JP2001181691A - Vessel rotary type mixing machine and method for producing granular detergent composition - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vessel rotation type mixing machine that can produce a granular detergent composition having good particle dissolution and high particle roundness and a method for producing the granular detergent composition. SOLUTION: This vessel rotation type mixing machine is equipped with an almost horizontal rotary shaft 1a, a cylindrical vessel that rotates around this rotary shaft 1a, a bar type blade 3 that is set in the inner face of the cylindrical vessel 1 and stirs powder 2 in the cylindrical vessel 1 and with a liquid injector 5 for pouring liquid 4 into the cylindrical vessel in which the height of the stirring blade 3 is set to 50% to 90% of the height of the layer of the powder 2 to be put into the vessel 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rotary container mixer for producing a granular product by adding a liquid material to a powder raw material, and a method for producing a granular detergent composition using the rotary container mixer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a granular detergent composition has been produced using a rotating container mixer. Here, the container rotary mixer is a device for mixing a plurality of powdered raw materials in a rotating container and mixing them, and further adding a liquid raw material to produce a granular material. Examples of the granular detergent composition produced using such a container rotary mixer include a granular nonionic detergent composition. Nonionic detergents include nonionic surfactants exhibiting relatively high surface activity at low concentrations, and have good biodegradability, and are therefore frequently used as detergents.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Granular detergent compositions produced by a conventional container-rotating mixer sometimes have a large variation in particle diameter. If the variation in particle size is large, the number of coarse particles also increases. When a detergent containing a large amount of liquid components such as a nonionic detergent is produced, a large number of coarse particles are particularly generated. When there are many coarse particles, there is a problem that the solubility of the particles deteriorates, and the usability as a detergent deteriorates. Furthermore, since the coarse particles contain an excessive amount of the liquid component, there is a problem that a large amount of the granular detergent composition adheres to the inner wall of the container of the rotary mixer.

[0004] In addition, the granular detergent composition produced by a conventional container rotary mixer sometimes has insufficient circularity of particles. If the degree of circularity of the particles is insufficient, the bulk density of the granular detergent composition to be produced is reduced, so that there is a problem that the detergent is not compact.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a container rotary mixer and a granular mixer capable of producing a granular detergent composition having a small variation in particle diameter, and having good solubility and circularity of particles. The present invention provides a method for producing a detergent composition.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cylindrical container having a rotating shaft in a substantially horizontal direction and rotating about the rotating shaft, and a cylindrical container provided on an inner surface of the cylindrical container. It has a plate-like blade for agitating powder contained in a container, and liquid injection means for injecting liquid into the cylindrical container, and the height of the blade is a layer of the powder to be stored in the cylindrical container. Is set to 50% or more and 90% or less of the height of the container.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cylindrical container having a rotation axis in a substantially horizontal direction and rotating around the rotation axis;
Provided on the inner surface of this cylindrical container, using a container rotary type mixer having a plate-like blade for stirring the powder contained in the cylindrical container, and liquid injection means for injecting a liquid into the cylindrical container, Put the powder detergent raw material into the cylindrical container, rotate this cylindrical container, stir the powder detergent raw material by the plate-shaped blade provided on the inner surface of the cylindrical container, and put the liquid raw material into the cylindrical container by the liquid injection means. In the method for producing a granular detergent composition in which the granular detergent composition is produced by injecting and granulating, the height of the blade is at least 50% of the height of the layer of the powdered detergent raw material put in the cylindrical container, and 90% or more. % Or less, which is a method for producing a granular detergent composition.

[0008]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a rotary mixer for producing a granular detergent composition according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cylindrical container 1 (diameter D, length L of the inner surface) in the figure can hold the powder 2 in the cylindrical container 1 and can rotate in the rotation direction Z about the rotation axis 1a. I have. On the inner surface of the cylindrical container 1, a plate-like blade 3 for stirring the powder 2 placed in the cylindrical container 1 is provided. That is, when the powder 2 is put in the cylindrical container 1 and the cylindrical container 1 is rotated in the rotation direction Z about the rotation axis 1 a, the powder 2 in the cylindrical container 1 is scooped by the blades 3. It is dropped and stirred. A sprayer 5 for spraying the liquid 4 is provided in the cylindrical container 1.

