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During the process of converting bauxite into alumina, the formation of foams is a long-term and costly issue. Uncontrolled foams can disrupt the key operations in the Bayer process, resulting in reduced output, low operational efficiency, quality problems, and potential safety hazards. Effective defoaming is not only beneficial but also crucial for maintaining the smooth, efficient and safe operation of the alumina refining process.      The foam challenge in aluminum oxide processing    In the Bayer process, the phenomenon of foaming occurs throughout the entire process. The main reasons for this are as follows:  1. High alkalinity: The strong corrosiveness of the liquid used in this process (i.e., the strong corrosiveness of the sodium hydroxide solution). 2. Fine particle suspended matter: There are fine particles such as red mud, tricalcium aluminate (water aluminate) precipitates, and precursors of scale formation. 3. Organic pollutants: Natural organic compounds from bauxite (such as humic acid, oxalate), which have the function of surfactants. 4. Stirring and aeration: Intense stirring, pumping, and the laminar flow of the liquid will bring in air. 5. High temperature conditions: Especially during digestion and calcination stages.    This kind of foam will bring about many problems: 1. Reduced sedimentation and cleaning efficiency: The foam will hinder the sedimentation process of red clay in the cleaning and sedimentation tanks, and prevent efficient cleaning operations. 2. Decreased equipment capacity: The foam will occupy a large amount of space in storage tanks, digesters, sedimentation tanks and evaporators, thereby limiting the processing capacity. 3. Unstable operation: Overflow of containers, pump cavitation and inaccurate liquid level measurement. 4. Product contamination: Impurities may be carried along with the product flow. 5. Increased scaling: The foam will aggravate the scaling problem on container walls and heat exchangers. 6. Safety risks: Slips, leaks and difficulty in monitoring containers.    The function of the special alumina defoamer    Traditional defoamers often fail to function under the extreme conditions of the Bayer process. The effective defoamers used in the production of alumina must possess specific characteristics:  1. Excellent alkali resistance: They must remain stable and active in high-concentration, high-temperature caustic solutions without decomposing or forming ineffective saponins. 2. High-temperature stability: Maintaining performance at digestion temperature and higher temperatures is crucial. 3. Particle tolerance: They must operate normally in a high-concentration environment of fine solid particles and must not fail as a result. 4. Organic compatibility: They need to inhibit foaming caused by organic pollutants while not being damaged by these organic substances. 5. Rapid defoaming and long-lasting inhibition: They can quickly ...

When selecting defoamers for use in the printing and dyeing textile process, multiple factors need to be considered to ensure the best results. Here are some key considerations:     1. Compatibility: The defoamer must be compatible with other chemical auxiliaries used (such as wetting agents, emulsifiers, etc.) to avoid adverse reactions or affect their performance. In addition, attention should be paid to whether the defoamer will cause damage to the fiber material.   2. Defoaming efficiency: Different types of defoamers have different defoaming capabilities. Efficient defoamers should be selected according to specific application scenarios and foam types. For example, some defoamers may be better at dealing with mechanically generated foams, while others are more suitable for foams caused by chemical reactions.   3. Persistence: The ideal defoamer should not only be able to quickly eliminate existing foams, but also have a good anti-foaming effect to prevent the formation of new foams, thereby reducing the number of additions and improving production efficiency.   4. Environmental protection requirements: With the increasing awareness of environmental protection, it is becoming more and more important to choose defoamers that meet environmental protection standards. Priority should be given to products that are non-toxic, non-volatile and biodegradable to reduce the impact on the environment.   5. Adaptability to application conditions: Considering the extreme conditions such as high temperature, strong acid and alkali that may be encountered in the printing and dyeing process, the selected defoamer must be able to maintain stability and effectiveness under these conditions.   6. Cost-effectiveness: Although price is not the only consideration, cost-effectiveness is still important. Evaluate the overall economic benefits of using a specific defoamer, including direct procurement costs and indirect benefits due to improved product quality and production efficiency.   7. Supplier reputation and service: Choose a supplier with a good reputation who can not only provide high-quality products, but also provide technical support and after-sales service to help solve problems encountered in actual operations.   In summary, when selecting a suitable defoamer for the printing and dyeing textile industry, the above aspects should be considered comprehensively to ensure that it can meet the requirements of the production process and achieve the goals of environmental protection and economy.    

