A process for the drying and granulation of aqueous pastes of washing-active active ingredient mixtures

The invention concerns a method of converting aqueous surfactant mixtures, in particular aqueous pastes of surfactants with washing properties such as fatty-alcohol sulphates, in particular tallow alcohol sulphates and/or C12-C18 fatty-alcohol sulphates, monosalts of sulphonic fatty-acid methyl esters and their di-salts, alkylglusoside compounds, etc., into concentrated granular material with a long shelf life by granulation. The aqueous surfactant mixture, which includes as a viscosity-control agent alkoxylates of mono- and/or polyhydric alcohols with 8-40 carbon atoms which have up to 20 ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide groups, is granulated together with fine-particulate water-soluble and/or water-insoluble solids compatible with washing and/or cleaning agents to give a free-running compound. At least part of the water content of the granular material thus produced is preferably then removed by drying, in particular in a fluidized bed.