Wetting and anti-foaming agents, and process for removing foam from aqueous systems

Wetting and anti-foaming agents based on anionic surfactants which contain

• 1. 2 to 50 percent by weight of an anionic surfactant of the formula ##STR16## wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical of 8 to 22 carbon atoms or a cycloaliphatic or aliphatic-aromatic hydrocarbon radical of 10 to 22 carbon atoms,
• R.sub.2 is hydrogen or methyl,
• A is --O-- or ##STR17## X is the acid radical of an inorganic acid which contains oxygen or the radical of a carboxylic acid, and the alkali metal, ammonium or amine salts thereof, and
• m is an integer from 1 to 20;
• 6 to 50 percent by weight of components (2) and (3), said component
• 2. being a reaction product, which is insoluble or sparingly soluble in water, with a molecular weight of approximately 2000 to 7000, of
• a.sub.1. monohydric to hexahydric alcohols containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, monoalkyl- or monoalkylolmonoamines or polyalkylenepolyamines, and
• a.sub.2. 1,2-propylene oxide, and component
• 3. being a reaction product of 8 moles of ethylene oxide and 1 mole of o-phenylphenol and wherein the weight ratio of component (2) to component (3) is (10 to 2):1,
• 4. 0 to 30 percent by weight of an organopolysiloxane silicone oil which is optionally blocked with hydroxyl, and
• 5. 2 to 92 percent by weight of water.

A process for removing foam from aqueous systems which comprises incorporating into the aqueous system 0.001 to 20 grams per liter of a wetting and antifoaming agent which contains

• 1. 2 to 50 percent by weight of an anionic surfactant of the formula ##STR18## wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical of 8 to 22 carbon atoms or a cycloaliphatic or aliphatic-aromatic hydrocarbon radical of 10 to 22 carbon atoms,
• R.sub.1 is hydrogen or methyl,
• A is --O-- or ##STR19## X is the acid radical of an inorganic acid which contains oxygen or the radical of a carboxylic acid, and the alkali metal, ammonium or amine salts thereof, and
• m is an integer from 1 to 20;
• 6 to 50 percent by weight of components (2) and (3), said component
• 2. being a reaction product, which is insoluble or sparingly soluble in water, with a molecular weight of approximately 2000 to 7000, of
• a.sub.1. monohydric to hexahydric alcohols containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, monoalkyl- or monoalkylolamines or polyalkylenepolyamines, and
• a.sub.2. 1,2-propylene oxide, and component
• 3. being a water-insoluble aliphatic monoalcohol of at least 8 carbon atoms,
• a reaction product of alkylene oxides and a water-insoluble aliphatic monoalcohol containing at least 8 carbon atoms,
• a reaction product of alkylene oxides and an alkylphenol,
• a reaction product of a saturated dicarboxylic acid containing 3 to 10 carbon atoms and 1,2-propylene oxide or polypropylene glycols,
• a reaction product of a fatty acid containing 10 to 18 carbon atoms and 1,2-propylene oxide or polypropylene glycols,
• a reaction product of a fatty acid containing 10 to 18 carbon atoms, a trihydric to hexahydric alcohol and 1,2-propylene oxide,
• or
• a reaction product of a fatty acid containing 10 to 18 carbon atoms, a polyalkylenepolyamine and 1,2-propylene oxide,
• and wherein the weight ratio of component (2) to component (3) is (10 to 2):1,
• 4. 0 to 30 percent by weight of an organopolysiloxane silicone oil which is optionally blocked with hydroxyl, and
• 5. 2 to 92 percent by weight of water.