• Formulating

  Lower amount of foam from SLS

  Posted by quickstilz1 on November 6, 2024 at 3:41 pm

  Hi,

  I’m creating an insect repellent with 3% SLS, 1% Sodium Chloride, .2% Citric Acid, and Water. However, I’m getting a lot of foam so it’s difficult for me to transfer it to travel size bottle.

  How do I lower the amount of foam from SLS? Is there an ingredient I can add?

  Thank you for your help!

  PS. I’m happy to pay someone a consulting fee to help me as well.

  • This discussion was modified 1 month, 2 weeks ago by  quickstilz1.

  deniol replied 1 month ago 4 Members · 3 Replies
• 3 Replies

• 

  ketchito

  Member

  November 7, 2024 at 5:04 am

  That doesn’t seem like a formula for an insect repellent. You can check in EPA’s website for similar products, what active they are using and at which level.

• 

  ozgirl

  Member

  November 7, 2024 at 4:16 pm

  You could try adding a defoamer/antifoam (silicone based) but it would probably be easier to just find a lower foaming surfactant instead.

  If it is for personal use only you could give a small spritz of ethanol to the foam when filling the travel bottle but this is impractical for commercial production

• 

  deniol

  Member

  November 20, 2024 at 1:32 am

  @slope Adding a thickening agent such as Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum, or Hydroxyethylcellulose can help reduce the foaminess by increasing the viscosity of the solution, which makes it less likely to foam during transfer. You may want to experiment with small amounts (0.2-0.5%) to achieve the right consistency without introducing too much thickness.

  • This reply was modified 1 month ago by  deniol.

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