcohol, arachyl alcohol, gadoleyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, erucyl alcohol and brassidyl alcohol and their technical mixtures. Addition products of 3, 5 or 7 moles of ethylene oxide onto technical coconut oil alcohols are particularly preferred.

Suitable alkoxylated fatty acid lower alkyl esters are surfactants of the formula (VI) R ¹⁰ CO- (OCH ₂ CHR ¹¹ ) _n2 OR ¹² (VI) in which R ¹⁰ CO stands for a linear or branched, saturated and / or unsaturated acyl radical with 6 to 22 carbon atoms, R ¹¹ for hydrogen or methyl, R ¹² for linear or branched alkyl radicals with 1 to 4 carbon atoms and n2 for numbers from 1 to 20 stands. Typical examples are the formal insert products of on average 1 to 20 and preferably 5 to 10 moles of ethylene and / or propylene oxide in the methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl and tert-butyl esters of caproic acid, caprylic acid, 2 -Ethylhexanoic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, isotridecanoic acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, palmoleic acid, stearic acid, isostearic acid, oleic acid, elaidic acid, petroselinic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, elaeostearic acid, arachidic acid, gadoleic acid, behenic acid and technical grade and erucas. The products are usually prepared by inserting the alkylene oxides into the carbonyl ester bond in the presence of special catalysts, such as, for example, calcined hydrotalcite. Conversion products of an average of 5 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide into the ester linkage of technical coconut fatty acid methyl esters are particularly preferred.

Alkyl and alkenyl oligoglycosides , which are also preferred nonionic surfactants, usually follow the formula (VII) , R ¹³ O- [G] _p (VII) in which R ^{13 represents} an alkyl and / or alkenyl radical having 4 to 22 carbon atoms, G represents a sugar radical having 5 or 6 carbon atoms and p represents numbers from 1 to 10. They can be obtained according to the relevant procedures in preparative organic chemistry. As representative of the extensive literature, reference is made here to the documents EP 0301298 A1 and WO 90/03977 . The alkyl and / or alkenyl oligoglycosides can be derived from aldoses or ketoses with 5 or 6 carbon atoms, preferably glucose. The preferred alkyl and / or alkenyl oligoglycosides are thus alkyl and / or alkenyl oligo glucosides . The index number p in the general formula (VII) indicates the degree of oligomerization (DP), ie the distribution of mono- and oligoglycosides, and stands for a number between 1 and 10. While p in a given compound must always be an integer, and especially here can assume the values p = 1 to 6, the value p for a specific alkyl oligoglycoside is an analytically determined arithmetic parameter, which usually represents a fractional number. Alkyl and / or alkenyl oligoglycosides with an average degree of oligomerization p of 1.1 to 3.0 are preferably used. From an application point of view, preference is given to those alkyl and / or alkenyl oligoglycosides whose degree of oligomerization is less than 1.7 and is in particular between 1.2 and 1.4. The alkyl or alkenyl radical R ¹³ can be derived from primary alcohols having 4 to 11, preferably 8 to 10, carbon atoms. Typical examples are butanol, capronic alcohol, caprylic alcohol, capric alcohol and undecyl alcohol and their technical mixtures, such as are obtained, for example, in the hydrogenation of technical fatty acid methyl esters or in the course of the hydrogenation of aldehydes from Roelen's oxosynthesis. Alkyl oligoglucosides of chain length C ₈ -C ₁₀ (DP = 1 to 3) are preferred, which are obtained as a preliminary step in the separation of technical C ₈ -C ₁₈ coconut fatty alcohol by distillation and with a proportion of less than 6% by weight of C ₁₂ - Alcohol can be contaminated and alkyl oligoglucosides based on technical C _9/11 oxo alcohols (DP = 1 to 3). The alkyl or alkenyl radical R ¹³ can also be derived from primary alcohols having 12 to 22, preferably 12 to 14, carbon atoms. Typical examples are lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, palmoleyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, isostearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, elaidyl alcohol, petroselinyl alcohol, arachyl alcohol, gadoleyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, erucyl alcohol, brassidyl alcohol and their technical mixtures, which can be obtained as described above. Alkyl oligoglucosides based on hardened C _12/14 coconut alcohol with a DP of 1 to 3 are preferred.

in der R¹⁴CO für einen Acylrest mit 6 bis 22 Kohlenstoffatomen, R¹⁵ und R¹⁶ unabhängig voneinander für Wasserstoff oder R¹⁴CO, R¹⁵ für einen Alkylrest mit 1 bis 4 Kohlenstoffatomen oder eine (CH₂CH₂O)_m4H-Gruppe, m1, m2 und m3 in Summe für 0 oder Zahlen von 1 bis 12, m4 für Zahlen von 1 bis 12 und Y für Halogenid, Alkylsulfat oder Alkylphosphat steht. Typische Beispiele für Esterquats, die im Sinne der Erfindung Verwendung finden können, sind Produkte auf Basis von Capronsäure, Caprylsäure, Caprinsäure, Laurinsäure, Myristinsäure, Palmitinsäure, Isostearinsäure, Stearinsäure, Ölsäure, Elaidinsäure, Arachinsäure, Behensäure und Erucasäure sowie deren technische Mischungen, wie sie beispielsweise bei der Druckspaltung natürlicher Fette und Öle anfallen. Vorzugsweise werden technische C_12/18-Kokosfettsäuren und insbesondere teilgehärtete C_16/18-Talg- bzw. Palmfettsäuren sowie elaidinsäurereiche C_16/18-Fettsäureschnitte eingesetzt. Zur Herstellung der quaternierten Ester können die Fettsäuren und das Triethanolamin im molaren Verhältnis von 1,1 :1 1 bis 3 : 1 eingesetzt werden. Im Hinblick auf die anwendungstechnischen Eigenschaften der Esterquats hat sich ein Einsatzverhältnis von 1,2 : 1 bis 2,2 : 1, vorzugsweise 1,5 : 1 bis 1,9 : 1 als besonders vorteilhaft erwiesen. Die bevorzugten Esterquats stellen technische Mischungen von Mono-, Di- und Triestem mit einem durchschnittlichen Veresterungsgrad von 1,5 bis 1,9 dar und leiten sich von technischer C_16/18- Talg- bzw. Palmfettsäure (lodzahl 0 bis 40) ab. Aus anwendungstechnischer Sicht haben sich quaternierte Fettsäuretriethanolaminestersalze der Formel (VIII) als besonders vorteilhaft erwiesen, in der R¹⁴CO für einen Acylrest mit 16 bis 18 Kohlenstoffatomen, R¹⁵ für R¹⁵CO, R¹⁶ für Wasserstoff, R¹⁷ für eine Methylgruppe, m1, m2 und m3 für 0 und Y für Methylsulfat steht.Typical examples of cationic surfactants are, in particular, tetraalkylammonium compounds, such as, for example, dimethyldistearylammonium chloride or hydroxyethyl hydroxycetyldimmonium chloride (Dehyquart E) or esterquats . These are, for example, quaternized fatty acid triethanolamine ester salts of the formula (VIII) ,

in which R ¹⁴ CO stands for an acyl radical with 6 to 22 carbon atoms, R ¹⁵ and R ¹⁶ independently of one another for hydrogen or R ¹⁴ CO, R ¹⁵ for an alkyl radical with 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a (CH ₂ CH ₂ O) _m4 H- Group, m1, m2 and m3 in total for 0 or numbers from 1 to 12, m4 for numbers from 1 to 12 and Y for halide, alkyl sulfate or alkyl phosphate. Typical examples of ester quats that can be used in the context of the invention are products based on caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, isostearic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, elaidic acid, arachic acid, behenic acid and erucic acid and their technical mixtures, such as they occur, for example, in the pressure splitting of natural fats and oils. Technical C _12/18 coconut _fatty acids and in particular partially hardened C _16/18 tallow or palm fatty acids as well as C _16/18 fatty acid _cuts rich in elaidic acid are preferably used. The fatty acids and the triethanolamine can be used in a molar ratio of 1.1: 1 1 to 3: 1 to produce the quaternized esters. With regard to the application properties of the ester quats, an application ratio of 1.2: 1 to 2.2: 1, preferably 1.5: 1 to 1.9: 1, has proven to be particularly advantageous. The preferred ester quats are technical mixtures of mono-, di- and triesters with an average degree of esterification of 1.5 to 1.9 and are derived from technical C _16/18 - tallow or palm fatty acid (iodine number 0 to 40). From an application point of view, quaternized fatty acid triethanolamine ester salts of the formula (VIII) have proven particularly advantageous, in which R ¹⁴ CO for an acyl radical having 16 to 18 carbon atoms, R ¹⁵ for R ¹⁵ CO, R ¹⁶ for hydrogen, R ¹⁷ for a methyl group, m1 , m2 and m3 stands for 0 and Y for methyl sulfate.

in der R¹⁸CO für einen Acylrest mit 6 bis 22 Kohlenstoffatomen, R¹⁹ für Wasserstoff oder R¹⁸CO, R²⁰ und R²¹ unabhängig voneinander für Alkylreste mit 1 bis 4 Kohlenstoffatomen, m5 und m6 in Summe für 0 oder Zahlen von 1 bis 12 und Y wieder für Halogenid, Alkylsulfat oder Alkylphosphat steht.In addition to the quaternized fatty acid triethanolamine ester salts, quaternized ester salts of fatty acids with diethanolalkylamines of the formula (IX) are also suitable as esterquats.

in which R ¹⁸ CO for an acyl radical with 6 to 22 carbon atoms, R ¹⁹ for hydrogen or R ¹⁸ CO, R ²⁰ and R ²¹ independently of one another for alkyl radicals with 1 to 4 carbon atoms, m5 and m6 in total for 0 or numbers from 1 to 12 and Y again represents halide, alkyl sulfate or alkyl phosphate.

