Evaluation of the Antifoaming Effect Using Hansen Solubility Parameters

The appearance of foam in various industrial processes can cause challenges. Antifoaming agents are widely added to suppress foam. To exert a defoaming effect, affinity between the main foam-generating component and the antifoaming agent is an important criterion for selection of an antifoaming agent. The Hansen solubility parameter (HSP) can be used as an index to show the affinity between substances more quantitatively, simply, and accurately. The Hansen solubility sphere method was used to measure the HSPs of antifoaming agents and a foam-forming surfactant. Various antifoaming agents were added to a surfactant solution, and the defoaming effect was evaluated. Correlations of 0.953-0.860 confirmed a relationship between affinity of the antifoaming agents for the surfactant based on HSP theory and the defoaming effect. It is suggested that use of HSP as an indicator can facilitate selection of the most suitable antifoaming agent for the process.