Breaking crude oil emulsion - by treating with emulsion breaker comprising reaction prod. of alkyl substd. phenol!-formaldehyde! polymer and ethylene carbonate

摘要

Breaking crude oil emulsion comprises treating the emulsion with an effective amt. of an emulsion breaker which is a product obtd. by reacting, in anhydrous conditions, for at least one hour, an alkyl substd. phenol-formaldehyde polymer of formula (I) with ethylene carbonate. The reaction takes place in an oleophilic solvent having a b.pt. of at least 180 deg.C, the reaction occurs at at least 160 deg.C in the presence of an alkaline catalyst, which is present at a concn., based on total wt. of reactants, of at least 0.1 wt.%. R = opt. branched 4-20C alkyl gp.; and m and n are independent integers, the sum of which is sufficient to give a mol.wt. of at least 1000 and m and n may not be zero.