A process is provided for manufacturing industrial detergents and
industrial detergent components in granular or agglomerate form on a dry
basis in an essentially horizontally oriented fluidized bed. The finished
detergent granulates or agglomerates are distinguished by a homogenous
composition of the individual raw material components, including the
binder and the moisture content, have a high resistance to mechanical
stress, are readily dispersible in water, and are low in dust or almost
dust-free. In the process a binder and/or components in the form of
solutions, suspensions, or melts are added to the solid material in the
fluidized bed via a spray or injection system. Through the energy
introduced via the process air, drying and compacting of the agglomerate
granulate forming in the injection area of the fluidized bed occur. The
supply temperature of the process air is in a range of about 20.degree. C.
up to the decomposition temperature of the individual materials. By
adjusting the drying parameters, the product moisture can be varied. The
particles entrained by the process air from the fluidized bed are
separated from the air in an expansion zone provided with cross-sectional
widenings integrated into the fluidized bed apparatus and in a filter
system connected to it, and are conveyed back into the fluidized bed and
agglomerated there. A low-dust or dust-free product results that having a
granularity range of about 0.2 to 2.0 mm.
