Solid Flocculant Composition Suppressing Foam
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solid forms of flocculating auxiliaries used in solid-liquid separation processes tend to cause foaming, leading to process disruptions and the need for additional defoaming agents, which increase costs and complexity, while liquid forms have stability and transportation inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A composition combining non-ionic surfactants with ionic polymers in a specific weight ratio, eliminating the need for separate defoaming agents and maintaining performance by suppressing foaming effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If solid forms of flocculating auxiliaries are used, then transportation costs are reduced and storage stability is improved, but foaming occurs during make-down or application processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a flocculating auxiliary (ionic polymer) with a defoaming agent (non-ionic surfactant) into a single composite composition. The non-ionic surfactant is incorporated at concentrations of 0.01-5 wt.% within the flocculating auxiliary structure, allowing simultaneous flocculation and foam suppression functions in one product, thereby eliminating the harmful foaming effect while maintaining storage stability of the solid form.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If additional defoaming agents are used, then foaming is suppressed, but device complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The defoaming agent (non-ionic surfactant) is integrated directly into the flocculating auxiliary composition during manufacturing, creating a unified product that performs both flocculation and foam suppression. This eliminates the need for separate defoaming agent storage tanks, dosing pumps, and injection systems, thereby reducing device complexity and operational costs while effectively suppressing foam.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite composition serves multiple functions simultaneously: the ionic polymer component provides flocculation activity for solid-liquid separation, while the incorporated non-ionic surfactant provides defoaming activity. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate single-function chemicals and their associated application equipment.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If water-in-oil emulsions are used, then foaming is suppressed, but storage stability is reduced and larger volumes must be transported
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the composition from liquid emulsion to solid form by controlling the water content to be at most 80 wt.%, preferably at most 60 wt.%, and more preferably at most 40 wt.%. This parameter change allows the composition to be stored and transported as a stable solid or semi-solid material while maintaining the foam-suppressing properties of the non-ionic surfactant, thereby improving storage stability and reducing transportation volumes compared to liquid water-in-oil emulsions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition efficiently suppresses foaming without impairing the performance of the flocculating auxiliaries, simplifying handling and metering, and offering improved storage stability and transportation efficiency compared to traditional forms.
Implementation Method 1
a non-ionic surfactant R 1[0020]wherein the content of the surfactant is within the range of from 0.05 to 2.0 wt.-%, preferably in the range of from 0.1 to 1.0 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the composition
Implementation Method 2
The invention relates to compositions, preferably solid compositions, comprising a non-ionic surfactant and an ionic polymer... as flocculation auxiliaries for solid-liquid separation processes
Data Source
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Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to compositions, preferably solid compositions, comprising a non-ionic surfactant and an ionic polymer, methods for their preparation and their use. The compositions are useful inter alia as flocculation auxiliaries for solid-liquid separation processes, for example in sludge dewate ring/waste water purification and as retention aids or other additives in paper manufacture.