1. breaks down or separates an emulsion into its constituent liquids
Usage: technical; chemistry; third person singular present tense of demulsify

Examples

• The chemical additive demulsifies the oil-water mixture, allowing the two liquids to separate.
• Heat demulsifies the emulsion by reducing the stability of the dispersed phase.
• The treatment plant demulsifies crude oil before further refining.
• This surfactant demulsifies the cream, causing it to break into separate layers.
• The process demulsifies the petroleum emulsion to recover usable oil.