Phosphate is an essential foundation for global agriculture, providing food for the world through fertilizers. However, mining this important resource faces a unique and persistent challenge: foaming. In the complex processing of phosphate rock, from beneficiation to phosphoric acid production, excessive foaming is not only troublesome, but also imposes a huge operational and economic burden. Therefore, specialized phosphate defoamers are key processing aids.     Why is phosphate processing so prone to foaming? The processing of phosphate rock involves several stages that are prone to foaming:   1. Beneficiation (flotation): This key process separates valuable phosphate minerals from silica and other gangue. It relies primarily on surfactants (collectors, frothers) to produce bubbles that carry phosphate particles. These chemicals can also produce powerful foams when necessary, especially in the following situations: Fine clays and muds: These ultrafine particles are common in phosphate deposits and can stabilize foam films. High ionic strength: Phosphate slurries often contain dissolved salts (e.g., Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, SO₄²⁻) that enhance foam stability. Organic matter: Organic matter naturally present in the ore can act as an additional foam stabilizer.   2. Digestion (acidification): The reaction of phosphate rock with sulfuric acid to produce phosphoric acid and gypsum (wet process) is highly exothermic and accompanied by vigorous gas evolution (carbonates to CO₂, fluorides to SiF₄). This turbulent reaction, combined with the release of proteins and other organic foam stabilizers from the rock, can form large, persistent foam layers.   3. Thickening and filtration: Foam can impede settling velocity in thickeners, reduce filtration efficiency of belts or filters, and cause overflow problems.   Uncontrolled foam in phosphate production is costly Ignoring foam can lead to real losses:   1. Reduced production: Foam can displace valuable slurry volume in tanks, reactors, and thickeners, limiting processing capacity. 2. Product loss: Overflow foam can carry valuable phosphate solids or acid mist, directly impacting production costs. 3. Operational inefficiencies: Foam can cause pump cavitation, erratic level control, and inaccurate meter readings. 4. Increased downtime: Frequent manual intervention to remove foam or unplanned downtime to control overflows. 5. Safety and environmental risks: Slippery walkways, potential chemical spills from overflows, and release of acid mist or particulates from foam. 6. Wasted energy: Heat transfer efficiency in digesters or evaporators is reduced due to foam insulation.   Beyond generic solutions: The need for specialized phosphate defoamers Standard defoamers often fail in the harsh, complex environment of phosphate processing. Here’s why specialized formulations are essential:   1. Extremely high chemical compatibility: Defoamers must be able to withstan...

In industrial production and daily life, the foam problem has always been one of the problems that plague enterprises. The generation of foam may affect the reaction process, product quality or the operating efficiency of equipment. As an excellent defoamer, emulsified silicone oil defoamer has been widely used in many fields in recent years.   This article will analyze the composition, advantages, and applications of emulsified silicone oil defoamer in detail.     1. Composition of emulsified silicone oil defoamer   Emulsified silicone oil defoamer is mainly composed of emulsified silicone oil and emulsifier. It is an organic compound with excellent defoaming performance. Emulsified silicone oil is a liquid based on silicone oil with good hydrophobicity and thermal stability. Emulsifier can disperse silicone oil in water to form a stable emulsion, thereby increasing the solubility of defoamer in water and improving the defoaming effect.   2. Advantages of emulsified silicone oil defoamer   - Excellent defoaming performance: emulsified silicone oil defoamer can quickly eliminate foam in a short time without generating secondary foam.   - Good stability: It can still maintain good performance under harsh conditions such as high temperature and high humidity, and is not prone to stratification, precipitation and other phenomena.   -  Non-toxic and harmless: Emulsified silicone oil defoamer does not contain harmful substances and is harmless to the environment.   -  Wide applicability: Emulsified silicone oil defoamer is suitable for various aqueous media and high-demand industrial environments, and can meet the needs of different industries for defoamers.   3. Application scenarios of emulsified silicone oil defoamer Emulsified silicone oil defoamer is widely used in various occasions where bubbles need to be controlled, such as:   - Chemical production: In chemical processes such as emulsion polymerization and resin synthesis, the generation of foam may affect the smooth progress of the reaction. Emulsified silicone oil defoamer can effectively control the foam and ensure the stability of the reaction process and product quality.   - Textile industry: In the textile printing and dyeing process, emulsified silicone oil defoamer can eliminate bubbles on the surface of the fabric, avoid uneven printing and dyeing or quality problems caused by residual foam, and significantly improve the appearance of the product.   - Oil and gas industry: During drilling and oil production, emulsified silicone oil defoamers can reduce the damage of foam to equipment, ensure the smooth progress of the production process, and improve oil production efficiency.   In short, emulsified silicone oil defoamers provide strong guarantees for production efficiency and product quality with their excellent defoaming performance and strong stability. In the future, with the continuous advancement of i...

