The present invention provides a feedstock composition for increasing the efficiency of atomization in hydrocarbon processing that includes a water-in-hydrocarbon oil emulsion including a non-ionic surfactant capable of stabilizing the emulsion and having a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of greater than about 12. The emulsion includes water droplets of about 5 to about 10 microns in diameter, the droplets being dispersed substantially uniformly in the hydrocarbon oil phase. These surfactants are capable of stabilizing the water-in-hydrocarbon oil emulsion under relevant temperature and pressure conditions for hydrocarbon processing. The inventive feedstock composition provides a metastable water-in-oil emulsion where expanding water vapor explodes under spray conditions where the system pressure is released, demolishing a larger oil droplet and producing smaller oil droplets.