in der R²²CO für einen Acylrest mit 6 bis 22 Kohlenstoffatomen, R²³ für Wasserstoff oder R²²CO, R²⁴, R²⁵ und R²⁶ unabhängig voneinander für Alkylreste mit 1 bis 4 Kohlenstoffatomen, m7 und m8 in Summe für 0 oder Zahlen von 1 bis 12 und X wieder für Halogenid, Alkylsulfat oder Alkylphosphat steht.Finally, the quaternized ester salts of fatty acids with 1,2-dihydroxypropyl dialkylamines of the formula (X) should be mentioned as a further group of suitable ester quats,

in which R ²² CO for an acyl radical with 6 to 22 carbon atoms, R ²³ for hydrogen or R ²² CO, R ²⁴ , R ²⁵ and R ²⁶ independently of one another for alkyl radicals with 1 to 4 carbon atoms, m7 and m8 in total for 0 or numbers from 1 to 12 and X again represents halide, alkyl sulfate or alkyl phosphate.

in der R²⁷CO für einen Acylrest mit 6 bis 22 Kohlenstoffatomen, R²⁸ für Wasserstoff oder R²⁷CO, R²⁹ und R³⁰ unabhängig voneinander für Alkylreste mit 1 bis 4 Kohlenstoffatomen und Y wieder für Halogenid, Alkylsulfat oder Alkylphosphat steht. Derartige Amidesterquats sind beispielsweise unter der Marke Incroquat® (Croda) im Markt erhältlich.Finally, suitable esterquats are substances in which the ester bond is replaced by an amide bond and which preferably follow the formula (XI) based on diethylenetriamine,

in which R ²⁷ CO represents an acyl radical with 6 to 22 carbon atoms, R ²⁸ for hydrogen or R ²⁷ CO, R ²⁹ and R ³⁰ independently of one another for alkyl radicals with 1 to 4 carbon atoms and Y again for halide, alkyl sulfate or alkyl phosphate. Such amide ester quats are available on the market, for example, under the Incroquat® (Croda) brand.

in der R³¹ für Alkyl- und/oder Alkenylreste mit 6 bis 22 Kohlenstoffatomen, R³² für Wasserstoff oder Alkylreste mit 1 bis 4 Kohlenstoffatomen, R³³ für Alkylreste mit 1 bis 4 Kohlenstoffatomen, q1 für Zahlen von 1 bis 6 und Z für ein Alkali- und/oder Erdalkalimetall oder Ammonium steht. Typische Beispiele sind die Carboxymethylierungsprodukte von Hexylmethylamin, Hexyldimethylamin, Octyldimethylamin, Decyldimethylamin, Dodecylmethylamin, Dodecyldimethylamin, Dodecylethylmethylamin, C_12/14-Kokosalkyldimethylamin, Myristyldimethylamin, Cetyldimethylamin, Stearyldimethylamin, Stearylethylmethylamin, Oleyldimethylamin, C_16/18-Talgalkyldimethylamin sowie deren technische Gemische.Examples of suitable amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants are alkyl betaines, alkyl amido betaines, aminopropionates, aminoglycinates, imidazolinium betaines and sulfobetaines. Examples of suitable alkyl betaines are the carboxyalkylation products of secondary and in particular tertiary amines which follow the formula (XII)

in which R ³¹ for alkyl and / or alkenyl radicals with 6 to 22 carbon atoms, R ³² for hydrogen or alkyl radicals with 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R ³³ for alkyl radicals with 1 to 4 carbon atoms, q1 for numbers from 1 to 6 and Z for a Alkali and / or alkaline earth metal or ammonium. Typical examples are the carboxymethylation products of hexylmethylamine, hexyldimethylamine, octyldimethylamine, decyldimethylamine, dodecylmethylamine, dodecyldimethylamine, Dodecylethylmethylamin, C _12/14 -Kokosalkyldimethylamin, myristyldimethylamine, cetyldimethylamine, stearyldimethylamine, stearyl, oleyl, C _16/18 tallow alkyl dimethyl amine and technical mixtures thereof.

in der R³⁴CO für einen aliphatischen Acylrest mit 6 bis 22 Kohlenstoffatomen und 0 oder 1 bis 3 Doppelbindungen, R³⁵ für Wasserstoff oder Alkylreste mit 1 bis 4 Kohlenstoffatomen, R³⁶ für Alkylreste mit 1 bis 4 Kohlenstoffatomen, q2 für Zahlen von 1 bis 6, q3 für Zahlen von 1 bis 3 und Z wieder für ein Alkali- und/oder Erdalkalimetall oder Ammonium steht. Typische Beispiele sind Umsetzungsprodukte von Fettsäuren mit 6 bis 22 Kohlenstoffatomen, namentlich Capronsäure, Caprylsäure, Caprinsäure, Laurinsäure, Myristinsäure, Palmitinsäure, Palmoleinsäure, Stearinsäure, isostearinsäure, Ölsäure, Elaidinsäure, Petroselinsäure, Linolsäure, Linolensäure, Elaeostearinsäure, Arachinsäure, Gadoleinsäure, Behensäure und Erucasäure sowie deren technische Gemische, mit N,N-Dimethylaminoethylamin, N,N-Dimethylaminopropylamin, N,N-Diethylaminoethylamin und N,N-Diethyl-aminopropylamin, die mit Natriumchloracetat kondensiert werden. Bevorzugt ist der Einsatz eines Kondensationsproduktes von C_8/18-Kokosfeftsäure-N,N-dime-thylaminopropylamid mit Natriumchloracetat. Carboxyalkylation products of amidoamines which follow the formula (XIII) are also suitable ,

in the R ³⁴ CO for an aliphatic acyl radical with 6 to 22 carbon atoms and 0 or 1 to 3 double bonds, R ³⁵ for hydrogen or alkyl radicals with 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R ³⁶ for alkyl radicals with 1 to 4 carbon atoms, q2 for numbers from 1 to 6, q3 for numbers from 1 to 3 and Z again represents an alkali and / or alkaline earth metal or ammonium. Typical examples are reaction products of fatty acids with 6 to 22 carbon atoms, namely caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, palmoleic acid, stearic acid, isostearic acid, oleic acid, elaidic acid, petroselinic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, elaeostearic acid, gadoleic acid and arachic acid, arachic acid and their technical mixtures, with N, N-dimethylaminoethylamine, N, N-dimethylaminopropylamine, N, N-diethylaminoethylamine and N, N-diethylaminopropylamine, which are condensed with sodium chloroacetate. Preference is given to using a condensation product of C _8/18 coconut acid, N, N-dimethylaminopropylamide with sodium chloroacetate.

Imidazolinium betaines are also suitable . These substances are also known substances which can be obtained, for example, by cyclizing condensation of 1 or 2 moles of fatty acid with polyhydric amines such as, for example, aminoethylethenolamine (AEEA) or diethylene triamine. The corresponding carboxyalkylation products are mixtures of different open-chain betaines. Typical examples are condensation products of the above-mentioned fatty acids with AEEA, preferably imidazolines based on lauric acid or again C _12/14 coconut fatty acid, which are subsequently betainized with sodium chloroacetate.

Depending on the formation of liquid crystalline or gel phases, i.e. of pumpability the surfactants, these are usually used in the form of aqueous solutions or pastes, which have a solids content in the range from 1 to 80, preferably 25 to 60 and in particular 30 to 50% by weight.

Vertropfungsanlage

The dropletization carried out in the sense of the method according to the invention with the aid of a vibrating Casting plate is already used for processing synthetic waxes, resins and low-viscosity Polyesters known. Corresponding components are, for example, from the company Rieter-Automatik sold under the name "Droppo Line" for use in textile technology. For the purpose of In the method according to the invention, such casting plates are preferred which are perforated disks are formed, through the openings of which the drops can then drip into the spray tower. The performance such perforated disks can preferably be in the range from 100 to 800 kg / h and is in particular 500 kg / h, the diameter of the holes is between 0.5 (diameter of the granules on average 0.8 mm) and 1.4 mm (average diameter of the granules 2.5 mm). The vibration frequency, which is imposed on the aqueous surfactant preparations is typically in the range of 100 to 1000 and preferably 500 to 800 Hz. Another advantage over the conventional The method also consists in working with only a slight excess pressure (typically: 10 to 100 mbar) can be. Drying within the spray tower can be done with hot air or hot combustion gases at temperatures, for example, in the range from 100 to 150 ° C in countercurrent, such as this is adequately described in the prior art. The granules are roughly spherical and then have an average depending on the openings in the perforated plate and the frequency Diameter in the range of 1 to 2.5 mm. The dust content, i.e. Particles with particle sizes less than 0.5 mm is practically zero.

Industrial applicability

The surfactant granules obtainable by the process according to the invention can be combined with other typical ones Detergent ingredients, e.g. Builders, co-builders, oil and fat dissolving substances, bleaching agents, bleach activators, Graying inhibitors, enzymes, enzyme stabilizers, optical brighteners, polymers, defoamers, Disintegrants, fragrances, inorganic salts and the like are mixed and then added to the corresponding end products are assembled. The following are therefore further additives and assembly processes explained

Builder

The washing, rinsing, cleaning and finishing agents according to the invention can furthermore additionally inorganic and organic builder substances, for example in amounts of 10 to 50 and preferably 15 to 35 wt .-% - based on the agent - contain, as inorganic builder substances mainly zeolites crystalline layered silicates, amorphous silicates and - if permitted - also Phosphates, e.g. Tripolyphosphate are used. The amount of co-builder is based on that allowance for preferred amounts of phosphates.

The fine crystalline, synthetic and bound water-containing zeolite which is frequently used as a detergent builder is preferably zeolite A and / or P. As zeolite P, for example, zeolite MAP ^(R) (commercial product from Crosfield) is particularly preferred. However, zeolite X and mixtures of A, X and / or P and Y are also suitable. Of particular interest is also a cocrystallized sodium / potassium aluminum silicate composed of zeolite A and zeolite X, which as VEGOBOND AX® (commercial product from Condea Augusta SpA) is commercially available. The zeolite can be stabilized as a spray-dried powder or as an undried, still moist from its manufacture

Suspension are used. In the event that the zeolite is used as a suspension, it may contain minor additions of nonionic surfactants as stabilizers, for example 1 to 3% by weight, based on zeolite, of ethoxylated C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ fatty alcohols with 2 to 5 ethylene oxide groups , C ₁₂ -C ₁₄ fatty alcohols with 4 to 5 ethylene oxide groups or ethoxylated isotridecanols. Suitable zeolites have an average particle size of less than 10 μm (volume distribution; measurement method: Coulter Counter) and preferably contain 18 to 22% by weight, in particular 20 to 22% by weight, of bound water.

