Composition and method for breaking water in oil emulsions
View Patent ↗A multi-component demulsifier comprising an alkoxylated C 5 -C 7 alkyl substituted phenol-formaldehyde resin and at least one polyalkylene oxide triblock copolymer. This synergistic combination of materials is useful in breaking emulsions, of water in hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon in water.
1. A method of resolving an emulsion that includes an oil phase and an aqueous phase comprising contacting said emulsion with an effective amount of a demulsifier composition comprising: 1) a C 5 -C 7 alkyl phenol-formaldehyde resin alkoxylate and 2) one or more polyalkylene oxide triblock polyol surfactants, wherein 1) is present in an amount of about 90-50% by weight based upon the combined weight of 1) and 2), said surfactant 2) being present in an amount of about 10-50% by weight based upon the combined weight of 1) and 2).
2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said surfactant 2) comprises two or more polyalkylene oxide triblock polyol surfactants, one of said polyalkylene oxide triblock polyols having the formula a)
HO(Et-O—) x —(—Pr—O—)— y -(Et-O—) x —H
wherein Et is ethylene, Pr is propylene, each x=5 and y=70; wherein M z is about 4,400 and the other of said polyalkylene oxide triblock polyols having the formula b)
HO(Et-O—) a —(—Pr—O—) b -(Et-O—) a —H
wherein Et is ethylene and Pr is propylene and each a=20, b=40, and wherein M z is about 4,200.
3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein said C 5 -C 7 alkyl phenol-formaldehyde resin is amyl formaldehyde resin alkoxylate.
4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein said emulsion is a water in oil (W/O) emulsion formed in a desalter wherein wash water is added to crude oil and mixed with said crude oil.
5. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising feeding about 1-500 ppm of 1) to said emulsion based on 1 million parts of said emulsion, and feeding from about 1-500 ppm of 2) to said emulsion based on 1 million parts of said emulsion.
6. Method as recited in claim 1 wherein said emulsion is a bitumen emulsion.
7. Method as recited in claim 1 wherein said emulsion is formed in a device selected form the group of heat-treater apparatus, free water knockout apparatus, inclined plate separation apparatus and a gun barrel water separation apparatus.
8. Demulsifier composition comprising: 1) a C 5 -C 7 alkyl phenol-formaldehyde resin alkoxylate and 2) a polyalkylene oxide triblock polyol surfactant, said 1) and 2) being dispersed or dissolved in an organic solvent, said 1) being present in an amount of about 90-50% by weight based upon the combined weight of 1) and 2) and said 2) being present in an amount of about 10-50 wt % based upon the combined weight of 1) and 2).
9. Demulsifier composition as recited in claim 8 wherein said 1) is amyl phenol-formaldehyde resin alkoxylate and 2) is a combination of a) a polyalkylene oxide triblock polyol having the formula a)
HO-(-Et-O—) x —(—Pr—O—)— y -(Et-O—) x —H
wherein Et is ethylene, Pr is propylene, each x=5 and y=70; wherein M z is about 4,400; and b)
HO(Et-O—) a —(—Pr—O—) b -(Et-O—) a —H
wherein Et is ethylene and Pr is propylene and each a=20, b=40, and wherein M z is about 4,200.
10. Demulsifier composition as recited in claim 9 wherein said organic solvent comprises heavy aromatic naptha.