Incorporation of Lactones Into Crosslinked-Modified Polyols for Demulsification

A method of breaking an emulsion comprising oil and water, the method comprising:

• adding to the emulsion comprising oil and water from about 5 to about 1000 ppm, based on the emulsion, of a crosslinked polymer to break the emulsion, where the crosslinked polymer comprises a random or block polymer made from addition reactions of a base compound selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl-containing base compound, an amine-containing base compound, and combinations thereof, with at least one lactone monomer and at least one alkylene oxide monomer, where the polymer has been crosslinked with a crosslinker, and where:
• the at least one lactone monomer is selected from the group of lactones of formula (I) having from 3 to 7 carbon atoms in the central ring
• where n is at least 1 and R′ are independently hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, or aromatic group;
• and
• the at least one alkylene oxide monomer is selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide and mixtures thereof;
• the hydroxyl- or amine-containing base compound is selected from the group consisting of methanol;
• propylene glycol;
• glycerol;
• pentaerythritol;
• sucrose;
• glucose;
• sorbitol;
• fructose;
• maltitol;
• polyvinyl alcohol;
• polysaccharides selected from the group consisting of starch derivatives, hydroxyl ethyl cellulose (HEC), carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) and cyclodextrin;
• polyesters;
• polyethers;
• polyacids;
• polyamides;
• hydroxylamines;
• polyethyleneimines;
• peptides;
• and combinations thereof;
• and
• the crosslinker is selected from the group consisting of multifunctional epoxides, multifunctional carboxylic acids, multifunctional anhydrides, isocyanates, and combinations thereof.