Foaming Issues in Sulfuric Acid Systems? Chemi Tech Defoamer Provides Targeted Solutions

In processes such as sulfuric acid production, titanium dioxide acidolysis, wet-process phosphoric acid extraction, and metal pickling, foam issues are the invisible killer that restricts production efficiency and equipment safety. Large amounts of foam not only cause material overflow and acid mist diffusion but also reduce reaction rates and even lead to pump cavitation and pipeline blockages. Traditional general-purpose defoamers often fail to maintain long-term effectiveness in strong acid, high temperature, and high shear environments, while frequent re-additions increase costs and operational burden.

The Chemi Tech team has developed a series of highly acid-resistant, highly dispersible defoamers specifically for the unique conditions of sulfuric acid systems. The products use a composite structure of polyether-modified silicone oil and special fatty acid esters, maintaining stable foam-breaking and foam-inhibiting performance in sulfuric acid media with pH 0.5-3 and temperatures of 80-120°C. The addition amount is only 0.01%-0.05% of the total material weight, reducing foam layer thickness by over 80% without introducing impurities that affect downstream processes.

The specific application plan consists of three steps: First, determine the optimal defoamer model and initial dosage based on on-site parameters such as acid concentration, temperature, and agitation intensity through laboratory simulation tests at Chemi Tech. Second, adopt continuous drip or staged addition methods combined with online foam monitoring systems for precise control. Third, evaluate foam control performance by sampling every two weeks and fine-tune the formula according to process fluctuations.

Case 1: A chemical enterprise faced frequent foam overflow in its sulfuric acid concentration section, which accelerated equipment corrosion. The original defoamer cost about 12 RMB per ton of product. After switching to Chemi Tech CS-208 defoamer, the dosage decreased from 0.08% to 0.03%, the defoaming cost dropped to 4.5 RMB per ton, and the foam layer height was reduced from 15 cm to less than 2 cm. The production cycle extended by 30%, and the equipment maintenance interval was extended from half a year to over one year.

Case 2: In the acidolysis section of a titanium dioxide plant, acid mist spread severely due to foam entrainment, creating a harsh working environment. After using Chemi Tech CS-306 defoamer, the acid mist concentration decreased by 65%, worker inspection frequency was halved, and product whiteness remained unaffected. The plant has used the product continuously for two years without any pipeline blockage or side reactions caused by the defoamer.

Chemi Tech also provides technical support including on-site diagnosis, small-scale comparison tests, pilot-scale verification, and long-term operation maintenance. All defoamers are manufactured under standardized processes with high batch-to-batch consistency. For further information, contact the regional engineer to obtain a tailored solution.