Provided herein are amphiphilic asphaltene ionic liquids and methods of making and using the amphiphilic asphaltene ionic liquids, e.g. as demulsifiers for petroleum crude oil-water emulsions.

The present invention relates to a method for thickening a hydrophobic liquid. When a hydrophobic liquid is thickened in accordance with the invention, the liquid becomes significantly denser. Preferably, the hydrophobic liquid becomes a gel.

Disclosed herein are methods for resolving emulsions formed from oils present in quench waters of ethylene manufacturing operations. The methods include adding a cationic oligomer to the base of a water quench tower having an emulsion formed therein, and collecting a water phase therefrom. The water phase can be applied to a water recycling loop within the manufacturing facility.

The present invention provides for a demulsifying composition comprising a blend of a) an emulsion; and b) a demulsifying-effective amount of a silicon containing co-polymer. The present invention also provides for a method for separating emulsions using the demulsifying composition discussed.