PROCESS FOR PREPARATION OF A SYSTEM CONTAINING A NON-IONIC SURFACTANT AND AN ALKALI METAL SILICATE

A system in the form of an aqueous dispersion or granules containing at least one liquid, waxy or pasty non-ionic surfactant and an alkali metal silicate. The system is prepared using a concentrated aqueous alkali metal silicate solution as the continuous liquid phase optionally containing glycerol, in which is dispersed at least one liquid, pasty or waxy non-ionic surfactant that is non-miscible or poorly compatible with said concentrated alkali metal silicate solution, and at least one non-ionic or anionic surfactant that is compatible with said concentrated alkali metal silicate solution and capable of causing the dispersion of said liquid, pasty or waxy non-ionic surfactant(s) in said concentrated alkali metal silicate solution. The resulting dispersion is optionally dried to produce a rigid alkali metal silicate shell encapsulating droplets or particles of the liquid, pasty or waxy non-ionic surfactant(s). The system may optionally further contain at least one other detergent builder and may be used as a component of a detergent composition, particularly for use in washing machines, or as the detergent composition itself.