FIG. 2 is an expanded view of the inner surface of the cylindrical container 1. Four blades 3 are provided on the inner surface of the cylindrical container 1 along the rotation direction Z of the cylindrical container 1. The present invention does not limit the number of blades. For example, eight blades 3 can be provided. Also,
FIG. 2 shows the blade 3 inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction Q of the cylindrical container 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Can be made parallel to the length direction Q of.

FIG. 3 shows the height 3 a of the blade 3 and the cylindrical container 1.
For explaining the relationship with the height 2a of the layer of the powder 2 in the
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a longitudinal direction Q of the cylindrical container 1 so as to pass through a rotation center axis. The height 3a of the blade 3 is
The height is set to 50 to 90% of the height 2a of the layer of the powder 2 when the rotation of the cylindrical container 1 is stopped. This value is 60
It is more preferable to set to ~ 85%. This makes it possible to reduce the variation in particle diameter and suppress the generation of coarse particles. If this value is less than 50%, the dispersion of the particle diameter increases, the number of coarse particles increases, and the solubility of the particles deteriorates. On the other hand, if this value is 9
If it exceeds 0%, the dispersion of the particle diameter increases, the number of coarse particles increases, the solubility of the particles deteriorates, and the adhesion in the mixer increases, which is not preferable. In the case of a conventional container-rotating mixer, this value is generally set to 40% or less. The number of blades is not particularly limited, but it is particularly preferable to provide four blades on the inner surface of the cylindrical container along the circumferential direction at a phase difference of 90 degrees in order to reduce variation in particle diameter.

FIG. 4A is a view of the cylindrical container 1 viewed from the direction of the rotating shaft 1a. The angle at which the powder 2 dropped from the blades 3 and the liquid 4 sprayed from the sprayer 5 intersect with each other is set to be 20 to 80 degrees, so that variation in particle diameter is reduced and generation of coarse particles is suppressed. Further, it is preferable because the circularity of the formed particles can be further increased and the bulk density can be improved. If the angle is less than 20 degrees or more than 80 degrees, these effects cannot be obtained, which is not preferable. Note that this effect is also remarkably exhibited in a mixer having no plate-shaped blade according to the present invention as shown in FIG. The container rotary mixer of the present invention preferably reduces the variation in particle diameter of the granular detergent mixture, particularly preferably the granular nonionic detergent composition containing a nonionic surfactant as a main component, and suppresses the generation of coarse particles. This is a means suitable for obtaining high bulk density particles having high circularity and excellent solubility.

Next, a procedure for producing a granular detergent composition using the above-described container rotary type mixer will be described. First, as a mixing step, a plurality of powder raw materials are charged into the cylindrical container 1,
The cylindrical container 1 is rotated at a predetermined number of revolutions, and the plurality of charged powder materials are mixed.

Next, as a granulation step, a liquid material is sprayed onto the falling powder material by a sprayer 5 while rotating the cylindrical container 1 and dropping the powder material from the blades 3 in the same manner as in the mixing step. Perform granulation. After the spraying of the liquid raw material, the cylindrical container 1 is further rotated for a predetermined time to make the particle diameters of the generated particles uniform.

Next, as a coating step, a surface modifier is coated on the cylindrical container 1 to coat the surface of the generated particles.
And the cylindrical container 1 is further rotated for a predetermined time.

Next, the raw materials used for producing the granular detergent composition using the above-described rotary container mixer will be described. (1) Surfactant Examples of the surfactant include an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, and a mixture thereof. (A) Anionic surfactant Preferred examples of the anionic surfactant include a linear or branched alkylbenzene sulfonate having an alkyl group having 8 to 16 carbon atoms, and an alkyl sulfate (AS) salt having 10 to 20 carbon atoms. Or alkenyl sulfate, having 10 carbon atoms
Α-olefin sulfonic acid (AOS) salt having 20 to 20 carbon atoms, alkanesulfonic acid salt having 10 to 20 carbon atoms, 10 to 2 carbon atoms
Having 0 linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl groups, an average of 0.5 to 8 moles of ethylene oxide,
Propylene oxide, butylene oxide or ethylene oxide / propylene oxide = 0.1 / 9.
An alkyl ether sulfate (AES) salt or an alkenyl ether sulfate added at a ratio of 9 to 9.9 / 0.1, having a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 10 to 20 carbon atoms, and having an average 0.5 to 8 moles of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide or ethylene oxide / propylene oxide =
Alkyl ether carboxylate or alkenyl ether carboxylate added at a ratio of 0.1 / 9.9 to 9.9 / 0.1, alkyl polyhydric alcohol such as alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonic acid having 10 to 20 carbon atoms Ether sulfate, higher fatty acid salt having 10 to 20 carbon atoms, 8 carbon atoms
~ 20 saturated or unsaturated α-sulfofatty acids (α-SF)
Salts or anionic surfactants such as methyl, ethyl or propyl esters thereof, or mixtures thereof, can be used. Particularly preferred anionic surfactants include, for example, alkali metal salts of linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid (LAS) (eg, sodium or potassium salt) and alkali metal salts of AOS, α-SF, AES (eg, sodium or potassium). Potassium salt) and alkali metal salts of higher fatty acids (eg, sodium or potassium salt).

