Abstract: This invention relates to the use of polycarboxylic acid compounds, aqueous compositions comprising the same, cosmetic compositions comprising the same, in particular, hair care compositions, and their use for the treatment of hair, and a process for the treatment of hair comprising the use of said cosmetic compositions.

Abstract: The present invention is related to the application of terpolymers based on alkyl acrylates as defoamers of gasified crude oils, with densities between 10 and 40° API. The evaluation of terpolymers based on alkyl acrylates at conditions similar to those of gas-liquid separators has shown that the terpolymers are efficient as inhibitors of the foam formation in heavy and super-heavy crude oil, abating the foam between 15 and 50% faster than in non-dosed crude oil (blank). Even some acrylic terpolymers exhibited a greater efficiency as defoamers than that of commercial silicon-based polymers, which promoting the defoaming only 20-25% faster than the blank collapse. The employ of silicones as defoamers presents serious problems as the formation of deposits and the deactivation of catalysts in the refining processes. This situation has provoked that refineries in Mexico and a worldwide ban the application of this kind of inorganic polymers, and new silicon-free defoaming agents are required.

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: The invention relates to the use of polymers, containing between 1 and 100 mol % of structural units of the formula (1), wherein R1 means hydrogen or C1-C6 alkyl, A means C2-C4 alkylene groups, and B means C2-C4 alkylene groups, with the stipulation that A is different from B, and x and y mean an integer from 1 to 100 independent of each other, in amounts of 0.01 to 2 wt % relative to the water phase, as gas hydrate inhibitors.

Abstract: The invention provides for the use of copolymers comprising 1 to 99 mol % of structural units of the formula (1) in which R1 is hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl, A is C2-C4-alkylene groups and B is C2-C4-alkylene groups, with the proviso that A is different than B, and x, y are each independently an integer of 1-100, and 1 to 99 mol % of structural units of the formula (3) in which R6 is hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl, D is C2-C4-alkylene groups and z is an integer of 1-50, in amounts of 0.01 to 2% by weight, based on the water phase, as gas hydrate inhibitors.

Abstract: The present invention provides environmentally friendly demulsifiers for the breakdown of petroleum oil applications. The demulsification formulations of the present invention are biodegradable and are low in toxicity. The demulsifiers include a poly(tetramethylene glycol) and an alkylene glycol copolymer linked to the poly(tetramethylene glycol) by a difunctional coupling agent.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are alkoxylated sorbitan ester compounds and compositions useful in emulsion breaking applications relating to the production, transportation, storage, and separation of crude oil and natural gas. Also disclosed herein are methods of using the compounds and compositions as emulsion breakers, particularly in applications relating to the production, transportation, storage, and separation of crude oil and natural gas.

Abstract: Disclosed is the use of alkoxylated dendrimers for breaking oil/water emulsions. The alkoxylated dendrimers have a molecular weight of from 2400 to 100 000 g/mol and have been alkoxylated with C2-C4-alkylene oxide groups or a mixture of such alkylene oxide groups such that the alkoxylated dendrimer has a degree of alkoxylation of from 1 to 100 alkylene oxide units per free OH group. The alkoxylated dendrimers are added to the oil/water emulsions in amounts of from 0.0001 to 5% by weight, based on the oil content of the emulsion to be demulsified.

Abstract: The present invention provides environmentally friendly demulsifiers for the break down of petroleum oil applications. The demulsification formulations of the present invention are biodegradable and are low in toxicity. The demulsifiers include a poly(tetramethylene glycol) and an alkylene glycol copolymer linked to the poly(tetramethylene glycol) by a difunctional coupling agent.

Abstract: A process for breaking an emulsion into a water phase and an oil phase involving: (a) providing an emulsion containing an oil phase and a water phase; (b) providing an alkoxylated C10-24 carboxylic acid ester derived by the addition of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide onto a ring opened epoxidized C10-24 carboxylic acid triglyceride which is ring opened with a C6-18 carboxylic acid; and (c) contacting the emulsion with a demulsifying effective amount of the alkoxylated C10-24 carboxylic acid ester. Said process has application on crude oil emulsions.

Abstract: The invention concerns demulsifiers and methods of demulsifying based on polyalkyl (meth)acrylated co-oligomers or copolymers, CNP, built up from the following components consisting essentially of:A) 10 to less than 60 weight % of alkyl (meth)acrylic acid esters (CH.sub.2 .dbd.C(R)C(O)OR.sub.1), wherein the alkyl group is an optionally branched alkyl group having 1 to 32 carbon atoms;B) more than 40 to 90 weight % (meth)acrylic acid esters of alkoxylated radicals (CH.sub.2 .dbd.C(R)C(O)O(R.sub.A).sub.n --(R.sub.B).sub.m --R.sub.2 ), wherein R.sub.2 has 1 to 50 carbon atoms and is an optionally branched alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, aryl group, or an alkaryl group; R.sub.A and R.sub.B represent the alkoxylation radicals a) --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --O--, b) --CH(CH3)--CH.sub.2 --O--, or c) --CH.sub.2 --CH(CH.sub.