Granulation
and subsequent drying and cooling are the main steps of the process.
Concurrently
the neutralisation of the sulphonic acid and the granulation
of the powders take place in the granulator.
The solid feedstocks
are fed at room temperature while the liquids are fed at higher
temperatures to aid dispersion. The granulation takes place in
the granulator chamber where powders and liquids come in contact
in dispersed form. The powders are dispersed by the blades of
a shaft rotating at high speed and the liquids are dispersed
by blowing them with compressed air trough special spray nozzles.
The product
at the exit of the granulator is hot and may contain some excess
of moisture. It is then fed to a fluid bed. In the first part
of the fluid bed hot air is blown to evaporate the small excess
of water that may be still present in the powder detergent and
in the second part cold air it blown to reduce the temperature
of the product.
In the fluid bed the neutralisation and cristallisation of the
detergent is completed.
Before packing,
the detergent powder is sieved, in order to eliminate any possible
lump then, if required, it is perfumed or sent to storage or
to a Post Addition plant.
