Process for removing foam from aqueous systems and composition useful therein

A wetting and antifoaming agent composition consisting essentially of

• (1) 2 to 50 percent by weight of an anionic surfactant having the formula ##STR19## 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 ##STR20## X is the acid radical of an inorganic acid which contains oxygen or the radical of a carboxylic acid, or alkali metal, ammonium or amine salts thereof, and
• m is an integer from 1 to 20,
• (2) 6 to 50 percent by weight of
• a water-insoluble aliphatic monoalcohol containing 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 of 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,
• (3) 0.1 to 30 percent by weight of an organopolysiloxane silicone oil which is optionally terminally blocked with hydroxyl, and
• (4) 2 to 92 percent by weight of water.

A process for removing foam from aqueous systems which comprises incorporating into said aqueous system 0.001 to 20 grams per liter of a wetting and anti-foaming agent consisting essentially of

• (1) 2 to 50 percent by weight of an anionic surfactant having the formula ##STR21## 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, ##STR22## X is the acid radical of an inorganic acid which contains oxygen or the radical of a carboxylic acid, or alkali metal, ammonium or amine salts thereof, and
• m is an integer from 1 to 20,
• (2) 6 to 50 percent by weight of the reaction product of 8 moles of ethylene oxide and one mole of o-phenylphenol,
• (3) 0.1 to 30 percent by weight of an organopolysiloxane silicone oil which is optionally terminally blocked with hydroxyl, and
• (4) 2 to 92 percent by weight of water.