Abstract: The method of breaking down emulsions resides in that the emulsion is made to bubble through a coalescent matter of a pelletized polymeric material featuring its specific gravity below that of the lighter emulsion component, said matter being filled with said lighter component of the emulsion under process and being exposed to effect of the field of centrifugal forces. The device for breaking down emulsions is in fact a centrifugal separator whose bowl has the respective chambers for the lighter and the heavier emulsion components to collect, said chambers communicating with the bowl interior space. A perforated inlet sleeve is provided coaxially with the bowl axis for admission of the emulsion being broken down to admit, while the bowl interior is filled with the coalescent matter made of the pelletized polymeric material.