Process for producing granules

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of water-dispersible and water-soluble granules which exhibit superior properties in use whilst improving their ease and efficiency of manufacture. The process involves forming a particulate pre-mix of the components of the granule without forming a paste and extruding the pre-mix to form the granules.

1 - 17 . (canceled)  
     
     
         18 . A granular composition comprising an agricultural active and an excipient, said composition being prepared by providing a pre-mix in the form of a free-flowing powder comprising the active material and the excipient with at least one component of the pre-mix being liquid and without forming a paste, feeding the pre-mix as a free-flowing powder to an extruder and extruding the pre-mix to form the water dispersible granules.  
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 18  wherein the pre-mix comprises the active material and the excipient is selected from a surfactant, a filler, a disintegrant, a stabiliser, a flow aid and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 18  wherein the active material is selected from a pharmaceutical, an agricultural chemical, an oil field chemical, an animal feedstuff, a dyestuff, and a detergent.  
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 18  wherein the active material is an agricultural chemical and is selected from bensulfuronmethyl, captan, chloridazon, chlorsulfuron, glyphosate, oxyfluorfen and propanil.  
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 21  wherein the pre-mix comprises a surfactant selected from alkyl aryl sulphonates, alkyl aryl sulphosuccinates, alkyl sulphates and lignosulphonates.  
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 18  wherein the granule comprises propanil and excipients comprising an alkyl aryl sulphonate, a lignosulphonate, a disintegrant and a filler.