While consumers appreciate the color or feel of a fabric, they rarely realize that a silent war is taking place during its production: foam vs. defoamer. Uncontrolled foam is not only a nuisance, it also wastes water, energy and chemicals. As textiles transition to sustainability, defoamers are also evolving from supporting players (supporting actors) to strategic enablers. Let’s unpack their hidden world.   The evolution of defoamers: beyond basic chemistry 1. The old guard: petroleum and silicones Mineral oils: cheap but fading – like fossil fuels in a green world. Silicones: “high-performance athletes”. New blends, such as PEG-modified silicones, reduce hydrophobicity while maintaining efficacy. 2. The rising star: bio-smart agents - Plant-powered: castor, sunflower or rice bran oils – now specially engineered to be heat-stable. - Enzymatic defoamers: emerging technology that uses lipases to digest foam-stabilizing surfactants. - Microbial surfactants: Rhamnolipids produced by strains of Pseudomonas bacteria that cause foam to disintegrate and biodegrade within days. 3. Niche experts - Powders in 3D weaving: a must-have in resin-impregnated technical textiles. - Polymer “foam catchers”: a stimulus-sensitive polymer that expands and encapsulates bubbles when the pH changes.     Unconventional applications: where foam meets the future - Digital printing: nano-defoamers prevent nozzle clogging in high-precision inkjet printing. - Recycled fiber processing: pulverizing foam in an alkaline bath to dissolve polyester/cotton blends (e.g. Circ® technology). - Smart textiles: preventing foam from interfering with conductive ink deposition for electronic textiles. - Protective gear: flame-retardant defoamers in fire suit coatings.   Green challenges: sustainability leads the way 1. The “ZDHC effect” - Challenges: 80% of conventional textile defoamers do not meet zero discharge standards for hazardous chemicals. - Solution: Silicone-free, APEO-free and readily biodegradable formulations (e.g. oil-based). 2. The battle between carbon footprint and water footprint - New metric: Defoaming efficiency (FRE) – CO2 emissions saved per kg of defoamer used. - Waterless dyeing: Supercritical CO2 dyeing requires defoamers stable at pressures above 250 bar – an emerging frontier.   3. Circular integration - Degradable by design: “Self-deactivating” defoamers break down during post-processing to avoid hindering fabric recycling. - Waste-to-defoamer: Upcycling lipids from the food industry (e.g. waste frying oil) into defoamers.   Vision 2030: A new vision for textile defoamers 1. Artificial intelligence collaborative systems: - IoT sensors detect foam in real time; machine learning adjusts defoamer dosage and process parameters. 2. Bionic solutions: - Dolphin skin-like surfaces (microgrooves to create unstable bubbles) applied to machine linings. 3. “...

Defoamers are indispensable additives in industrial production. They are mainly divided into two categories: water-based defoamers and oil-based defoamers according to system compatibility. This article will systematically analyze the differences in ingredients, action mechanisms, and typical application scenarios between the two, and provide selection guidance.    Application scenarios of water-based defoamers 1. Sewage treatment system Activated sludge process: Control biological foam in aeration tank (polyether modified type is best)   MBR membrane treatment: Select low-viscosity defoamers that do not affect membrane flux   Case: After a municipal sewage plant uses polyether defoamers, the foam thickness is reduced by 80%   2. Water-based paint/ink Construction defoaming: Eliminate bubbles generated by latex paint roller coating   Formula recommendation: Addition amount 0.1-0.5%   Note: Compatibility testing is required to avoid shrinkage   3. Food processing Fermentation industry: Food-grade polyether defoamers for beer/soy sauce fermentation tanks   Sugar solution concentration: Inhibit foam during evaporation   4. Other typical applications Papermaking white water circulation system Industrial cleaning agents (especially alkaline cleaning fluids) Water-based adhesive production   Application scenarios of oil-based defoamers 1. Petrochemicals Crude oil degassing: Solve the foam problem of the vacuum tower (silicone oil-based products)   Lubricant production: Control the foam during the blending process   Data: Degassing efficiency increased by 35% after use in a refinery   2. Oil-based coatings/resins Epoxy system: Eliminate bubbles during casting (high temperature resistant type required) UV curing ink: Choose varieties that do not affect the curing rate   3. Metalworking fluids Cutting oil: Suppress the foam generated by high-pressure injection Rolling oil: Maintain a stable lubricating film (low addition of 0.05-0.2%)   4. Special industrial scenarios Asphalt modification production process Solvent-based adhesives Ink printing machine circulation system