HOME CARE
Resource-friendly builder technology for detergents Manufacturers can now reduce their water and energy usage when producing laundry powder detergent with Noverite LD920NB from Lubrizol. By Andrew Nelson, global technical marketing manager of fabric care
T
his polymer technology from Lubrizol, distributed in Africa by Carst & Walker, delivers sodium tri-polyphosphate
(STPP) performance, and significantly improves the spray-drying production process by enabling a water reduction in the detergent crutcher slurry. The lower water content in the slurry, which saves thousands of litres of water per year, requires less energy to dry each batch of finished powder, reducing the manufacturer’s carbon footprint. This also allows: • A reduction in tower temperature at
Operational benefits of Noverite LD920NB: • improved slurry flowability or atomisation • homogeneous character • less water required in the crutcher to achieve desired slurry viscosity • improved tower rate (higher solids content per megaton of slurry) – optimising the water content • chemistry ensures target bulk density is achieved • reduced makeup on plant equipment • significantly less blockages in spray nozzles.
current tower rate
combination of Noverite LD920NB, sodium carbonate and sodium silicate, delivers significant formulation costsaving benefits. In addition, the removal of STPP (or zeolite) enables a substantial reduction in process water from the detergent slurry used in the spray-drying process. With NoveriteTM LD920NB reducing the slurry viscosity even further, it allows for even more water to be removed to match the current slurry viscosity profile.
FORMULATION STRATEGY To ensure optimal spray-drying of the slurry, the water level must be reduced in the crutcher. The replacement of STPP is
• improved tower rate with a higher
possible with an increase in the sodium
solids content slurry being sprayed. The
sequester magnesium ions. As zeolite is
carbonate, sodium silicate and, the
expected process rate improvement is
insoluble, it’s prone to deposit on fabric,
inclusion of Noverite LD920NB.
~20 to 30 percent.
leading to whiteness maintenance and
The typical reduction in crutcher slurry
fabric damage concerns. In addition, the
water content ranges from 35 percent
COST VERSUS PERFORMANCE
use of zeolite in the production process
water in the current product to 25 percent
Formulation trends and evolving
causes accelerated wear on plant
in the new product while the blown
government legislation are moving
equipment such as spray nozzles as the
powder moisture level is typically lower for
manufacturers away from STPP as the
insoluble zeolite is abrasive.
a powder without STPP, between typically
builder technology of choice. With less
three and 4.5 percent.
options available for builder technologies,
UNIQUE BUILDER TECHNOLOGY
customers are looking for innovative
Noverite LD920NB is a partially naturally
of zeolite, between one and three
ways to achieve the desired produce
derived and inherently biodegradable
percent, ensures no issues with
performance at the right cost.
patented and exclusive Lubrizol builder
flowability and powder stickiness. With a
technology that allows the removal
significant saving on formulation costs,
reformulating without STPP has been
of STPP. The removal of STPP from the
manufacturers can attain detergency
to use sodium zeolite. However, zeolite
formulation and, inclusion of the fully
performance in line with products
is much less efficient, as it’s unable to
soluble builder system, based on the
currently on the market. •
Sticky, non-homogeneous consistency
Smooth, homogeneous consistency
The traditional approach to
The post addition of a low level
Powder properties: • better granule strength through improved granule friability • more homogenous particle size distribution • reduced moisture uptake as it’s less hydroscopic • less aggregation or clumping in powder.
Control: H20 34 percent, mixed 28 minutes after Na2SO4 addition, T=49.5°C, 700 rpm
Control with one percent Noverite LD920NB: H20 34 percent, mixed 25 minutes after Na2SO4 addition, T=47.5°C, 700 rpm
Carst & Walker – www.carst.co.za Lubrizol – www.lubrizol.com/Home-Care
P C Africa | QUARTER 4 2019 |
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