abstract |
Process for manufacturing granules or powders comprising the steps of (a) providing an aqueous solution or slurry of (A) at least one chelating agent according to general formula (I a) [CH3-CH(COO)-N(CH2-COO)2]M3-XHX (I a) wherein M is selected from alkali metal cations and ammonium, same or different, and x is in the range of from 0.01 to 1.0 or (I b) [OOC-CH2CH2-CH(COO)-N(CH2-COO)2]M4-XHX (I b) wherein M is as defined above, and x in formula (I b) is in the range of from 0.01 to 2.0, and (B) at least one polymer selected from (B1 ) polyaspartates with an average molecular weight Mw in the range of from 1,000 to 20,000 g/mole, and (B2) copolymers comprising, in copolymerized form, (α) at least one ester of an ethylenically unsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acid, and (β) at least one ethylenically unsaturated N-containing monomer, and (b) spray drying or granulating said solution or slurry. |