The Breaking of Dodecane/Water Emulsion with Ionene Polymers

Five ionene polymers (A-A, A-O O-O, Am-A and Am-O), each having one or more groups in the polymer chain among alkylene (A), poly (oxyethylene) (O) and poly (N-methyl-aminoethylene) (Am), and branched (PEImB) polyethyleneimine were prepared. The ability of this polymers to break the dodecane/water emulsion stabilized by p-nonylphenyl poly (oxyethylene) ether (n=10) was evaluated on the basis of the final concentration of dodecane in the waterlayer. The effects of these polymers on demulsification increased in the order of A-Adodecane from 2 000 ppm to a trace at their respective optimum dosages. This effect of the ionene polymer is discussed in terms of charge neutralization, polymer bridging effects, and polymer chain structure.