(B) Nonionic surfactant Preferred nonionic surfactants include, for example, the following. (I) an aliphatic alcohol having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, preferably 8 to 18 carbon atoms and an alkylene oxide having 2 to 4 carbon atoms on average 3
A polyoxyalkylene alkyl (or alkenyl) ether having an addition of up to 30 mol, preferably 5 to 20 mol.
Among them, polyoxyethylene alkyl (or alkenyl) ether and polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene alkyl (or argenyl) ether are preferable. As the aliphatic alcohol used here, a primary alcohol or a secondary alcohol is used. Further, the alkyl group may have a branched chain. As preferred aliphatic alcohols, primary alcohols are used. (Ii) polyoxyethyl alkyl (or alkenyl)
Phenyl ether. (Iii) A fatty acid alkyl ester alkoxylate represented by the following formula, in which an alkylene oxide is added between ester bonds of a long-chain fatty acid alkyl ester.

R ¹ CO (OA) _n OR ² (R ¹ CO represents a fatty acid residue having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, preferably 8 to 18 carbon atoms. OA represents 2 to 4 carbon atoms such as ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. , Preferably 2-3
Represents an additional unit of an alkylene oxide. n represents the average number of added moles of the alkylene oxide, and is generally 3 to 3
0, preferably a number from 5 to 20. R2 has 1 carbon atom
Represents a lower alkyl group which may have 1 to 3 substituents. (Iv) Polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters. (V) Polyoxyethylene sorbite fatty acid ester. (Vi) Polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters. (Vii) Polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil. (Viii) glycerin fatty acid esters. Among the above nonionic surfactants, polyoxyethylene alkyl (or alkenyl) ethers having a melting point of 40 ° C. or lower and an HLB of 9 to 16, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene alkyl (or alkenyl) ethers, and fatty acid methyl esters containing ethylene oxide Particularly preferred are fatty acid methyl ester ethoxylates added, and fatty acid methyl ester ethoxypropoxylates obtained by adding ethylene oxide and propylene oxide to fatty acid methyl esters. Further, these nonionic surfactants may be used as a mixture.

(2) Detergent builder As a detergent builder, an alkali builder or a chelate builder usually used for a detergent is preferably used. (A) As alkali builders, sodium carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium hydrogen carbonate,
Alkali metal carbonates such as sodium potassium carbonate,
Examples include alkali metal silicates such as sodium silicate, potassium silicate, and layered sodium silicate. (B) Examples of the chelate builder include aluminosilicate, tripolyphosphate, pyrophosphate, citrate, succinate, polyacrylate, acrylic acid-maleic acid copolymer, iminocarboxylic acid / salt, EDTA, etc. Is mentioned. Detergent builders are typically present in the granular detergent composition at 10-90.
%, Preferably 20 to 80% by weight, particularly preferably 30 to 70% by weight.

(3) Oil-absorbing carrier The oil-absorbing carrier is mainly used for absorbing and supporting a liquid component such as a nonionic surfactant. Preferred oil-absorbing carriers include, for example, as silicate compounds, amorphous hydrous amorphous silicic acid, spherical porous hydrous amorphous silicic acid, amorphous anhydrous amorphous silicic acid, petal-like hydrous amorphous calcium silicate, and acicular hydrous amorphous silica. Examples include amorphous calcium silicate, amorphous aluminosilicate, and magnesium silicate. Examples of the carbonate compound include magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate. The oil-absorbing carrier is incorporated in the granular detergent composition in an amount of 0.1 to 25% by weight, preferably 0.5 to 20% by weight, and more preferably 1 to 15% by weight.

(4) Clay Minerals As the clay minerals, those belonging to the smectite group and having a three-layered dioctahedral or trioctahedral crystal structure are preferred.

