Solid organic acids may be introduced into hydrocarbon solvents to form dispersions; the dispersions in turn may be introduced into crude oil. A wash water may be added to the crude oil to create an emulsion. The organic acids may transfer metals and/or amines from a hydrocarbon phase into an aqueous phase in an electrostatic desalter which resolves the emulsion into the two phases. Suitable solid organic acids include, but are not necessarily limited to, C2-C4 alpha hydroxyacids, such as, but not necessarily limited to, glycolic acid, malic acid, maleic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid and even sulfamic acid, chloroacetic acid, thiomalic acid, including esters of, polymers of, amine salts of, alkali metal salts of, and/or ammonium salts of all of these acids.