The present invention generally relates to methods for resolving water and oil emulsions in the produced fluid of an oil production system comprising adding a reverse emulsion breaker to the produced fluid of the crude oil production system in an amount effective for resolving an oil-in-water emulsion. In particular, these methods for resolving an oil-in-water emulsion can be used in separation processes where the oil and solids in the produced fluid are separated from the produced water in the produced fluid.

The present invention generally relates to methods for resolving water and oil emulsions in the produced fluid of an oil production system comprising adding a reverse emulsion breaker to the produced fluid of the crude oil production system in an amount effective for resolving an oil-in-water emulsion. In particular, these methods for resolving an oil-in-water emulsion can be used in separation processes where the oil and solids in the produced fluid are separated from the produced water in the produced fluid.

To provide a novel compound having both a surface-activating ability and a polymerization controlling ability.

A compound represented by the following general formula (1) or (2):

##STR00001## wherein, R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 are an organic group having the hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) determined by Griffin's method of 3 or more. The definitions of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, Z, p and q are described in the Description.

The present invention relates to a method for separation of a polymer from a polymer solution or dispersion, wherein (i) a solution or dispersion of a polymer in an organic solvent is atomized by being brought into contact with water vapor in an atomizer container; (ii) the mixture obtained in the atomizer container is routed into a polymer degasification container and flows through same, wherein the organic solvent present in the polymer particles is driven at least partially out of the polymer particles due to the thermal contact between the polymer particles and the water vapor and transitions into the gas phase (iii) the mixture exiting from the polymer degasification container is routed into a phase separator (1) and the organic solvent present in the gas phase is separated from the polymer particles and the condensed water vapor; and (iv) the polymer particles and the condensed water vapor are routed into a phase separator (2) in order to separate the polymer particles from the condensed water vapor.

The present invention relates to a method for separation of a polymer from a polymer solution or dispersion, wherein (i) a solution or dispersion of a polymer in an organic solvent is atomized by being brought into contact with water vapor in an atomizer container; (ii) the mixture obtained in the atomizer container is routed into a polymer degasification container and flows through same, wherein the organic solvent present in the polymer particles is driven at least partially out of the polymer particles due to the thermal contact between the polymer particles and the water vapor and transitions into the gas phase (iii) the mixture exiting from the polymer degasification container is routed into a phase separator (1) and the organic solvent present in the gas phase is separated from the polymer particles and the condensed water vapor; and (iv) the polymer particles and the condensed water vapor are routed into a phase separator (2) in order to separate the polymer particles from the condensed water vapor.

To provide a novel compound having both a surface-activating ability and a polymerization controlling ability. A compound represented by the following general formula (1) or (2): ##STR00001## wherein, R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 are an organic group having the hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) determined by Griffin's method of 3 or more. The definitions of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, Z, p and q are described in the Description.

To provide a novel compound having both a surface-activating ability and a polymerization controlling ability. A compound represented by the following general formula (1) or (2): ##STR00001## wherein, R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 are an organic group having the hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) determined by Griffin's method of 3 or more. The definitions of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, Z, p and q are described in the Description.

The invention relates to a method to reduce or prevent agglomeration of polyisobutylene particles in aqueous media by LCST compounds and highly pure polyisobutylenes obtained thereby. The invention further relates to polyisobutylene products comprising the same or derived therefrom.

The invention relates to a method to reduce or prevent agglomeration of polyisobutylene particles in aqueous media by LCST compounds and highly pure polyisobutylenes obtained thereby. The invention further relates to polyisobutylene products comprising the same or derived therefrom.

Provided is a fluorine-containing macroinitiator, particularly a fluorine-containing macroinitiator that enables production of a fluorine-containing block copolymer containing a non-fluorine vinyl-based monomer having a long side chain. The fluorine-containing macroinitiator includes a polymer represented by the following formula (1) and having a number-average molecular weight of 3,000 to 100,000. In the following formula (1), R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each a specific group, and Q is a polymer segment composed of a structural unit represented by the following formula (2). In the following formula (2), R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, Rf is a fluoroalkyl group having a specific structure, and k is an appropriate integer that is not 0. ##STR00001##