Suitable substitutes or partial substitutes for phosphates and zeolites are crystalline, layered sodium silicates of the general formula NaMSi _x O _{2x + 1} .yH ₂ O, where M is sodium or hydrogen, x is a number from 1.9 to 4 and y is a number from 0 to 20 and preferred values for x are 2, 3 or 4. Such crystalline layered silicates are described, for example, in European patent application EP 0164514 A1 . Preferred crystalline layered silicates of the formula given are those in which M represents sodium and x assumes the values 2 or 3. In particular, both β- and δ-sodium disilicate Na ₂ Si ₂ O ₅ .yH ₂ O are preferred, wherein β-sodium disilicate can be obtained, for example, by the method described in international patent application WO 91/08171 . Further suitable layered silicates are known, for example, from patent applications DE 2334899 A1, EP 0026529 A1 and DE 3526405 A1 . Their usability is not limited to a special composition or structural formula. However, smectites, in particular bentonites, are preferred here. Suitable layered silicates, which belong to the group of water-swellable smectites, are, for example, those of the general formulas (OH) ₄ Si _8-y Al _y (Mg _x 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, alkaline earth ions, in particular Na ⁺ and Ca ²⁺ . The amount of water of hydration is usually in the range from 8 to 20% by weight and depends on the swelling condition or the type of processing. Useful layer silicates are known, for example, from US 3,966,629, US 4,062,647, EP 0026529 A1 and EP 0028432 A1 . Layered silicates are preferably used which are largely free of calcium ions and strongly coloring iron ions due to an alkali treatment.

The preferred builder substances also include amorphous sodium silicates with a modulus Na ₂ O: SiO ₂ from 1: 2 to 1: 3.3, preferably from 1: 2 to 1: 2.8 and in particular from 1: 2 to 1: 2, 6, which are delayed release and have secondary washing properties. The delay in dissolution compared to conventional amorphous sodium silicates can be caused in various ways, for example by surface treatment, compounding, compacting / compression or by overdrying. In the context of this invention, the term “amorphous” is also understood to mean “X-ray amorphous”. This means that the silicates in X-ray diffraction experiments do not provide sharp X-ray reflections, as are typical for crystalline substances, but at most one or more maxima of the scattered X-rays, which have a width of several degree units of the diffraction angle. However, it can very well lead to particularly good builder properties if the silicate particles provide washed-out or even sharp diffraction maxima in electron diffraction experiments. This is to be interpreted as meaning that the products have microcrystalline areas of size 10 to a few hundred nm, values up to max. 50 nm and in particular up to max. 20 nm are preferred. Such so-called X-ray amorphous silicates, which also have a delay in dissolution compared to conventional water glasses, are described, for example, in German patent application DE 4400024 A1 . Compacted / compacted amorphous silicates, compounded amorphous silicates and over-dried X-ray amorphous silicates are particularly preferred.

It goes without saying that the generally known phosphates are also used as builder substances possible if such use should not be avoided for ecological reasons. Suitable are in particular the sodium salts of orthophosphates, pyrophosphates and in particular the tripolyphosphate. Their content is generally not more than 25% by weight, preferably not more than 20 wt .-%, each based on the finished agent. In some cases it has been shown that in particular tripolyphosphates even in small amounts up to a maximum of 10% by weight, based on the finished agents, in combination with other builder substances to a synergistic improvement of secondary washing power.

Co-Builder

Examples of usable organic builders that can be used as co-builders are the polycarboxylic acids which can be used in the form of their sodium salts, such as citric acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, Glutaric acid, tartaric acid, sugar acids, aminocarboxylic acids, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), if such use is not objectionable for ecological reasons, as well as mixtures from these. Preferred salts are the salts of polycarboxylic acids such as citric acid, adipic acid, Succinic acid, glutaric acid, tartaric acid, sugar acids and mixtures of these. The acids too in itself can be used. In addition to their builder action, the acids typically have also the property of an acidifying component and thus also serve to set a lower one and milder pH of detergents or cleaning agents. In particular, citric acid, Succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, gluconic acid and any mixtures of these to call.

Other suitable organic builder substances are dextrins, for example oligomers or polymers of carbohydrates, which can be obtained by partial hydrolysis of starches. The hydrolysis can be carried out by customary, for example acid or enzyme-catalyzed, processes. They are preferably hydrolysis products with average molecular weights in the range from 400 to 500,000. A polysaccharide with a dextrose equivalent (DE) in the range from 0.5 to 40, in particular from 2 to 30, is preferred, DE being a customary measure for the reducing effect of a polysaccharide compared to dextrose, which has a DE of 100. Both maltodextrins with a DE between 3 and 20 and dry glucose syrups with a DE between 20 and 37 as well as so-called yellow dextrins and white dextrins with higher molar masses in the range from 2,000 to 30,000 can be used. A preferred dextrin is described in British patent application GB 9419091 A1 , The oxidized derivatives of such dextrins are their reaction products with oxidizing agents which are capable of oxidizing at least one alcohol function of the saccharide ring to the carboxylic acid function. Such oxidized dextrins and processes for their preparation are known, for example, from European patent applications EP 0232202 A1, EP 0427349 A1, EP 0472042 A1 and EP 0542496 A1 as well as international patent applications WO 92118542, WO 93/08251, WO 93/16110, WO 94/28030. WO 95/07303, WO 95/12619 and WO 95/20608 are known. An oxidized oligosaccharide according to German patent application DE 19600018 A1 is also suitable . A product oxidized at C _{6 of} the saccharide ring can be particularly advantageous.

Other suitable cobuilders are oxydisuccinates and other derivatives of disuccinates, preferably ethylenediamine disuccinate. Also particularly preferred in this context are glycerol disuccinates and glycerol trisuccinates , such as are described, for example, in US Pat. Nos. 4,524,009, 4,639,325, in European patent application EP 0150930 A1 and in Japanese patent application JP 93/339896 . Suitable amounts for use in zeolite-containing and / or silicate-containing formulations are 3 to 15% by weight. Other useful organic cobuilders are, for example, acetylated hydroxycarboxylic acids or salts thereof, which may also be in lactone form and which have at least 4 carbon atoms and at least one hydroxyl group and at most contain two acid groups. Such cobuilders are described, for example, in international patent application WO 95/20029 .

Suitable polymeric polycarboxylates are, for example, the sodium salts of polyacrylic acid or polymethacrylic acid, for example those with a relative molecular weight of 800 to 150,000 (based on acid and measured in each case against polystyrene sulfonic acid). Suitable copolymeric polycarboxylates are, in particular, those of acrylic acid with methacrylic acid and of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid with maleic acid. Copolymers of acrylic acid with maleic acid which contain 50 to 90% by weight of acrylic acid and 50 to 10% by weight of maleic acid have proven to be particularly suitable. Their relative molecular weight, based on free acids, is generally 5,000 to 200,000, preferably 10,000 to 120,000 and in particular 50,000 to 100,000 (measured in each case against polystyrene sulfonic acid). The (co) polymeric polycarboxylates can be used either as a powder or as an aqueous solution, with 20 to 55% by weight aqueous solutions being preferred. Granular polymers are usually subsequently mixed into one or more basic granules. Also particularly preferred are biodegradable polymers composed of more than two different monomer units, for example those which, according to DE 4300772 A1, are salts of acrylic acid and maleic acid, as well as vinyl alcohol or vinyl alcohol derivatives, or, according to DE 4221381 C2, are monomer salts of acrylic acid and the 2-alkylallylsulfonic acid and sugar derivatives. Further preferred copolymers are those which are described in German patent applications DE 4303320 A1 and DE 4417734 A1 and which preferably contain acrolein and acrylic acid / acrylic acid salts or acrolein and vinyl acetate as monomers. Also to be mentioned as further preferred builder substances are polymeric aminodicarboxylic acids, their salts or their precursor substances. Polyaspartic acids or their salts and derivatives are particularly preferred.

Further suitable builder substances are polyacetals, which can be obtained by reacting dialdehydes with polyolcarboxylic acids which have 5 to 7 carbon atoms and at least 3 hydroxyl groups, for example as described in European patent application EP 0280223 A1 . Preferred polyacetals are obtained from dialdehydes such as glyoxal, glutaraldehyde, terephthalaldehyde and mixtures thereof and from polyol carboxylic acids such as gluconic acid and / or glucoheptonic acid.

Oil and fat dissolving substances

In addition, the agents can also contain components that make the oil and fat washable made of textiles. The preferred oil and fat-dissolving components include, for example nonionic cellulose ethers such as methyl cellulose and methyl hydroxypropyl cellulose a proportion of methoxyl groups from 15 to 30 wt .-% and of hydroxypropoxyl groups from 1 to 15% by weight, based in each case on the nonionic cellulose ether, and that from the prior art Polymers of phthalic acid and / or terephthalic acid or their derivatives known from technology, in particular polymers of ethylene terephthalates and / or polyethylene glycol terephthalates or anionically and / or nonionically modified derivatives of these. Particularly preferred of these are the sulfonated derivatives of phthalic acid and terephthalic acid polymers.

Bleaching agents and bleach activators

Among the compounds which serve as bleaching agents and supply H ₂ O ₂ in water, sodium perborate tetrahydrate and sodium perborate monohydrate are of particular importance. Further bleaching agents which can be used are, for example, sodium percarbonate, peroxypyrophosphates, citrate perhydrates and H ₂ O ₂ -producing peracidic salts or peracids, such as perbenzoates, peroxophthalates, diperazelaic acid, phthaloiminoperic acid or diperdodecanedioic acid. The bleaching agent content of the agents is preferably 5 to 35% by weight and in particular up to 30% by weight, advantageously using perborate monohydrate or percarbonate.

