With the rapid development of industry, wastewater treatment has become an environmental issue that people pay attention to. Foam formation is a common problem in wastewater treatment. In order to solve this problem, Antifoam is gradually being widely used as an effective solution in the wastewater treatment.
How do these foams occur?
Excessive organic matter in the wastewater, such as protein and fat, can cause foams during bacterial decomposition. Besides, if the water flow rate is too high, the equipment is not agitated evenly or the equipment is faulty, it will also lead to foaming. But slight foaming is a normal occurrence due to the high agitation level inside the centrifuge.
What is antifoam and how does it work?
Antifoam, also known as defoamer, is a chemical that can destroy or inhibit foam formation caused by surfactants. It can effectively reduce or eliminate foaming in the wastewater treatment process by reducing the surface tension of the liquid, destroying the bubble liquid film and accelerating the bubble rupture. Based on their composition and properties, defoamers are usually divided into silicon and non-silicon defoamers.
Advantages of antifoam in wastewater treatment
- In the process of wastewater treatment, foams often hinder the separation and settling efficiency of sediments. By adding defoamer, the surface tension of the liquid can be significantly reduced, making it easier for bubbles to escape from the surface of the liquid, thus reducing foams. It is conducive to the separation of sediments and the improvement of settling efficiency.
- The formation of foam will not only affect the wastewater treatment effect, but may also lead to the blockage of equipment and pipes, increasing the frequency of cleaning and maintenance, thereby increasing the cost of treatment. By using defoamers, the foam generation can be effectively reduced so as to lower cleaning and maintenance costs.
- The presence of foam will interfere with the wastewater treatment process, making the effect unstable. The use of defoamers can reduce the unstable treatment effect caused by foams and improve the efficiency and quality of wastewater treatment.
- Liquid overflow will reduce the capacity of the equipment. After the use of defoamer, it will improve the efficiency of the equipment.
To sum up, the application of antifoam chemical in wastewater treatment has significant advantages, which can not only improve the sedimentation efficiency and reduce the treatment cost, but also effectively solve the foam problem. However, it's important to pay attention to the correct dosage and to choose the appropriate defoamer.