The oil absorption is less than 80 ml / 100 g;
It is preferably 30 to 70 ml / 100 g, and the bulk density is 0.1 g / ml or more, preferably 0.2 to 1.5 g / m.
1 is desirable. Specific examples thereof include, for example, montmorillonite, nontronite, beidellite, and pyrophyllite as clay minerals having a dioctahedral type three-layer structure. Examples of the clay mineral having a trioctahedral three-layer structure include saponite, hectorite, stevensite, and talc. Clay mineral is usually 0.1 to 30% by weight in the granular detergent composition,
Preferably from 0.5 to 20% by weight, more preferably from 1 to 20% by weight.
10% by weight is blended.

(5) Fluorescent agent: bis (triazonylamino) stilbene disulfonic acid derivative, bis (sulfostyryl) biphenyl salt [Tinopearl CBS] and the like. (6) Enzymes: lipase, protease, cellulase, amylase and the like. (7) Bleaching agents: percarbonates, perborates, etc. (8) Antistatic agents: cationic surfactants such as dialkyl-type quaternary ammonium salts. (9) Surface modifiers: fine calcium carbonate, fine zeolite, polyethylene glycol and the like. (10) Anti-redeposition agent: cellulose derivatives such as carboxymethyl cellulose. (11) Extenders: sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate, sodium hydrochloride and the like. (12) Reducing agents: sodium sulfite, potassium sulfite, and the like. (13) Fragrances (14) Dyes (15) Softener

[0023]

EXAMPLE Next, as an example of the present invention, a procedure for producing a granular nonionic detergent composition using the above-described container rotary type mixer will be described. The diameter D of the inner surface of the cylindrical container 1 in the container rotary mixer used in the following examples is 0.60 m,
The length L is 0.48 m.

First, the procedure in the first embodiment will be described. Sodium carbonate and zeolite, which are powder raw materials, are charged into a cylindrical container 1, and the cylindrical container 1 has a Froude number of 0.3.
The mixture was rotated at a rotation speed of 14 for 1 minute to mix the powder raw material in the cylindrical container 1.

Here, the Froude number is a numerical value represented by the following equation. Fr = (πDn) ² / (gD / 2) where, Fr: Froude number, D: diameter of the inner surface of cylindrical container 1 (m), n: rotational speed of cylindrical container 1 (rps),
g: Gravitational acceleration.

Next, using a two-fluid nozzle as the atomizer 5, a nonionic surfactant, which is a liquid raw material, is sprayed on the powder raw material at a spray density of 0.8 g / cm ² · min to perform rolling granulation. Was. After the spraying of the nonionic surfactant was completed, the produced particles were aged for 3 minutes, and finally, the surface of the particles was coated with zeolite to obtain a granular nonionic detergent composition.

The raw materials used in the above examples are as follows. Sodium carbonate: Heavy sodium carbonate (Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.)
(Grain ash, manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd., granulated ash) (mixing ratio: heavy / light = 70/30 (weight ratio)) Nonionic surfactant: C ₁₂ H ₂₅ O (EO ) ₆ H (manufactured by Lion Chemical Co., Ltd., NALF94) Zeolite: P-type zeolite (manufactured by Crossfield Corp.)
Doucil A24)

FIG. 5 is a table showing the detergent composition, mixer specifications, detergent properties, and adhesion to the inner wall of the container in the above-mentioned Examples and Comparative Examples.

When the height 3a of the blade 3 (baffle) is set to less than 50% of the height 2a of the layer of the powder 2 in the cylindrical container 1, the variation in the particle size of the generated particles becomes large, And the solubility of the particles deteriorates. In addition, the height 3a of the blade 3 (baffle) is
If the height is set to more than 90% of the height 2a of the layer, the particle size variation of the generated particles increases, the number of coarse particles increases, the solubility of the particles deteriorates, and the inner surface of the cylindrical container 1 is further reduced. The particles attached to the surface increase. Further, when four blades 3 (baffles) are provided with a phase difference of 90 °, variation in particle diameter can be minimized.

Next, the procedure in the second embodiment will be described. Sodium carbonate and zeolite, which are powder raw materials, are charged into a cylindrical container 1, and the cylindrical container 1 has a Froude number of 0.3.
The mixture was rotated at a rotation speed of 32 for 1 minute to mix the powder raw material in the cylindrical container 1.

