Defoamers are food additives that have low surface tension during food processing and inhibit the generation of foam or control foam that has already been generated. Defoamers are used in a wide range of industrial applications, such as the pulp and paper industry, petroleum industry, wastewater treatment, metalworking fluids, printing and dyeing industry, paint industry, detergent industry, rubber latex industry, daily chemical industry, food industry, paints coatings industry.
The food industry often requires mixing, fermentation, cooking, and other operations, these processes are prone to generate a large number of air bubbles. Why use silicone defoamer in the food industry?
Silicone defoamer has good heat resistance and low-temperature resistance, the viscosity of silicone oil is 200 ℃ above the gradual increase, but the silicone-oxygen bond will not decompose; silicone is non-toxic, non-polluting, physiologically inert, environmentally friendly substances; silicone has excellent weathering, durability and aging resistance, and can be used in any environmental conditions to play its role; silicone defoamer can effectively control foam to improve the taste and quality of food.
Here’s some information about it:
- How to classify food defoamer?
- What is the role of food defoamer?
- What is silicone defoamer?
- What are the features of silicone defoamers?
- How to apply silicone defoamer in food applications?
- How to pay attention when using silicone defoamer?
- How to make silicone defoamer performance better?
1. How to classify food defoamer?
(1) Alum:
Alum is a kind of antifoam agent, it is mainly through the combination with the free acid in the protein, that forms water-insoluble precipitation so that the bubble disappears. It is commonly used in candies, jellies, beverages, and other foods.
(2) Yeast Extract:
Yeast extract is a natural ingredient extracted from yeast, which is commonly used in foodstuffs such as beer, beverages, and milk. It is mainly used to control foam by releasing carbon dioxide from gaseous yeast.
(3) Gelatin:
Gelatin is also a kind of antifoam agent, it is mainly by combining with the free acid in the protein to form an insoluble precipitate, so as to achieve the effect of antifoam. It is commonly used in candy, jelly, drinks, and other foods.
(4) Silicone:
Silicone-based oil is a colorless, odorless, dilute oily liquid that can be used safely within the range of food dosage. It is mainly through the low surface tension that the effect of defoaming, is commonly used in cakes, bread, cream, and other foods.
2. What is the role of food defoamer?
Food defoamer is a special kind of defoamer, mainly used in the food and beverage manufacturing industry, for eliminating and controlling air bubbles generated in the process of food industry and preservation. Its role and uses mainly include the following aspects:
(1) Improve the taste: In the production of some foods or beverages with soft texture, the bulging air bubbles will make the texture rough, and the defoamer can reduce the number and size of the air bubbles, thus improving the texture and making it softer.
(2) Improve the quality: In the production of some advanced, high-quality foods and beverages, it is necessary to ensure that there are no air bubbles and voids inside the finished product, defoamer can reduce the size and number of air bubbles, thus reducing the air bubbles and voids and improving the quality and performance of the product.
(3) Improve production efficiency: In some food processing with high process requirements, such as dairy products, beverages, etc., defoamer can prevent the generation and disturbance of air bubbles, making the production process more stable and efficient.
(4) Extend the shelf life: In some perishable foods and beverages, such as fruit juice, beer, etc., the prolonged presence of air bubbles and air will promote the propagation of microorganisms and oxidation, so that the quality of the food decreases, defoamer can reduce the air bubbles and voids, and slow down the corruption and deterioration of food.
In short, food defoamer can improve food production efficiency, improve the taste of food, improve food quality, extend the shelf life of food, and other roles and uses.
3. What is silicone defoamer?
Antifoam agent is an additive, whose function is to control foam formed by the material in the production process, silicone antifoam agent has chemical properties, such as inert, stable physical properties, and no biological activity.
3.1 What kinds of silicone defoamers?
(1) Food-specific polysiloxane resin
Dimethicone is the main body, containing less than 15% SiO2, and the product is the aqueous systems, with its emulsified products, others can be used directly with oil-based products, the dosage control 0.05g/Kg or less, such as defoaming occasions including fermentation and sugar, silicone - glycol copolymer suitable for fermentation process foam suppression.
XJY-702 Methylhydrosiloxane / Dimethylsiloxane Copolymer is non-toxic and tasteless, with active genes, under the action of the catalyst, can be reacted with the double bond, hydroxyl, and other groups, it is a leveling agent, antifoam agent, water-soluble silicone oil and other products such as the basic raw materials.
