| abstract |
A multicomponent demulsifier comprising an alkoxylated substituted-phenol-formaldehyde resin and at least two different alkoxylated polyamines or a quaternary ammonium salt and an alkoxylated polyamine. The demulsifier is useful in breaking hydrocarbon-in-water or water-in-hydrocarbon emulsions including those comprising a substituted hydrocarbon. Moreover, when the alkoxylated polyamines are used, rather than the quaternary ammonium salt, the multicomponent demulsifier retains reasonable effectiveness even after a first water phase has been separated. |