Bleach activators which can be used are compounds which, under perhydrolysis conditions, give aliphatic peroxocarboxylic acids having preferably 1 to 10 C atoms, in particular 2 to 4 C atoms, and / or optionally substituted perbenzoic acid. Substances are suitable which carry O- and / or N-acyl groups of the number of carbon atoms mentioned and / or optionally substituted benzoyl groups. Multi-acylated alkylenediamines, in particular tetraacetylethylene diamine (TAED), acylated triazine derivatives, in particular 1,5-diacetyl-2,4-dioxohexahydro-1,3,5-triazine (DADHT), acylated glycolurils, in particular tetraacetylglycoluril (TAGU), N- Acylimides, especially N-nonanoylsuccinimide (NOSI), acylated phenolsulfonates, especially n-nonanoyl- or isononanoyloxybenzenesulfonate (n- or iso-NOBS), carboxylic acid anhydrides, especially phthalic anhydride, acylated polyhydric alcohols, especially triacetyloxy, 2,5-diacetyloxy, 2,5-ethylene glycol 2,5-dihydrofuran and the enol esters known from German patent applications DE 19616693 A1 and DE 19616767 A1 as well as acetylated sorbitol and mannitol or their mixtures described in European patent application EP 0525239 A1 (SORMAN), acylated sugar derivatives, in particular pentaacetylglucose (PAG), pentaacetylfructose , Tetraacetylxylose and Octaacetyllactose as well as acetylated, optionally N-alkyl ized glucamine and gluconolactone, and / or N-acylated lactams, for example N-benzoylcaprolactam, which are known from international patent applications WO 94/27970, WO 94/28102, WO 94/28103, WO 95/00626, WO 95/14759 and WO 95 / 17498 are known. The hydrophilically substituted acylacetals known from German patent application DE 19616769 A1 and the acyl lactams described in German patent application DE 19616 770 and international patent application WO 95/14075 are also preferably used. The combinations of conventional bleach activators known from German patent application DE 4443177 A1 can also be used. Bleach activators of this type are present in the customary quantitative range, preferably in amounts of 1% by weight to 10% by weight, in particular 2% by weight to 8% by weight, based on the total agent. In addition to the conventional bleach activators listed above or in their place, the sulfonimines and / or bleach-enhancing transition metal salts or transition metal complexes known from European patents EP 0446982 B1 and EP 0453 003 B1 can also be present as so-called bleaching catalysts. The transition metal compounds in question include in particular the manganese, iron, cobalt, ruthenium or molybdenum-salt complexes known from German patent application DE 19529905 A1 and their N-analog compounds known from German patent application DE 19620267 A1 , which are known from German Patent application DE 19536082 A1 known manganese, iron, cobalt, ruthenium or molybdenum carbonyl complexes, the manganese, iron, cobalt, ruthenium, molybdenum, titanium, vanadium, described in German patent application DE 19605688 A1 and copper complexes with nitrogen-containing tripod ligands that from German patent application DE 19620411 A1 known cobalt-, iron-, copper- and ruthenium-ammine complexes, the manganese described in the German patent application DE 4416438 A1, copper and cobalt complexes cobalt complexes described in the European patent application EP 0272030 A1 , the manganese-K known from the European patent application EP 0693550 A1 complexes, the manganese, iron, cobalt and copper complexes known from European patent EP 0392592 A1 and / or those described in European patent EP 0443651 B1 or European patent applications EP 0458397 A1, EP 0458398 A1, EP 0549271 A1, EP 0549272 A1, EP 0544490 A1 and EP 0544519 A1 described manganese complexes. Combinations of bleach activators and transition metal bleach catalysts are known, for example, from German patent application DE 19613103 A1 and international patent application WO 95/27775 . Bleach-enhancing transition metal complexes, in particular with the central atoms Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Mo, V, Ti and / or Ru, are used in customary amounts, preferably in an amount of up to 1% by weight, in particular 0.0025% by weight. % to 0.25% by weight and particularly preferably from 0.01% by weight to 0.1% by weight, in each case based on the total agent.

Enzymes and enzyme stabilizers

Enzymes in particular include those from the class of hydrolases, such as proteases, esterases, lipases or lipolytically active enzymes, amylases, cellulases or other glycosyl hydrolases and mixtures of the enzymes mentioned. All of these hydrolases contribute to the removal of stains, such as stains containing protein, fat or starch, and graying in the laundry. By removing pilling and microfibrils, cellulases and other glycosyl hydrolases can help maintain color and increase the softness of the textile. Oxidoreductases can also be used for bleaching or for inhibiting color transfer. Enzymes obtained from bacterial strains or fungi such as Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Streptomyces griseus and Humicola insolens are particularly suitable. Proteases of the subtilisin type and in particular proteases which are obtained from Bacillus lentus are preferably used. Enzyme mixtures, for example, from protease and amylase or protease and lipase or lipolytically active enzymes or protease and cellulase or from cellulase and lipase or lipolytically active enzymes or from protease, amylase and lipase or lipolytically active enzymes or protease, lipase or lipolytic enzymes and cellulase, but especially protease- and / or lipase-containing mixtures or mixtures with lipolytic enzymes of particular interest. Known cutinases are examples of such lipolytically active enzymes. Peroxidases or oxidases have also proven to be suitable in some cases. Suitable amylases include in particular α-amylases, iso-amylases, pullulanases and pectinases. Cellobiohydrolases, endoglucanases and β-glucosidases, which are also called cellobiases, or mixtures thereof, are preferably used as cellulases. Since the different cellulase types differ in their CMCase and avicelase activities, the desired activities can be set by targeted mixtures of the cellulases.
The enzymes can be adsorbed on carriers and / or embedded in coating substances in order to protect them against premature decomposition. The proportion of the enzymes, enzyme mixtures or enzyme granules can be, for example, about 0.1 to 5% by weight, preferably 0.1 to about 2% by weight.

In addition to the mono- and polyfunctional alcohols, the agents can contain further enzyme stabilizers. For example, 0.5 to 1% by weight sodium formate can be used. It is also possible to use proteases which are stabilized with soluble calcium salts and a calcium content of preferably about 1.2% by weight, based on the enzyme. In addition to calcium salts, magnesium salts also serve as stabilizers. However, the use of boron compounds, for example boric acid, boron oxide, borax and other alkali metal borates such as the salts of orthoboric acid (H ₃ BO ₃ ), metaboric acid (HBO ₂ ) and pyrobic acid (tetraboric acid H ₂ B ₄ O ₇ ), is particularly advantageous.

graying

Graying inhibitors have the task of suspending the dirt detached from the fiber in the liquor to keep and thus prevent the dirt from re-opening. For this purpose, they are water soluble Colloids mostly of an organic nature are suitable, for example the water-soluble salts of polymers Carboxylic acids, glue, gelatin, salts of ether carboxylic acids or ether sulfonic acids of starch or the cellulose or salts of acidic sulfuric acid esters of cellulose or starch.

Water-soluble polyamides containing acidic groups are also suitable for this purpose. Farther soluble starch preparations and starch products other than those mentioned above can be used, e.g. degraded starch, aldehyde starches, etc. Polyvinylpyrrolidone can also be used. Prefers However, cellulose ethers such as carboxymethyl cellulose (Na salt), methyl cellulose, hydroxyalkyl cellulose and mixed ethers such as methylhydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl hydroxypropyl cellulose, methyl carboxymethyl cellulose and their mixtures, and polyvinylpyrrolidone, for example in amounts of 0.1 up to 5 wt .-%, based on the agent used.

Optical brighteners

The agents can contain derivatives of diaminostilbenedisulfonic acid or their alkali metal salts as optical brighteners. Suitable are, for example, salts of 4,4'-bis (2-anilino-4-morpholino-1,3,5-triazinyl-6-amino) stilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid or compounds of similar structure which instead of the morpholino- Group carry a diethanolamino group, a methylamino group, anilino group or a 2-methoxyethylamino group. Brighteners of the substituted diphenylstyryl type may also be present, for example the alkali salts of 4,4'-bis (2-sulfostyryl) diphenyl, 4,4'-bis (4-chloro-3-sulfostyryl) diphenyl, or 4- (4-chlorostyryl) -4 '- (2-sulfostyryl). Mixtures of the aforementioned brighteners can also be used. Uniformly white granules are obtained if, in addition to the usual brighteners, the agents are also present in customary amounts, for example between 0.1 and 0.5% by weight, preferably between 0.1 and 0.3% by weight, even in small amounts, for example ^Contain 10 ^-6 to 10 ^-3 wt .-%, preferably by 10 ^-5 wt .-%, of a blue dye. A particularly preferred dye is Tinolux® (commercial product from Ciba-Geigy).

polymers

Suitable soil-repellants are substances which preferably Contain ethylene terephthalate and / or polyethylene glycol terephthalate groups, the molar ratio Ethylene terephthalate to polyethylene glycol terephthalate can range from 50:50 to 90:10. The molecular weight of the linking polyethylene glycol units is in particular in the range of 750 to 5000, i.e. the degree of ethoxylation of the polymers containing polyethylene glycol groups can be approx. 15 up to 100. The polymers are characterized by an average molecular weight of approximately 5000 to 200,000 and can have a block, but preferably a random structure. Preferred polymers are those with molar ratios of ethylene terephthalate / polyethylene glycol terephthalate from about 65:35 to about 90:10, preferably from about 70:30 to 80:20 preferred are those polymers which link polyethylene glycol units with a molecular weight from 750 to 5000, preferably from 1000 to about 3000 and a molecular weight of Have polymers from about 10,000 to about 50,000. Examples of commercially available polymers are Products Milease® T (ICI) or Repelotex® SRP 3 (Rhône-Poulenc).

defoamers

Wax-like compounds can be used as defoamers. Such are called "waxy" Understood compounds that have a melting point at atmospheric pressure above 25 ° C (room temperature), preferably have above 50 ° C and in particular above 70 ° C. The waxy defoamer substances are practically insoluble in water, i.e. at 20 ° C in 100 g of water solubility below 0.1% by weight. In principle, all known from the prior art wax-like defoamer substances can be included. Suitable waxy compounds are, for example Bisamides, fatty alcohols, fatty acids, carboxylic acid esters of mono- and polyhydric alcohols as well as paraffin waxes or mixtures thereof. Alternatively, of course, you can also use them Purpose known silicone compounds are used.

