Defoamers and emulsifiers are two types of chemical agents utilized in various industries. They can also be used as fertilizer dust control. Everything you need to know about defoamers and emulsifiers is right here.
What Exactly Are Defoamers?
A defoamer is a chemical additive that inhibits foam formation in industrial liquids. It is also known as an anti-foaming agent. While “anti-foamer” and “defoamer” are sometimes used interchangeably, it is critical to recognize that anti-foamers prevent new foam from forming, and defoamers remove the existing foam.
How Do Defoamers Function?
Defoamers are usually insoluble in foamy environments and have surface-active properties. A defoamer solution must have a low viscosity and can spread fast over frothy surfaces. It adheres to the air-liquid interface, destabilizing the foam lamellas and causing air bubbles to rupture and surface foam to degrade.
It is crucial to highlight that using defoamers for phosphoric acid manufacturing might have environmental consequences. Defoamers can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere, contributing to air pollution. As a result, it is critical to utilize these agents safely and dispose of any waste created throughout the procedure.
Defoamer Classification
1. Defoamers based on oil
The carrier oil in oil-based defoamers is mineral-based, vegetable, white, or other adhesive oil in the foaming medium. (excluding silicone oil). These powerful defoamers are excellent for eliminating surface foam.
2. Defoamers for Powder
Powder defoamers are oil-based defoamers on granular carriers such as silica. Powder defoamers are found in cement, plaster, and detergents.
3. Defoamers based on water
According to industry experts, water-based defoamers are made by combining various oils and waxes in a water carrier. Waxes are often fatty acid soaps, long-chain fatty alcohols, or esters, whereas oils are typically mineral or vegetable oils. These compounds often function best as deaerators, releasing entrained air.
4. Defoamers Based on Silicone
Silicone-based defoamers are polymers having silicon structures. These defoamers are available as an oil or water-based emulsion. To create the silicone compound, hydrophobic silica is diffused in silicone oil. The presence of emulsifiers aids in the rapid and uniform dispersion of silicone in the foaming medium.
What Exactly Are Emulsifiers?
Emulsifiers are substances that help two different liquids combine. The hydrophilic head of these compounds likes to interact with water, whereas the hydrophobic tail prefers to link with oil. The emulsifier attaches to the oil/water or air/water contact and reduces surface tension. This procedure aids in the stabilization of the emulsion.
How Do Emulsifiers Function?
Conversely, emulsifiers increase the process’s selectivity by allowing the targeted phosphate minerals to adhere more effectively to the air bubbles. Fatty acids, sulfonated oils, and other forms of surfactants are common emulsifiers used in phosphate flotation.
The use of flotation agents for phosphate processing might have environmental consequences. Some flotation compounds, for example, can be hazardous to aquatic life if discharged into rivers. As a result, it is critical to utilize these agents safely and dispose of any waste created throughout the procedure.
Connect with Best Defoamer Suppliers who can meet your needs:
NAQ GLOBAL develops and distributes specialist defoamer chemicals for phosphoric fertilizer factories. NAQ GLOBAL delivers tailor-made defoamers – GREEN DEFOAM series for Phosphoric acid defoamer plants to provide the optimum techno-commercial solution, whether it is Hemihydrate, dihydrate, Hemi Di, or Di Hemi process. We are the leading Defoamer Chemical manufacturers in India. We make water-based defoamers, oil-based defoamers, and other antifoam agents.