Methods of Using Ionic Liquids as Demulsifiers

A method of breaking an emulsion comprising contacting the emulsion with an ionic liquid of the formula:

• R1R2R3R4A+X− (II);
• or
• R1R2R3A+R8A+R5R6R7X− (III)
• wherein:
• A in formula (II) is a nitrogen or a nitrogen heterocyclic ring and wherein each A in formula (III) is independently selected from nitrogen or a nitrogen heterocyclic ring thereof;
• X is an anion selected from the group consisting of anionic alkoxides;
• anionic phenols;
• anionic phenol resins;
• an anionic homo or copolymer of an oxirane or methyloxirane and mixtures thereof;
• and
• R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen;
• benzyl;
• alkylbenzyl, or oxyalkyl;
• a straight or branched alkyl group, an alkylbenzyl group, an arylalkyl group, a straight or branched chain alkenyl group, a hydroxyalkyl group or a hydroxyalkylbenzyl group;
• and a polyoxyalkylene group;
• and R8 is a straight or branched alkylene group, an alkylene oxyalkylene, or an alkylene polyoxyalkylene or a zwitterion;
• and further wherein R groups may be joined to form a heterocyclic nitrogen or phosphorus containing ring.