Suitable paraffin waxes are generally a complex mixture of substances without a sharp melting point. For characterization, one usually determines its melting range by differential thermal analysis (DTA), as described in " The Analyst" 87 (1962), 420 , and / or its solidification point , This is the temperature at which the paraffin changes from the liquid to the solid state by slow cooling. Paraffins which are completely liquid at room temperature, that is to say those having a solidification point below 25 ° C., cannot be used according to the invention. The soft waxes, which have a melting point in the range from 35 to 50 ° C., preferably include the group of petrolates and their hydrogenation products. They consist of microcrystalline paraffins and up to 70% by weight of oil, have an ointment-like to plastically firm consistency and represent bitumen-free residues from petroleum processing. Distillation residues (petrolatum stocks) of certain paraffin-based and mixed-base crude oils that are further processed to petroleum jelly are particularly preferred become. It is furthermore preferred to use bitumen-free, oil-like to solid hydrocarbons separated from distillation residues of paraffinic and mixed-base crude oils and cylinder oil distillates by means of solvents. They are of semi-solid, quick, sticky to plastic-solid consistency and have melting points between 50 and 70 ° C. These petrolates represent the most important starting point for the production of micro waxes. The solid hydrocarbons with melting points between 63 and 79 ° C, which are separated from the highly viscous, paraffin-containing lubricating oil distillates during dewaxing, are also suitable. These petrolates are mixtures of microcrystalline waxes and high-melting n-paraffins. For example, the paraffin wax mixtures known from EP 0309931 A1 of, for example, 26% by weight to 49% by weight of microcrystalline paraffin wax with a solidification point of 62 ° C. to 90 ° C., 20% by weight to 49% by weight hard paraffin can be used with a solidification point from 42 ° C to 56 ° C and 2% by weight to 25% by weight soft paraffin with a solidification point from 35 ° C to 40 ° C. Paraffins or paraffin mixtures which solidify in the range from 30 ° C. to 90 ° C. are preferably used. It should be noted that even paraffin wax mixtures that appear solid at room temperature can contain different proportions of liquid paraffin. In the paraffin waxes which can be used according to the invention, this liquid fraction is as low as possible and is preferably absent entirely. Particularly preferred paraffin wax mixtures at 30 ° C have a liquid fraction of less than 10% by weight, in particular from 2% by weight to 5% by weight, at 40 ° C a liquid fraction of less than 30% by weight, preferably of 5 % By weight to 25% by weight and in particular from 5% by weight to 15% by weight, at 60 ° C. a liquid fraction of 30% by weight to 60% by weight, in particular 40% by weight % to 55% by weight, at 80 ° C a liquid content of 80% by weight to 100% by weight, and at 90 ° C a liquid content of 100% by weight. The temperature at which a liquid content of 100% by weight of the paraffin wax is reached is still below 85 ° C., in particular at 75 ° C. to 82 ° C., in particularly preferred paraffin wax mixtures. The paraffin waxes can be petrolatum, microcrystalline waxes or hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated paraffin waxes.

Suitable bisamides as defoamers are those which differ from saturated fatty acids with 12 to 22, preferably derived from 14 to 18 carbon atoms and from alkylenediamines with 2 to 7 carbon atoms. suitable Fatty acids are lauric, myristic, stearic, arachic and behenic acid and mixtures thereof, such as they are available from natural fats or hardened oils, such as tallow or hydrogenated palm oil are. Suitable diamines are, for example, ethylenediamine, 1,3-propylenediamine, tetramethylenediamine, Pentamethylenediamine, hexamethylenediamine, p-phenylenediamine and toluenediamine. preferred Diamines are ethylenediamine and hexamethylenediamine. Bisamides are particularly preferred Bismyristoylethylenediamine, bispalmitoylethylenediamine, bisstearoylethylenediamine and mixtures thereof and the corresponding derivatives of hexamethylenediamine.

Suitable carboxylic acid esters as defoamers are derived from carboxylic acids with 12 to 28 carbon atoms. In particular, these are esters of behenic acid, stearic acid, hydroxystearic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, myristic acid and / or lauric acid. The alcohol part of the carboxylic acid ester contains a mono- or polyhydric alcohol with 1 to 28 carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain. Examples of suitable alcohols are behenyl alcohol, arachidyl alcohol, coconut alcohol, 12-hydroxystearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol and lauryl alcohol as well as ethylene glycol, glycerin, polyvinyl alcohol, sucrose, erythritol, pentaerythritol, sorbitan and / or sorbitol. Preferred esters are those of ethylene glycol, glycerol and sorbitan, the acid part of the ester being selected in particular from behenic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid or myristic acid. Suitable esters of polyvalent alcohols include xylitol monopalmitate, Pentarythritmonostearat, glycerol, ethylene glycol and sorbitan, sorbitan, sorbitan Sorbitandilaurat, sorbitan, sorbitan dioleate, and also mixed tallowalkyl and diesters. Glycerol esters which can be used are the mono-, di- or triesters of glycerol and the carboxylic acids mentioned, the mono- or diesters being preferred. Glycerol monostearate, glycerol monooleate, glycerol monopalmitate, glycerol monobehenate and glycerol distearate are examples of this. Examples of suitable natural esters as defoamers are beeswax, which mainly consists of the esters CH ₃ (CH ₂ ) ₂₄ COO (CH ₂ ) ₂₇ CH ₃ and CH ₃ (CH ₂ ) ₂₆ COO (CH ₂ ) ₂₅ CH ₃ , and carnauba wax , which is a mixture of Camaubasäurealkylestem, often in combination with small amounts of free Camaubasäure, other long-chain acids, high molecular weight alcohols and hydrocarbons.

Suitable carboxylic acids as a further defoamer compound are in particular behenic acid, stearic acid, Oleic acid, palmitic acid, myristic acid and lauric acid and their mixtures, as made up natural fats or optionally hardened oils, such as tallow or hydrogenated palm oil are. Saturated fatty acids with 12 to 22, in particular 18 to 22, carbon atoms are preferred. In the same The corresponding fatty alcohols of the same C chain length can be used.

Dialkyl ethers may also be present as defoamers. The ethers can be asymmetric or be symmetrical, i.e. two identical or different alkyl chains, preferably containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms. Typical examples are di-n-octyl ether, di-octyl ether and di-n-stearyl ether, particularly suitable are dialkyl ethers which have a melting point above Have 25 ° C, especially above 40 ° C.

Other suitable defoamer compounds are fatty ketones, which are based on the relevant methods of preparative organic chemistry can be obtained. One goes to their production, for example of carboxylic acid magnesium salts, which at temperatures above 300 ° C below Elimination of carbon dioxide and water are pyrolyzed, for example according to the German Laid-open specification DE 2553900 OS. Suitable fat ketones are those obtained by pyrolysis of the magnesium salts of lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, Elaidic acid, petroselinic acid, arachic acid, gadoleic acid, behenic acid or erucic acid become.

Other suitable defoamers are fatty acid polyethylene glycol esters, which are preferably basic homogeneously catalyzed addition of ethylene oxide to fatty acids can be obtained. Especially done the addition of ethylene oxide to the fatty acids in the presence of alkanolamines as catalysts. The use of alkanolamines, especially triethanolamine, leads to an extremely selective ethoxylation fatty acids, especially when it comes to producing low-ethoxylated compounds. Within the group of fatty acid polyethylene glycol esters, those which have one are preferred Have melting point above 25 ° C, especially above 40 ° C.

Within the group of wax-like defoamers, the paraffin waxes described are particularly preferably used alone as wax-like defoamers or in a mixture with one of the other wax-like defoamers, the proportion of paraffin waxes in the mixture preferably making up more than 50% by weight, based on the wax-like defoamer mixture. The paraffin waxes can be applied to carriers if necessary. All known inorganic and / or organic carrier materials are suitable as carrier materials. Examples of typical inorganic carrier materials are alkali carbonates, aluminosilicates, water-soluble layer silicates, alkali silicates, alkali sulfates, for example sodium sulfate, and alkali phosphates. The alkali silicates are preferably a compound with a molar ratio of alkali oxide to SiO ₂ of 1: 1.5 to 1: 3.5. The use of such silicates results in particularly good grain properties, in particular high abrasion stability and nevertheless high dissolution rate in water. The aluminosilicates referred to as carrier material include, in particular, the zeolites, for example zeolite NaA and NaX. The compounds referred to as water-soluble layered silicates include, for example, amorphous or crystalline water glass. Silicates which are commercially available under the name Aerosil® or Sipernat® can also be used. Examples of suitable organic carrier materials are film-forming polymers, for example polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl pyrrolidones, poly (meth) acrylates, polycarboxylates, cellulose derivatives and starch. Usable cellulose ethers are, in particular, alkali carboxymethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose and so-called cellulose mixed ethers, such as, for example, methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose and methyl hydroxypropyl cellulose, and mixtures thereof. Particularly suitable mixtures are composed of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and methyl cellulose, the carboxymethyl cellulose usually having a degree of substitution of 0.5 to 0.8 carboxymethyl groups per anhydroglucose unit and the methyl cellulose having a degree of substitution of 1.2 to 2 methyl groups per anhydroglucose unit. The mixtures preferably contain alkali carboxymethyl cellulose and nonionic cellulose ethers in weight ratios from 80:20 to 40:60, in particular from 75:25 to 50:50. Also suitable as a carrier is native starch which is composed of amylose and amylopectin. Starch is referred to as native starch, as it is available as an extract from natural sources, for example from rice, potatoes, corn and wheat. Native starch is a commercially available product and is therefore easily accessible. Carrier materials which can be used individually or more than one of the abovementioned compounds, in particular selected from the group of alkali metal carbonates, alkali metal sulfates, alkali metal phosphates, zeolites, water-soluble sheet silicates, alkali metal silicates, polycarboxylates, cellulose ethers, polyacrylate / polymethacrylate and starch. Mixtures of alkali carbonates, in particular sodium carbonate, alkali silicates, in particular sodium silicate, alkali sulfates, in particular sodium sulfate and zeolites are particularly suitable.

