Foam and entrained air management

One option to manage entrained air and surface foam is the use of chemical additives. In many cases a chemical approach is the only viable option. These additives are commonly referred to as defoamer or antifoams. Defoamers and antifoams are complex products comprised of many components and chemistries. Considerable progress has been made over the years in the technology of foam and entrained air management in the pulp and paper industry since the introduction of improved technologies as a defoaming aid. 

Considerable progress has been made in foam and entrained air management in the pulp and paper industry since the inhoduction of petroleum as a defoaming aid. Because of the complex nature of the paper mill system and the fact that the chemically stabilized foams generally encountered are hard to break down mechanically, more mills are finding it not only helpful but necessary to use chemical defoamer formulations. These are generally emulsifiable combinations of hydrocarbons, alcohols, fatty acids, and various surface active agents, that frequently are specifically formulated for particular applications. 

Although there are effective mechanical means to manage entrained air and surface foam, such as the use of deculators and resolving mechanical issues, the focus here will be on chemical means to destabilise and destroy snrface foam and remove entrained air from the system. 

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