Anti-foaming agents
or defoamers are chemical additives that minimize and prevent foam formation in
industrial process liquids. They are common in foaming liquids like laundry
soap and cooking oil, too. A defoamer can be a polydimethylsiloxane, insoluble
oil, certain alcohols, other silicones, glycols, and stearates.
How
it Works?
A liquid defoamer’s
minimum viscosity lets it spread rapidly on foamy liquids. The defoamer
destabilizes the foam to rupture bubbles on the liquid's surface. There are
defoamers that can reduce the elasticity and the viscosity of the surface of
the liquid through the destruction of structures that bind bubbles and foam
together. There are defoamers that are manufactured to form monolayers on the
surface of a liquid to replace the stabilizing surfactants of foam.
Understanding Foam
Foam is made up of
layers of bubbles that rise above liquid. Air can be trapped in the liquid to
combine and form bubbles. Foam may cause problems to certain materials once
they are processed. Defoamers work to release the air that is trapped inside
the material and to weaken the surface tension of bubbles to make them pop
easily. Liquid-based defoamers are better at releasing trapped air.
Why Miners Need It?
Liquid defoamers
are crucial products for the mining industry. Silicone-free and silicone
emulsion defoamers are available for mining needs, whether for wastewater
treatment or flotation, as well as other specific applications. There are manufacturers
that can create a defoamer that can specifically address particular
environmental issues.
Miners can use
liquid defoamers for mineral processing. Foam control is crucial for soda ash
to improve its brightness when organics are chelated. There are defoamers that
are water-soluble and non-ionic to serve as an emulsifier, dispersant,
degreaser, wetting agent, and detergent, too. A silicone-based liquid defoamer
can be used when mining non-aqueous liquids like crude oil.
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