Abstract: An emulsion breaker composition, a method of making the emulsion breaker, and method of breaking an emulsion are disclosed. In one method, an emulsion is contacted with an effective amount of an emulsion breaker composition. The emulsion breaker is a linear or branched polymer having at least one branch, wherein each branch has a first polymer block having a backbone including a plurality of ester groups and a second polymer block including an alkoxylate, and wherein at least two of the ester groups are connected by a —CR1R2 group. The emulsion breakers are preferably formed by reacting a polyol with a cyclic ester monomer in the presence of a first catalyst to form an intermediate polymer having a plurality of branches, wherein each branch has a backbone including a plurality of ester groups, and then reacting the intermediate polymer with at least one alkylene oxide species in the presence of a second catalyst to form an alkoxylate block on each branch.

Abstract: An emulsion breaker composition, a method of making the emulsion breaker, and method of breaking an emulsion are disclosed. In one method, an emulsion is contacted with an effective amount of an emulsion breaker composition. The emulsion breaker is a linear or branched polymer having at least one branch, wherein each branch has a first polymer block having a backbone including a plurality of ester groups and a second polymer block including an alkoxylate, and wherein at least two of the ester groups are connected by a —CR1R2 group. The emulsion breakers are preferably formed by reacting a polyol with a cyclic ester monomer in the presence of a first catalyst to form an intermediate polymer having a plurality of branches, wherein each branch has a backbone including a plurality of ester groups, and then reacting the intermediate polymer with at least one alkylene oxide species in the presence of a second catalyst to form an alkoxylate block on each branch.