Patent ID: 8618180

Claim:
A process for splitting a crude oil emulsion, comprising the steps of adding one or more nondendrimeric, high-functionality hyperbranched polyesters or polycarbonates as demulsifiers which are obtainable by reacting (i) at least one aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, araliphatic or aromatic dicarboxylic acid (A 2 ) or derivatives thereof, or organic carbonates (A 2 â€²) with (ii) at least one x-hydric aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, araliphatic or aromatic alcohol (C x ) which has more than two OH groups, where x is a number greater than 2, and (iii) at least one fatty acid amide alkoxylate (D) of saturated or unsaturated C 2 -C 30 fatty acid amides with an average of from 1 to 40 alkylene oxide units to the crude oil emulsion, and separating the emulsion into oil and water or salt water.