Anti-Foaming Agent

[dennis13030]

Has anyone tried using a anti-foaming agent(like Gas-X) within the electrolite mix? Results?

It seems that you could get usable HHO gas faster if it was not stored in the form of foam/froth inside the electrolyzer.

[Stratous]

Not something I have even thought of..lol. The question would be, what would happen to the foaming agent once mixed with other chemicals and applied electricity. I dont have alot of foam problems with NaOH. I did notice that baking soda foams alot when I was messing around with it a few weeks back.

[Phantom240]

Foaming is only a minor inconvenience AFAIK, as long as your electrodes are submerged fully.

[volomike]

Seems like a plausible idea and something to test fairly easily with the scientific method. The idea being that you want the rest of the unlifted gas to lift out of the water rather than remain there.

But also think about this. Baking soda is Sodium Bicarbonate. A Gas-X pill is Calcium Carbonate. Perhaps this means something significant to someone with knowledge of chemistry if you ask around on the web.

[Stratous]

Calcium carbonate may work as a catalyst by itself.

[Ronjinsan]

I would think that the foam which we are dealing with, contrary to being a detergent foam which can be dissipated would probably not be easy to get rid of due to its being a gas and probably not affected by the same conditions!

[dennis13030]

Calcium carbonate may work as a catalyst by itself.

This may be true. However I would use only a very small amounts because the calcium part may cloud and dirty the electrolyte over time.

My understanding is that it works by reducing surface tension.

[geobushono]

there is an anti-foaming agent that you add to hot tubs.it really works for that, however I don't know what it is, or how it will interact with the cell.

[punkdgeek]

Wouldn't something simple, like a fuel filter attached to the output help with the foaming problem?

[mclaing]

Theres a good post on youtube that initially worked for me, use a kitchen spong that floats on the surface. It lets the bubbles thru faster. But since then I have paid attention to foaming. It's a result of impurities starting from your stainless steel plates. There are so many variants of the steel out there. I've made literally hundreds (I do installs) And when you have the right grade, absoblutly no foam, EVER! Second is the water used. Here in San Diego you don't need baking soda for tap water. It leaves a little gunk, mailnly brown rust. My best combination has been distilled water with 1/8 teaspoon baking soda, and I never have foam. Sometimes I make a cell thinking it's SS. (non magnetic, unstained, springy etc) and all it extracts is carbon dioxide or oxygen. This is seen when you light it and instead of a bang you get a mufffled woof. Then your steell has too much Chromiun(wrong spelling) in it, and will never produce the quantaties you want. It can however still aid in gas conservation due to the high oxygen/carbon D lavel. Also, the smaller your gap the less electrolyte. I use individual strands from a Cat5 cable roll as spacing. It's tight.