Suitable silicones are conventional organopolysiloxanes, which can have a content of finely divided silica, which in turn can also be silanized. Such organopolysiloxanes are described, for example, in European patent application EP 0496510 A1 . Polydiorganosiloxanes and in particular polydimethylsiloxanes, which are known from the prior art, are particularly preferred. Suitable polydiorganosiloxanes have an almost linear chain and have a degree of oligomerization of 40 to 1500. Examples of suitable substituents are methyl, ethyl, propyl, isobutyl, tert. Butyl and phenyl. Also suitable are amino, fatty acid, alcohol, polyether, epoxy, fluorine, glycoside and / or alkyl modified silicone compounds, which can be both liquid and resinous at room temperature. Simethicones, which are mixtures of dimethicones with an average chain length of 200 to 300 dimethylsiloxane units and hydrogenated silicates, are also suitable. As a rule, the silicones in general and the polydiorganosiloxanes in particular contain finely divided silica, which can also be silanated. Silica-containing dimethylpolysiloxanes are particularly suitable for the purposes of the present invention. The polydiorganosiloxanes advantageously have a Brookfield viscosity at 25 ° C. (spindle 1, 10 rpm) in the range from 5000 mPas to 30,000 mPas, in particular from 15,000 to 25,000 mPas. The silicones are preferably used in the form of their aqueous emulsions. As a rule, the silicone is added to the water provided with stirring. If desired, thickeners such as are known from the prior art can be added to increase the viscosity of the aqueous silicone emulsions. These can be inorganic and / or organic in nature; nonionic cellulose ethers such as methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose and mixed ethers such as methyl hydroxyoxy cellulose, methyl hydroxypropyl cellulose, methyl hydroxybutyl cellulose and anionic carboxy cellulose types such as the carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt (abbreviation CMC) are particularly preferred. Particularly suitable thickeners are mixtures of CMC to non-ionic cellulose ethers in a weight ratio of 80:20 to 40:60, in particular 75:25 to 60:40. In general, and especially when adding the described thickener mixtures, use concentrations of approximately 0.5 to are recommended 10, in particular from 2.0 to 6 wt .-% - calculated as a thickener mixture and based on aqueous silicone emulsion. The content of silicones of the type described in the aqueous emulsions is advantageously in the range from 5 to 50% by weight, in particular from 20 to 40% by weight, calculated as silicones and based on the aqueous silicone emulsion. According to a further advantageous embodiment, the aqueous silicone solutions, as thickeners, are given starch which is accessible from natural sources, for example from rice, potatoes, corn and wheat. The starch is advantageously present in amounts of 0.1 to 50% by weight, based on the silicone emulsion, and in particular in a mixture with the already described thickener mixtures of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and a nonionic cellulose ether in the amounts already mentioned. To prepare the aqueous silicone emulsions, the procedure is expediently such that the thickeners which may be present are allowed to swell in water before the silicones are added. The silicones are expediently incorporated with the aid of effective stirring and mixing devices.

explosives

The solid preparations can further contain disintegrants or disintegrants. This includes substances that are added to the molded bodies in order to accelerate their decomposition when they come into contact with water. Overviews can be found, for example, in J.Pharm.Sci. 61 (1972) , Römpp Chemilexikon, 9th edition, volume 6, p. 4440 and Voigt "Textbook of pharmaceutical technology" (6th edition, 1987, pp. 182-184) . These substances increase their volume when water enters, whereby on the one hand the own volume increases (swelling), on the other hand a pressure can be generated by the release of gases, which causes the tablet to disintegrate into smaller particles. Well-known disintegration aids are, for example, carbonate / citric acid systems, although other organic acids can also be used. Swelling disintegration aids are, for example, synthetic polymers such as optionally cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) or natural polymers or modified natural products such as cellulose and starch and their derivatives, alginates or casein derivatives. Disintegrants based on cellulose are used as preferred disintegration agents in the context of the present invention. Pure cellulose has the formal gross composition (C ₆ H ₁₀ O ₅ ) _n and, viewed formally, is a β-1,4-polyacetal of cellobiose, which in turn is made up of two molecules of glucose. Suitable celluloses consist of approximately 500 to 5000 glucose units and consequently have average molecular weights of 50,000 to 500,000. Cellulose-based disintegrants which can be used in the context of the present invention are also cellulose derivatives which can be obtained from cellulose by polymer-analogous reactions. Such chemically modified celluloses include, for example, products from esterifications or etherifications in which hydroxy hydrogen atoms have been substituted. However, celluloses in which the hydroxyl groups have been replaced by functional groups which are not bound via an oxygen atom can also be used as cellulose derivatives. The group of cellulose derivatives includes, for example, alkali celluloses, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), cellulose esters and ethers and aminocelluloses. The cellulose derivatives mentioned are preferably not used alone as a cellulose-based disintegrant, but are used in a mixture with cellulose. The content of cellulose derivatives in these mixtures is preferably below 50% by weight, particularly preferably below 20% by weight, based on the cellulose-based disintegrant. Pure cellulose which is free of cellulose derivatives is particularly preferably used as the cellulose-based disintegrant. Microcrystalline cellulose can be used as a further cellulose-based disintegrant or as a component of this component. This microcrystalline cellulose is obtained by partial hydrolysis of celluloses under conditions which only attack and completely dissolve the amorphous areas (approx. 30% of the total cellulose mass) of the celluloses, but leave the crystalline areas (approx. 70%) undamaged. A subsequent disaggregation of the microfine celluloses produced by the hydrolysis provides the microcrystalline celluloses, which have primary particle sizes of approximately 5 μm and can be compacted, for example, into granules with an average particle size of 200 μm. The disintegrants can be homogeneously distributed in the molded body from a macroscopic point of view, but from a microscopic point of view they form zones of increased concentration due to the production. Disintegrants which may be present in the context of the invention, such as, for example, collidone, alginic acid and its alkali metal salts, amorphous or also partially crystalline sheet silicates (bentonites), polyacrylates, polyethylene glycols are, for example, the publications WO 98/40462 (Rettenmaier), WO 98/55583 and WO 98/55590 (Unilever) and WO 98/40463, DE 19709991 and DE 19710254 (Henkel) can be found. Reference is expressly made to the teaching of these writings. The moldings can contain the disintegrants in amounts of 0.1 to 25, preferably 1 to 20 and in particular 5 to 15% by weight, based on the moldings.

fragrances

As perfume oils or fragrances, individual fragrance compounds, e.g. the synthetic products of the ester, ether, aldehyde, ketone, alcohol and hydrocarbon type. Fragrance compounds of the ester type are e.g. Benzyl acetate, phenoxyethyl isobutyrate, p-tert-butylcyclohexyl acetate, Linalyl acetate, dimethylbenzylcarbinylacetate, phenylethyl acetate, linalylbenzoate, Benzyl formate, ethyl methylphenyl glycinate, allyl cyclohexyl propionate, styrallyl propionate and benzyl salicylate. The ethers include, for example, benzyl ethyl ether, the aldehydes e.g. the linear alkanals with 8-18 C atoms, citral, citronellal, citronellyloxyacetaldehyde, cyclamenaldehyde, hydroxycitronellal, Lilial and bourgeonal, to the ketones e.g. the Jonone, α-isomethylionon and methylcedryl ketone, to the alcohols anethole, citronellol, eugenol, geraniol, linalool, phenylethyl alcohol and terpineol, The hydrocarbons mainly include the terpenes such as limonene and pinene. Prefers however, mixtures of different odoriferous substances are used, which together make an appealing Generate fragrance. Such perfume oils can also contain natural fragrance mixtures, as they are accessible from plant sources, e.g. Pine, citrus, jasmine, patchouly, rose or Ylang-ylang oil. Also suitable are muscatel, sage oil, chamomile oil, clove oil, lemon balm oil, mint oil, Cinnamon leaf oil, linden blossom oil, juniper berry oil, vetiver oil, olibanum oil, galbanum oil and labdanum oil as well as orange blossom oil, neroliol, orange peel oil and sandalwood oil.

The fragrances can be incorporated directly into the agents according to the invention, but they can also be advantageous to apply the fragrances on carriers, which the adhesion of the perfume to the laundry intensify and ensure a long-lasting fragrance of the textiles through a slower fragrance release. Cyclodextrins, for example, have proven successful as such carrier materials, the cyclodextrin-perfume complexes can also be coated with other auxiliaries.

Inorganic salts

Other suitable ingredients of the agents are water-soluble inorganic salts such as bicarbonates, carbonates, amorphous silicates, normal water glasses, which have no outstanding builder properties, or mixtures of these; in particular, alkali carbonate and / or amorphous alkali silicate, especially sodium silicate with a molar ratio Na ₂ O: SiO ₂ of 1: 1 to 1: 4.5, preferably 1: 2 to 1: 3.5, are used. The content of sodium carbonate in the final preparations is preferably up to 40% by weight, advantageously between 2 and 35% by weight. The content of sodium silicate in the agents (without special builder properties) is generally up to 10% by weight and preferably between 1 and 8% by weight. Sodium sulfate, for example, may also be present as a filler or filler in amounts of 0 to 10, in particular 1 to 5,% by weight, based on the agent

Production of detergents

The detergents obtainable using the additives according to the invention can be in the form of Powders, extrudates, granules or agglomerates are produced or used. It can both universal and fine or color detergents, possibly in the form of compactates or act super compact. For the production of such agents, the corresponding ones are out methods known in the art. The agents are preferably produced by that different particulate components containing detergent ingredients together be mixed. The particulate components can be spray dried, simple Mixing or complex granulation processes, for example fluidized bed granulation become. It is particularly preferred that at least one surfactant-containing component by fluidized bed granulation will be produced. It can also be particularly preferred if aqueous Preparations of alkali silicate and alkali carbonate together with other detergent ingredients be sprayed in a drying device, with a drying at the same time Granulation can take place.

