Demulsifier

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Demulsifiers are a class of chemicals used to aid the separation of emulsions (water in oil). They are commonly used in the processing of crude oil, which is typically produced along with significant quantities of saline water. This water (and salt) must be removed from the crude oil prior to refining, otherwise significant corrosion problems can occur in the refining process.

Demulsifiers are typically based on the following chemistry:

• Acid catalysed phenol-formaldehyde resins
• Base catalysed phenol-formaldehyde resins
• Polyamines
• Di-epoxides
• Polyols

The above are usually ethoxylated (and/or propoxylated) to provide the desired degree of water/oil solubility. The addition of Ethylene Oxide increases water solubility, Propylene Oxide decreases it.

Commercially available demulsifier formulations are typically a mixture of 2 - 4 different chemistries, in a carrier solvent(s) Xylene, HAN, IPA, MeOH.

[edit] Suppliers of demulsifiers

M-I SWACO Production Technologies Baker Petrolite BASF Champion Technologies Clariant Oil Services Nalco Uniqema [1] Ceca Oilfield Chemicals