Detergent compositions comprising ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid or salts thereof, an alkali metal percarbonate bleach and a crystalline layered sodium silicate of formula LMSi.sub.x O.sub.2 xH.yH.sub.2 O wherein L is an alkali metal, and M is sodium or hydrogen, x is a number from 1.9 to 4 and y is a number from 0 to 20 are provided. The compositions also preferably comprise additional non-phosphate detergent builder compounds.

To prepare a mixture of sodium silicates having lamellar structure and sodium carbonate peroxohydrate, sodium silicate composed essentially of .delta.-Na.sub.2 Si.sub.2 O.sub.5 is reacted at least partially with carbon dioxide and atomized water with continuous circulation with the formation of a kanemite/sodium hydrogen carbonate mixture. The kanemite/sodium hydrogen carbonate mixture and further sodium silicate composed essentially of .delta.-Na.sub.2 Si.sub.2 O.sub.5 is brought into contact with atomized water with continuous circulation. Finally, 0.015 to 1.5 mol of hydrogen peroxide per mole of sodium silicate composed essentially of .delta.-Na.sub.2 Si.sub.2 O.sub.5 employed is added to the resulting kanemite/sodium carbonate mixture.

Phosphate-free builder combinations containing zeolite, crystalline layer silicates corresponding to formula (I) NaMSi.sub.x O.sub.2x+1..sub.y H.sub.2 O, in which M is sodium or hydrogen, x is a number of 1.9 to 4 and y is a number of 0 to 20, and polymeric polycarboxylates may be used separately as water softeners or in detergents. Their primary and secondary detergent properties are so favorable that there is little or no need to use phosphonates.

Particulate compositions are provided incorporating crystalline layered sodium silicates and ionisable material selected from organic acids, organic and inorganic acid salts and mixtures thereof. These particulates can also contain surfactants and other detergent ingredients. Additionally, a method for making these particulates is described as well as a detergent composition incorporating them.

A process for the continuous preparation of a granular detergent composition or component having a bulk density greater than 650 g/l which comprises the steps of: i) dispersing a detergent active paste throughout a powder stream in a high speed mixer with a residence time of from 2 seconds to 30 seconds, ii) forming an agglomerate in a moderate speed mixer/agglomerator with a residence time of less than 2 minutes, in which, optionally, a finely divided powder may be added, iii) drying and/or cooling. Granular detergent compositions which are made by this process, and which have excellent solubility properties especially with respect to dispensing and rate of dissolution are also described.