Spray drying

The drying device into which the aqueous preparation is sprayed can be any drying apparatus. In a preferred process, the drying is carried out as spray drying in a drying tower. The aqueous preparations are exposed to a drying gas stream in finely divided form in a known manner. Patent publications by Henkel describe an embodiment of spray drying with superheated steam. The working principle disclosed there is hereby expressly made the subject of the present disclosure of the invention. Reference is made here in particular to the following publications: DE 4030688 A1 and the further publications according to DE 4204035 A1; DE 4204090 A1; DE 4206050 A1; DE 4206521 A1; DE 4206495 A1; DE 4208773 A1; DE 4209432 A1 and DE 4234376 A1. This process has already been presented in connection with the manufacture of the defoamer,

fluidized bed

A particularly preferred way of producing the agents is to prepare the precursors To subject fluidized bed granulation ("SKET" granulation). Below is a granulation below to understand simultaneous drying, which is preferably carried out batchwise or continuously. there the preliminary products can be used both in the dried state and as an aqueous preparation become. Fluidized bed apparatuses which are preferably used have base plates with dimensions of 0.4 to 5 m. The granulation is preferably carried out at fluidizing air speeds in the range from 1 to 8 performed m / s. The granules are preferably discharged from the fluidized bed via a Size classification of the granules. The classification can be done, for example, by means of a screening device or by an opposite air flow (classifier air), which is regulated so that only Particles from a certain particle size are removed from the fluidized bed and smaller particles in the Fluidized bed are retained. The inflowing air usually settles out of the heated one or unheated classifier air and the heated soil air together. The soil air temperature is between 80 and 400, preferably 90 and 350 ° C. Advantageously, at the beginning of the granulation a starting mass, for example a granulate from an earlier test batch, is presented.

Press agglomeration

In another, especially when high bulk density agents are to be obtained, preferred Variant, the mixtures are then subjected to a compacting step, with further Ingredients are only added to the agents after the compacting step. The compacting of the ingredients takes place in a preferred embodiment of the invention in a press agglomeration process instead of. The press agglomeration process to which the solid premix (dried basic detergent) subject can be realized in various devices. Depending on A distinction is made between the type of agglomerator used and different press agglomeration processes. The four most common press agglomeration processes preferred in the context of the present invention are extrusion, roll pressing or compacting, hole pressing (Pelletizing) and tabletting, so that preferred press agglomeration processes within the scope of the present invention Extrusion, wad compacting, pelleting or tableting operations are.

All processes have in common that the premix is compressed and plasticized under pressure and the individual particles are pressed together and the porosity is reduced be liable. The tools can be used in all processes (with tableting with restrictions) heat up to higher temperatures or dissipate the shear forces Cool heat.

In all processes, one or more binders can be used as an aid to compaction. However, it should be made clear that the use of several different ones is always inherent Binders and mixtures of different binders is possible. In a preferred embodiment the invention a binder is used that at temperatures up to 130 ° C, preferably up to a maximum of 100 ° C. and in particular up to 90 ° C. is already completely in the form of a melt. The binder must therefore be selected depending on the process and process conditions or the process conditions, especially the process temperature - if a certain one Binder is desired - to be adapted to the binder.

The actual compression process is preferably carried out at processing temperatures that at least in the compression step at least the temperature of the softening point, if not correspond to the temperature of the melting point of the binder. In a preferred embodiment the process temperature is significantly above the melting point or above the temperature at which the binder is in the form of a melt, but in particular it is preferred that the process temperature in the compression step is not more than 20 ° C above the melting temperature or the upper limit of the melting range of the binder. It is technical quite possible to set even higher temperatures; but it has been shown that a Temperature difference to the melting temperature or the softening temperature of the binder of 20 ° C is generally sufficient and even higher temperatures are no additional advantages cause. Therefore it is particularly preferred - especially for energy reasons - above, but as close as possible to the melting point or the upper temperature limit of the melting range of the binder. Such a temperature control has the other Advantage that also thermally sensitive raw materials, for example peroxy bleaching agents such as perborate and / or percarbonate, but also enzymes, increasingly processed without serious loss of active substance can be. The possibility of precise temperature control of the binder in particular in the decisive step of compression, i.e. between the mixing / homogenization of the Premix and the shape, allows an energetically very favorable and for the temperature sensitive Components of the premix extremely gentle process management, because the premix is only exposed to the higher temperatures for a short time. In preferred press agglomeration processes have the working tools of the press agglomerator (the screw (s) of the extruder, the roller (s) of the roller compactor and the press roller (s) of the pellet press) have a temperature of a maximum of 150 ° C, preferably a maximum of 100 ° C and in particular a maximum of 75 ° C and the process temperature is 30 ° C and in particular a maximum of 20 ° C above the melting temperature or the upper temperature limit of the melting range of the binder. The duration is preferably the temperature effect in the compression area of the press agglomerators a maximum of 2 minutes and is particularly in a range between 30 seconds and 1 minute.

Preferred binders which can be used alone or in a mixture with other binders are polyethylene glycols, 1,2-polypropylene glycols and modified polyethylene glycols and polypropylene glycols. The modified polyalkylene glycols include in particular the sulfates and / or the disulfates of polyethylene glycols or polypropylene glycols with a relative molecular weight between 600 and 12,000 and in particular between 1,000 and 4,000. Another group consists of mono- and / or disuccinates of the polyalkylene glycols, which again have relative molecular weights between 600 and 6,000, preferably between 1,000 and 4,000. For a more detailed description of the modified polyalkylene glycol ethers, reference is made to the disclosure of the international patent application WO 93/02176 . In the context of this invention, polyethylene glycols include those polymers which, in addition to ethylene glycol, also use C ₃ -C ₅ glycols and glycerol and mixtures of these as starting molecules. Ethoxylated derivatives such as trimethylolpropane with 5 to 30 EO are also included. The preferably used polyethylene glycols can have a linear or branched structure, linear polyethylene glycols being preferred in particular. The particularly preferred polyethylene glycols include those with relative molecular weights between 2,000 and 12,000, advantageously around 4,000, polyethylene glycols with relative molecular weights below 3,500 and above 5,000, in particular in combination with polyethylene glycols with a relative molecular weight of around 4,000, and can be used Such combinations advantageously have more than 50% by weight, based on the total amount of polyethylene glycols, of polyethylene glycols with a relative molecular weight of between 3,500 and 5,000. However, polyethylene glycols can also be used as binders, which are per se in liquid state at room temperature and a pressure of 1 bar; here we are mainly talking about polyethylene glycol with a relative molecular mass of 200, 400 and 600. However, these per se liquid polyethylene glycols should only be used in a mixture with at least one other binder, this mixture again having to meet the requirements of the invention. must have a melting point or softening point of at least above 45 ° C. Likewise suitable as binders are low molecular weight polyvinylpyrrolidones and derivatives thereof with relative molecular weights of up to a maximum of 30,000. Relative molecular weight ranges between 3,000 and 30,000, for example around 10,000 are preferred. Polyvinylpyrrolidones are preferably not used as sole binders but in combination with other used in particular in combination with polyethylene glycols.

The compacted material preferably has temperatures immediately after it leaves the production apparatus not above 90 ° C, with temperatures between 35 and 85 ° C particularly preferred are. It has been found that outlet temperatures - especially in the extrusion process - from 40 to 80 ° C, for example up to 70 ° C, are particularly advantageous.

extrusion

In a preferred embodiment, the detergent according to the invention is produced by means of an extrusion, as described, for example, in European patent EP 0486592 B1 or international patent applications WO 93/02176 and WO 94/09111 or WO 98/12299 . In this case, a solid premix is extruded under pressure and the strand is cut to the predeterminable size of the granulate by means of a cutting device after it has emerged from the hole shape. The homogeneous and solid premix contains a plasticizer and / or lubricant, which causes the premix to become plastically softened and extrudable under the pressure or under the entry of specific work. Preferred plasticizers and / or lubricants are surfactants and / or polymers. To explain the actual extrusion process, reference is hereby expressly made to the patents and patent applications mentioned above. The premix is preferably fed to a planetary roller extruder or a 2-shaft extruder or 2-screw extruder with co-rotating or counter-rotating screw guidance, the housing and the extruder pelletizing head of which can be heated to the predetermined extrusion temperature. Under the shear action of the extruder screws, the premix is compressed, plasticized, extruded in the form of fine strands through the perforated die plate in the extruder head, and finally, under pressure, which is preferably at least 25 bar, but can also be lower at extremely high throughputs depending on the apparatus used the extrudate is preferably reduced to approximately spherical to cylindrical granules by means of a rotating cutting knife. The hole diameter of the perforated nozzle plate and the strand cut length are matched to the selected granule size. In this way, granules of an essentially uniformly predeterminable particle size can be produced, the absolute particle sizes in particular being able to be adapted to the intended use. In general, particle diameters up to at most 0.8 cm are preferred. Important embodiments provide for the production of uniform granules in the millimeter range, for example in the range from 0.5 to 5 mm and in particular in the range from approximately 0.8 to 3 mm. The length / diameter ratio of the chopped-off primary granules is preferably in the range from about 1: 1 to about 3: 1. It is also preferred to feed the still plastic primary granules to a further shaping processing step; edges present on the crude extrudate are rounded off so that ultimately spherical to approximately spherical extrudate grains can be obtained. If desired, small amounts of dry powder, for example zeolite powder such as zeolite NaA powder, can also be used in this step. This shape can be done in standard rounding machines. It is important to ensure that only small amounts of fine particles are produced in this stage. Drying, which is described as a preferred embodiment in the above-mentioned prior art documents, is subsequently possible, but not absolutely necessary. It may just be preferred not to carry out any drying after the compacting step. Alternatively, extrusion pressing can also be carried out in low-pressure extruders, in the Kahl press (from Amandus Kahl) or in the Bepex extruder. The temperature control in the transition region of the screw, the pre-distributor and the nozzle plate is preferably designed such that the melting temperature of the binder or the upper limit of the melting range of the binder is at least reached, but preferably exceeded. The duration of the temperature influence in the compression range of the extrusion is preferably less than 2 minutes and in particular in a range between 30 seconds and 1 minute.

