Solid alkaline detergent and process for making the same

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Having thus disclosed the present invention, what is claimed is: 1.
A process for producing a solid detergent comprising the steps of: (a) mixing an effective amount of an alkali metal salt nitrilotriacetic acid as a hardness sequestering agent into an aqueous solution containing less than about 51 percent, by weight, of an alkaline material selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, alkali metal silicates and mixtures thereof at a solution temperature between about 50.
degree.
F.
and about 120.
degree.
F.
to form a liquid dispersion; (b) adding an amount of the same alkaline material in solid form to the dispersion sufficient to cause eventual solidification of the dispersion; (c) mixing the resulting liquid dispersion until homogeneous; (d) dispensing the mixed liquid dispersion into a suitable receptacle; and (e) allowing the dispensed liquid dispersion to solidify.
2.
The process of claim 1 wherein between about 0.
5 part to about 2 parts by weight hardness sequestering agent are added to about 1 part of the aqueous alkaline solution.
3.
The process of claim 1 wherein the hardness sequestering agent is added in an amount between about 33 percent and about 44 percent by weight of the resulting solid cast detergent.
4.
The process of claim 1 wherein the alkaline material is sodium hydroxide.
5.
The process of claim 1 wherein between about 15 percent and about 28 percent by weight solid alkaline material is added to the liquid dispersion after the addition of the alkali metal salt of nitrilotriacetic acid.
6.
The process of claim 1 wherein the solid alkaline material is sodium hydroxide in the form of pellets.
7.
The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of: adding a nonionic surfactant to the aqueous alkaline solution before addition of the solid alkaline material.
8.
The process of claim 7 wherein the nonionic surfactant is added in an amount between about 0.
025 part and about 0.
10 part by weight nonionic surfactant to about one part alkaline solution