Polyester demulsifier

Abstract

A demulsifier includes the reaction product of a) an alkanolamide, b) an acid having at least two carboxyl groups, a full or partial ester thereof, an anhydride thereof and combinations thereof, c) a polyglycol, and d) optionally, a fatty acid, a fatty alcohol and combinations thereof. A method of demulsifying a water-in-oil or oil-in-water emulsion includes adding the demulsifier to the emulsion and separating the emulsion into an oil phase and a water phase. Also disclosed is a method of making a demulsifier composition including reacting a) an alkanolamide, b) an acid having at least two carboxyl groups, a full or partial ester thereof, an anhydride thereof and combinations thereof, c) a polyglycol, and d) optionally, a fatty acid, a fatty alcohol and combinations thereof.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.