(2) Silica
That is the body-type defoamer, commonly known as "silicone grease" or "silicone paste" in our practical application, usually composed of Polydimethylsiloxane and silica two main constituents through certain processing technologies. The defoamer with Polydimethylsiloxane as the substrate is an ideal class of defoamer in the antifoaming system. This kind of antifoam agent is an important part of the current emulsion-type antifoam agent.
(3) MQ silicone resin
MQ silicone resin is a kind of silicone material born by changing the structure of silicone resin, which can effectively improve high-temperature resistance, defoaming, and foam inhibition.
XJY-8205 Methyl MQ Resin is a solid powdered resin that provides excellent transfer resistance, good defoaming, and foam inhibition properties and can be used as an aqueous systems antifoam agent.
As a silicone defoamer, it also has a wide range of applications and is increasingly emphasized by various industries. In the chemical industry, paper, coatings, food, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and other industrial sectors, silicone antifoam agent is an indispensable auxiliary in the production process, it is not only able to remove the foam on the liquid surface of the production process media, thereby improving filtration, washing, extraction, distillation, evaporation, dehydration, drying and other processes of separation, gasification, liquid discharge, and other effects, to ensure that all types of materials containers, the handling of the capacity of the container.
4. What are the features of silicone defoamers?
Silicone defoamer (for food) is a common food additive, also known as food-grade silicone oil. It is mainly made of Polydimethylsiloxane and has the following properties:
(1) Foam inhibition and elimination： Silicone defoamers are effective in controlling foam and eliminating foam formation in both aqueous systems and oily systems, helping to reduce foam generation during food manufacturing and processing.
(2) High-temperature resistance： Silicone defoamer can be extremely stable under high-temperature conditions and is not affected by heat.
(3) Good dispersion： Silicone defoamer can be uniformly dispersed in the food, without precipitation or stratification.
5. How to use silicone defoamer in food applications?
(1) Food processing: In the baking, brewing, jam-making, and other food processing techniques silicone defoamers can effectively defoam, prevent foam overflow, and improve production efficiency. It is generally used in the processing of water-soluble food with stable performance and good defoaming effect.
(2) Sugar industry: The honey after the fermentation needs to add calcium carbonate for neutralization, the neutralization process will produce foam, which needs defoamer to defoam.
(3) Fermentation industry: Grape juice and so on will produce gas and foam in the fermentation process, which will affect normal fermentation, defoamer can effectively defoam to ensure the quality of wine production.
(5) Dairy industry: Adding silicone antifoam agents can avoid the production of foam in dairy products, such as milk, cream, ice cream, and so on.
(6) Beverage industry: Silicone defoamer can prevent carbonated drinks fruit juices and other aerated drinks from producing excessive foam.
(7) Other food: Silicone defoamer is also commonly used in chocolate production, edible oils, and fats processing.
6. How to pay attention when using silicone defoamer?
The silicone defoamer production process needs to comply with the relevant production norms and standards to ensure product quality and safety. In terms of safety information, silicone defoamers are considered to be safe under reasonable conditions of use. However, the following precautions should still be taken when using them:
(1) Reasonable dosage: It should be used following the regulations for the use of food additives and should not exceed the maximum permitted dosage.
(2) Storage and transportation: Silicone defoamer should be stored in a dry, ventilated place, avoiding contact with oxidizing agents and strong acids and alkalis.
(3) Avoid misuse: Silicone defoamer belongs to food additives and should not be consumed directly.
(4) Pay attention to allergy: People who have allergic reactions to silicone should avoid contacting and eating food containing silicone defoamer.
In general, the application of silicone defoamer in the food industry is safe and reliable, but the use of reasonable use in accordance with regulatory requirements.
7. How to make silicone defoamer performance better?
The active silicone defoamer is similar to the non-polar group, and it does not associate with water or substances containing hydrocarbon or polar groups and is extremely stable; silicone defoamer has a higher defoaming effect than other organic defoamers; silicone defoamer is inert to the general substance, will not be chemically reacted with the foaming material. Silicone defoamers can be used in many industrial applications, such as the petroleum industry, pulp and paper industry, and metalworking fluids. How to improve the competitiveness of your products?
XJY Silicones is one of the leading silicone MQ resin and VMQ silicone manufacturers in China, with more than 30 years of R&D and manufacturing experience in the silicone industry as well as more than 15 related patents and technical support. Our raw silicone products can meet the needs of silicone defoamers and support the provision of diversified customized solutions.
