Agglomeration technology for detergent tablets and refresher strips

Overview

This offering applies a proprietary agglomeration technology—originally developed for food applications and successfully extended into the cosmetics industry—to the household products sector. The technology enables the production of detergent tablets from blends of detergent powders and functional dry ingredients, as well as refresher strips combining a carrier matrix with scents and other functional ingredients.

The approach addresses key limitations of conventional mechanical compression by delivering faster processing, reduced energy consumption, and improved finished product quality. The technology has been validated across multiple industries, including U.S. Department of Defense contracts for calorically and volumetrically densified products for the U.S. Army and NASA.

Technical specifications

Key features and advantages over conventional compression:

• Cycle times: 0.300 seconds compared to 10–15 seconds for mechanical compression
• Energy requirements: 0.007 KWh/Kg compared to 2.2 KWh/Kg for mechanical compression
• Binder-free processing: Can agglomerate powders without binders, fluidizers, fillers, or plasticizers
• Product robustness and functionality: Superior finished product quality with natural flexibility to process diverse formulation blends
• Optional in-package agglomeration: Products can potentially be directly agglomerated within their final packaging

Product development areas:

• Detergent Tablets: Produced from blends of detergent powders and functional dry ingredients; investigation of optimal three-dimensional shapes, logo incorporation, layering of mix components, and robustness/solubility without secondary packaging
• Refresher Strips: Investigation of two carrier types—polymers and food-based carriers—combined with scents and functional ingredients
• Equipment adaptation: Existing equipment developed for military applications can be readily adapted for household product manufacturing

Technology readiness level

The underlying agglomeration technology has been validated through multiple U.S. Department of Defense contracts, including the development of calorically and volumetrically densified products for the U.S. Army and NASA. A large number of prototypes have been produced, including binder-free formulations demonstrating the technology's flexibility in processing diverse macronutrient blends without compromising palatability or agglomeration robustness.

The technology has also been successfully extended into the personal care and cosmetic industry for pressed powder items, demonstrating cross-industry applicability. Future validation efforts will focus on three areas: product development (detergent tablets and refresher strips), equipment adaptation, and technology transfer protocols already established through CRI.