Highlighting solutions to more recently identified problems, this work focuses on the chemistry and technology involved in the functionalization of monomers, and the preparation and processing of polymers to serve specific material needs. It reflects the advances that have occurred in the field since the publication of the first edition.

The progressive dwindling of fossil resources, coupled with the drastic increase in oil prices, have sparked a feverish activity in search of alternatives based on renewable resources for the production of energy. Given the predominance of petroleum- and carbon-based chemistry for the manufacture of organic chemical commodities, a similar preoccupation has recently generated numerous initiatives aimed at replacing these fossil sources with renewable counterparts. In particular, major efforts are being conducted in the field of polymer science and technology to prepare macromolecular materials based on renewable resources. The concept of the bio-refinery, viz. the rational exploitation of the vegetable biomass in terms of the separation of its components and their utilisation as such, or after suitable chemical modifications, is thus gaining momentum and considerable financial backing from both the public and private sectors. This collection of chapters, each one written by internationally recognised experts in the corresponding field, covers in a comprehensive fashion all the major aspects related to the synthesis, characterization and properties of macromolecular materials prepared using renewable resources as such, or after appropriate modifications. Thus, monomers such as terpenes and furans, oligomers like rosin and tannins, and polymers ranging from cellulose to proteins and including macromolecules synthesized by microbes, are discussed with the purpose of showing the extraordinary variety of materials that can be prepared from their intelligent exploitation. Particular emphasis has been placed on recent advances and imminent perspectives, given the incessantly growing interest that this area is experiencing in both the scientific and technological realms. - Discusses bio-refining with explicit application to materials - Replete with examples of applications of the concept of sustainable development - Presents an impressive variety of novel macromolecular materials

* Provides a concise source of information on synthetic techniques, purification, and characterization methods for free-radical polymers. * Presents information on future trends in the synthesis of free-radical polymers.

Handbook of Methods and Instrumentation in Separation Science, Volume 1 provides concise overviews and summaries of the main methods used for separation. It is based on the Encyclopedia of Separation Science. The handbook focuses on the principles of methods and instrumentation. It provides general concepts concerning the subject matter; it does not present specific procedures. This volume discusses the separation processes including affinity methods, analytical ultracentrifugation, centrifugation, chromatography, and use of decanter centrifuge and dye. Each methodology is defined and compared with other separation processes. It also provides specific techniques, principles, and theories concerning each process. Furthermore, the handbook presents the applications, benefits, and validation of the processes described in this book. This handbook is an excellent reference for biomedical researchers, environmental and production chemists, flavor and fragrance technologists, food and beverage technologists, academic and industrial librarians, and nuclear researchers. Students and novices will also find this handbook useful for practice and learning. - One-stop source for information on separation methods - General overviews for quick orientation - Ease of use for finding results fast - Expert coverage of major separation methods - Coverage of techniques for all sizes of samples, pico-level to kilo-level

This book is divided into 5 sections starting with an historic perspective and fundamental aspects on the synthesis and recognition by imprinted polymers. The second section contains 8 up-to-date overview chapters on current approaches to molecular and ion imprinting. This is followed by two chapters on new material morphologies and in the last two sections various analytical applications of imprinted polymers are given, with the last four chapters devoted to the promising field of imprinted polymers in chemical sensors.The authors of this volume have widely different backgrounds; mainly polymer chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry and analytical chemistry, which means that this book has an interdisciplinary character and should appeal to a broad audience.