Abstract: Reactive phosphorus species can be removed or transferred from a hydrocarbon phase to a water phase in an emulsion breaking process by using a composition that contains water-soluble hydroxyacids. Suitable water-soluble hydroxy-acids include, but are not necessarily limited to glycolic acid, gluconic acid, C2-C4 alpha-hydroxy acids, poly-hydroxy carboxylic acids, thioglycolic acid, chloroacetic acid, polymeric forms of the above hydroxyacids, poly-glycolic esters, glycolate ethers, and ammonium salt and alkali metal salts of these hydroxyacids, and mixtures thereof. The composition may optionally include a mineral acid to reduce the pH of the desalter wash water. A solvent may be optionally included in the composition. The invention permits transfer of reactive phosphorus species into the aqueous phase with little or no hydrocarbon phase undercarry into the aqueous phase. The composition is particularly useful in treating crude oil emulsions, and in removing calcium and other metals therefrom.

Abstract: It has been discovered that crosslinked polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) resins are useful defoamers and antifoamers for hydrocarbon-containing liquids, such as delayed coker feedstocks and feedstocks to preflash and atmospheric towers. These PDMS resins are crosslinked with either alkyl polysilicate or siloxane. The crosslinked PDMS resins may be used alone or together with linear PDMS, and are typically blended with a carrier such as kerosene for easier handling. Importantly, the use of crosslinked branched PDMS resins permit less total amount of polysiloxanes to be used, which reduces the silicon carryover in coker products and reduces poisoning of downstream catalysts.