roller compacting

The detergents according to the invention can also be produced by means of roller compaction. Here, the premix is deliberately defined between two smooth or with wells Formed rollers metered in and between the two rollers under pressure to form a sheet Kompaktat, the so-called Schülpe, rolled out. The rollers practice on the premix high line pressure and can be additionally heated or cooled as required. In the Use of smooth rollers gives you smooth, unstructured sash bands, while through that Using structured rollers correspondingly structured slugs can be produced in which, for example, certain forms of the later detergent particles can be specified. The cuff band is subsequently cut into smaller ones by a knock-off and crushing process Pieces broken and can be processed into granules by further known surface treatment processes refined, especially in approximately spherical Can be brought into shape. The temperature of the roller compaction is also pressing tools, i.e. the rollers, preferably at a maximum of 150 ° C., preferably at a maximum 100 ° C and especially at a maximum of 75 ° C. Particularly preferred manufacturing processes work in roller compacting with process temperatures that are 10 ° C, in particular a maximum of 5 ° C above the melting temperature or the upper temperature limit of the melting range of the binder lie. It is further preferred that the duration of the temperature influence in the compression range the smooth or indented rollers with a defined shape for a maximum of 2 minutes is and is in particular in a range between 30 seconds and 1 minute.

pelleting

The detergent according to the invention can also be produced by means of pelleting. The premix is applied to a perforated surface and pressed through the holes by means of a pressure-producing body with plasticization. In conventional embodiments of pellet presses, the premix is compressed under pressure, plasticized, pressed through a perforated surface by means of a rotating roller in the form of fine strands, and finally comminuted to a granulate pellet with a knock-off device. The most varied configurations of the pressure roller and perforated die are conceivable here. For example, flat perforated plates are used as well as concave or convex ring matrices through which the material is pressed using one or more pressure rollers. The press rolls can also be conical in the plate devices, in the ring-shaped devices dies and press roll (s) can have the same or opposite direction of rotation. An apparatus suitable for carrying out the method is described, for example, in German laid-open specification DE 3816842 A1 . The ring die press disclosed in this document consists of a rotating ring die interspersed with press channels and at least one press roller which is operatively connected to its inner surface and which presses the material supplied to the die space through the press channels into a material discharge. Here, the ring die and the press roller can be driven in the same direction, which means that a reduced shear stress and thus a lower temperature increase in the premix can be achieved. Of course, it is also possible to work with heatable or coolable rollers in the pelletizing in order to set a desired temperature of the premix. In pelleting too, the temperature of the pressing tools, that is to say the pressure rollers or pressure rollers, is preferably at most 150 ° C., preferably at most 100 ° C. and in particular at a maximum of 75 ° C. Particularly preferred production processes work in roller compacting with process temperatures which are 10 ° C., in particular a maximum of 5 ° C. above the melting temperature or the upper temperature limit of the melting range of the binder.

tableting

Shaped bodies, preferably tablets, are generally produced by tableting or press agglomeration. The particulate press agglomerates obtained can either be used directly as detergents or previously treated and / or prepared by conventional methods. The usual aftertreatments include, for example, powdering with finely divided ingredients from washing or cleaning agents, which generally further increases the bulk density. However, a preferred aftertreatment is also the procedure according to German patent applications DE 19524287 A1 and DE 19547457 A1 , in which dusty or at least finely divided ingredients (the so-called fine fractions) are adhered to the particulate end products of the process, which serve as the core, and thus give rise to means , which have these so-called fines as an outer shell. In turn, this advantageously takes place by melting agglomeration. For melt agglomeration of the fine fractions, reference is expressly made to the disclosure in German patent applications DE 19524287 A1 and DE 19547457 A1 . In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the solid detergents are in tablet form, these tablets preferably having rounded corners and edges, in particular for storage and transport reasons. The base of these tablets can be circular or rectangular, for example. Multi-layer tablets, in particular tablets with 2 or 3 layers, which can also have different colors, are particularly preferred. Blue-white or green-white or blue-green-white tablets are particularly preferred. The tablets can also contain pressed and unpressed parts. Shaped articles with a particularly advantageous dissolution rate are obtained if the granular constituents, before pressing, have a proportion of particles which have a diameter outside the range from 0.02 to 6 mm of less than 20, preferably less than 10% by weight. A particle size distribution in the range from 0.05 to 2.0 and particularly preferably from 0.2 to 1.0 mm is preferred.

Examples

Example H1. In a conventional spray tower, a 55% by weight aqueous dodecylbenzenesulfonate sodium salt paste (Maranil® A55, Cognis Deutschland GmbH) was placed over a pouring plate ("drip plate") with a diameter of 480 mm, bores of 0.5 mm, one Vibration frequency of 800 Hz and an operating pressure of 40 mbar dripped. Drying was carried out with hot air (150 ° C) in countercurrent. The spray material was continuously drawn off at the cone of the tower. The proportion of spray material with a diameter of less than 0.5 mm was now 0.4% by weight, while 68.5% by weight had a diameter in the range from 0.8 to 1.25 mm.

Example H2. Example 1 was repeated using a 30% by weight lauryl sulfate sodium salt paste (Sulfopon® T30, Cognis Deutschland GmbH). The proportion of spray material with a diameter of less than 0.5 mm was now 0.3% by weight, while 70.5% by weight had a diameter in the range from 0.8 to 1.25 mm.

Example H3. Example 1 was repeated using a 30% by weight coconut monoglyceride sodium salt paste (Plantapon® CMGS, Cognis Deutschland GmbH). The proportion of spray material with a diameter of less than 0.5 mm was now 0.25% by weight, while 67.3% by weight had a diameter in the range from 0.8 to 1.25 mm.

Example H4 . Example 1 was repeated using a 30% by weight coconut alkyl glucoside paste (Glucopon® 600 CS UP, Cognis Deutschland GmbH); drying took place at 105 ° C. The proportion of spray material with a diameter of less than 0.5 mm was now 0.3% by weight, while 71.8% by weight had a diameter in the range from 0.8 to 1.25 mm.

Example H5 . Example 1 was repeated using a 30% by weight coconut alkyl glucoside / coconut alcohol + 2EO sulfate sodium salt paste (Plantacare® PS 10, Cognis Deutschland GmbH); drying took place at 108 ° C. The proportion of spray material with a diameter of less than 0.5 mm was now 0.35% by weight, while 74.2% by weight had a diameter in the range from 0.8 to 1.25 mm.

Example H6. Example 1 was repeated using a 30% by weight lauric acid N-methylglucamide paste; drying took place at 105 ° C. The proportion of spray material with a diameter of less than 0.5 mm was now 0.3% by weight, while 71.8% by weight had a diameter in the range from 0.8 to 1.25 mm.

Example H7 . Example 1 was repeated using a 45% by weight cocamidopropyl betaine paste (Dehyton @ PK, Cognis Deutschland GmbH). The proportion of spray material with a diameter of less than 0.5 mm was now still 0.5% by weight, while 71.0% by weight had a diameter in the range from 0.8 to 1.25 mm.

Application studies . The surfactant granules H1 and H2 as well as two commercially available comparison granules were used in detergent formulations. To determine the solubility, 20 g of washing powder were added to 11 ° C. water with constant stirring. After 60 s (T1), 120 s (T2) and 300 s (T3) the solution was filtered through a sieve (mesh size: 0.1 mm). The filter residue was air dried for one hour and weighed. The results are summarized in Table 1.

In the same way, the detergent formulations were pressed into tablets (weight 40 g, constant breaking hardness) with the addition of 7 g of microcrystalline compacted cellulose, packed airtight and then stored at 40 ° C. for 2 weeks. To assess the dissolution behavior, the tablets were placed on a wire rack which was in water (0 ° d, 25 ° C). The tablets were completely surrounded by water. The disintegration time from immersion to complete dissolution was measured. The disintegration times are also shown in Table 1.

Claims (10)

1. A process for the production of surfactant granules in which a stream of a water-containing surfactant preparation is converted into droplets by a vibrating casting plate and a gaseous drying agent is blown against the drops, evaporating the water present and drying the granules in the process.
2. A process as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that aqueous preparations of anionic, nonionic, cationic and/or amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants are converted into droplets.
3. A process as claimed in claims 1 and/or 2, characterized in that anionic surfactants selected from the group consisting of alkyl benzenesulfonates, alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkanesulfonates, olefin sulfonates, methyl ester sulfonates, monoglyceride (ether) sulfates and alkali soaps are used.
4. A process as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that nonionic surfactants selected from the group consisting of fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers, alkoxylated fatty acid lower alkyl esters, alkyl oligoglucosides and fatty acid-N-alkyl polyhydroxyalkyl amides are used.
5. A process as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that cationic surfactants selected from the group consisting of tetraalkyl ammonium compounds and esterquats are used.
6. A process as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants selected from the group consisting of alkyl betaines, fatty acid amidoamine betaines and imidazolinium betaines are used.
7. A process as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the surfactants are used in the form of water-containing solutions or pastes with solids concentrations of 1 to 70% by weight.
8. A process as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the casting plate is a perforated plate.
9. A process as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the perforated plate has perforations with a mean diameter of 0.5 to 1.4 mm.
10. A process as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the water-containing surfactant preparation vibrates at a frequency of 100 to 1,000 Hz.