Abstract: Laser output including at least one laser pulse having a wavelength greater than 1.1 ?m and shorter than 5 ?m (preferably at about 1.1 ?m) and having a pulsewidth shorter than 100 ps (preferably shorter than 10 ps) permits low-k dielectric material, such as SRO or SiCOH, to be removed without damaging the substrate. An oscillator module in cooperation with an amplification module are used to generate the laser output.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is related to a process for desalting crude oil that requires less wash water than conventional desalting methods. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a chemical demulsifier formulation comprising an emulsion-breaking chemical and a solvent carrier is added to the crude oil. Wash water is then added to the crude oil until the volume of water in the oil ranges from about 0.1 to about 3 vol. %. Subsequently, the mixture of crude oil, wash water, and chemical demulsifier formulation is subjected to opposed-flow mixing. Chemical emulsion-breakers useful in the invention have a hydrophobic tail group and a hydrophilic head group. Preferably, the emulsion breaker has the formula: x ranges from 1 to 5, y ranges from 0 to 2, and R is an alkyl group having 4-9 carbon atoms, and n ranges from 3 to 9.

Abstract: The chemical demulsifier formulation has the formula: wherein R1 is H or an alkoxide of from 5 to about 20 carbon atoms; x is an integer of from about 8 to about 22 when R1 is hydrogen and from about 2 to about 5 when R1 is alkoxide; R2 is independently selected from H, (CH2CH2O)mH; R3 is independently selected from H, (CH2CH2O)nH, and (CH2CH(CH3)O)nH; m and n are integers from 1 to 50; and y and z are integers ranging from 2 to 10.

Abstract: A method of increasing the efficiency of the electrostatic separation of a continuous hydrocarbon emulsions or dispersion by increasing the electrical conductivity of the emulsion or dispersion. An increase in electrical conductivity is provided with an effective amount of an electrically conductive agent (conductivity modifier). Examples of electrically conductive agents are antistatic agents such as anionic, cationic, nonionic and amphoteric surfactants.

Abstract: A process for separating an emulsion into separate and easily recoverable phases. The process comprises exposing an emulsion comprising a discontinuous phase and a non-conducting continuous phase to an electric field thereby effecting coalescence of the discontinuous phase into droplets of a size for effective gravitation from the continuous phase, where the discontinuous phase and the continuous phase have different dielectric constants and densities and at least one of the phases comprise a silicon containing compound or a silicon containing polymer. The present process is especially useful for separating emulsions where the discontinuous phase is an aqueous acid solution and the continuous phase is diorganopolysiloxane.