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Medical Definition of Antifoam agent
1. A chemical that reduces the surface tension of foams that form on thesurface of broths in fermentors because of aeration or agitation. Stearyldecanol, octal decanol, vegetable oils, silicones, sulphonates, andpolypropylene glycol are typically used, though they can cause problems inrefining the broth later on. (09 Oct 1997)