Next, using a two-fluid nozzle as the atomizer 5, a nonionic surfactant, which is a liquid raw material, is sprayed onto the powder raw material at a spray density of 0.3 g / cm ² · min to perform rolling granulation. Was. At this time, the incident angle of the liquid raw material with respect to the falling direction of the powder raw material was changed by changing the type of the two-fluid nozzle used and the spraying conditions. After the spraying of the nonionic surfactant was completed, the produced particles were aged for 3 minutes, and finally, the surface of the particles was coated with zeolite to obtain a granular nonionic detergent composition.

The raw materials used in the above examples are as follows. Sodium carbonate: Heavy sodium carbonate (Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.)
Ltd., Tsubuhai) nonionic _{surfactant: C 12 H 25 O (EO} ) 6 H ( Lion Chemical Co., Ltd., NALF94) Zeolite: P type zeolite (Crosfield Ltd.,
Doucil A24)

FIG. 6 is a table showing the detergent composition, the incident angle of the liquid raw material, and the properties of the detergent in the above-mentioned Examples and Comparative Examples. The particle size distribution Z value in the detergent properties in the table is a value that means that the higher the value, the smaller the particle size variation.

When the angle of incidence of the liquid raw material with respect to the falling direction of the powder raw material is less than 20 °, the mixing property between the powder raw material and the liquid raw material is deteriorated, the variation in the particle diameter of the generated particles becomes large, and the coarse particles become large. And the circularity of the particles also deteriorates. Further, when the incident angle of the liquid raw material with respect to the falling direction of the powder raw material is set to an angle exceeding 80 °, the mixing property between the powder raw material and the liquid raw material also deteriorates, and the particle diameter variation of the generated particles becomes large. The coarse particles increase, and the circularity of the particles also deteriorates.

[0035]

According to the present invention, since the particle size variation of the granular detergent composition can be reduced, coarse particles can be reduced. Therefore, the solubility of the particles can be improved, and the usability as a detergent can be improved. In addition, by suppressing the generation of coarse particles, the adhesion of the granular detergent composition to the inner wall of the container of the container rotary mixer can be reduced.

Further, according to the present invention, since the circularity of the particles of the granular detergent composition can be improved, the bulk density of the granular detergent composition can be improved, and the produced detergent can be made compact. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a rotary container mixer for producing a granular detergent composition according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an expanded view of the inner surface of the cylindrical container 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the length direction Q of the cylindrical container 1.

FIG. 4 is a view of the cylindrical container 1 viewed from a direction of a rotation axis 1a.

FIG. 5 is a table showing the detergent composition, mixer specifications, detergent properties, and adhesion to the inner wall of the container in the first embodiment and the comparative example of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a table showing the detergent composition, the incident angle of the liquid raw material, and the properties of the detergent in the second example and the comparative example of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cylindrical container 1a Rotating shaft 2 Powder 2a Height 3 Blade 3a Height 4 Liquid 5 Sprayer (liquid injection means)

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masashi Kai 1-3-7 Honjo, Sumida-ku, Tokyo Inside Lion Corporation (72) Inventor Shinichi Fukudome 1-3-7 Honjo, Sumida-ku, Tokyo Lion F term in reference (reference) 4H003 AC08 BA09 CA20 DA01 EA16 EA28 FA32

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A cylindrical container having a rotation axis in a substantially horizontal direction and rotating about the rotation axis, and a plate-shaped member provided on an inner surface of the cylindrical container and agitating powder contained in the cylindrical container. A blade, and liquid injecting means for injecting a liquid into the cylindrical container, wherein the height of the blade is set to be 50% or more and 90% or less of the height of the powder layer put in the cylindrical container. A rotary container type mixer. 2. A cylindrical container having a rotation axis in a substantially horizontal direction and rotating about the rotation axis, and a plate-shaped member provided on an inner surface of the cylindrical container and agitating powder contained in the cylindrical container. Using a container rotating type mixer having a blade and a liquid injection means for injecting a liquid into the cylindrical container, a powder detergent raw material is put into the cylindrical container, and the cylindrical container is rotated to be provided on the inner surface of the cylindrical container. In the method for producing a granular detergent composition, the powdered detergent raw material is stirred by the plate-shaped blades, and the liquid raw material is injected into the cylindrical container by the liquid injection means, and granulation is performed to produce the granular detergent composition. The method for producing a granular detergent composition, wherein the height of the blades is set to 50% or more and 90% or less of the height of the layer of the powdered detergent raw material put in the cylindrical container.