Various oil/water-emulsions from voestalpine Steel Division were first characterized in the laboratory. The phase determination was carried out with a specifically adapted method since phase separation using a centrifuge was not feasible up to 5300 rpm. Following density determination the emulsion separation tests were carried out with addition of acid, alkali and salts as well as applying electrocoagulation. Separation by electrocoagulation provides the best separation results and is most likely to be used for continuous emulsion cleavage. However, the success of this process depends on several parameters such as the pH, the current density, the electrode material, the electrode density, the electrical conductivity and the volume flow of the emulsion. Therefore electrocoagulation units were built and studied on the basis of laboratory as well as large scale experiments. The necessary parameters for a successful emulsion separation with a electrocoagulation process could be determined.