Electricity is the most important secondary energy source, the present production rate, mainly from thermal electric power stations, being of the order of 1.3 TW. However, the total capacity of primary and rechargeable batteries currently in use is the same as the output of the world's power stations. But present battery systems will not meet future needs for the economical storage of large amounts of electrical energy for vehicles, public transport, road levelling, solar energy utilisation, civil video and audio, terrestrial and space communications, etc. Current accumulators based on aqueous acid or alkali systems do not have sufficient output and, moreover, the materials employed (Pb, Cd, Ni) are environmental pollutants that require safe recycling. Further, stocks of these strategic metals are being rapidly depleted. This book discusses actual field results with novel systems, such as rechargeable lithium batteries, zinc/air cells, metal-free accumulators, graphite/carbon devices and others, including fuel cells. The book stresses that a universal electrochemical system is not feasible: the choice of any system must depend on the concrete field of application and must be taken in consideration of a large number of technical, economic and environmental circumstances.

This volume discusses the theoretical fundamentals and potential applications of the original electro-Fenton (EF) process and its most innovative and promising versions, all of which are classified as electrochemical advanced oxidation processes. It consists of 15 chapters that review the latest advances and trends, material selection, reaction and reactor modeling and EF scale-up. It particularly focuses on the applications of EF process in the treatment of toxic and persistent organic pollutants in water and soil, showing highly efficient removal for both lab-scale and pre-pilot setups. Indeed, the EF technology is now mature enough to be brought to market, and this collection of contributions from leading experts in the field constitutes a timely milestone for scientists and engineers.

This book provides tabular and text data relating to normal and diseased tissue materials and materials used in medical devices. Comprehensive and practical for students, researchers, engineers, and practicing physicians who use implants, this book considers the materials aspects of both implantable materials and natural tissues and fluids. Examples of materials and topics covered include titanium, elastomers, degradable biomaterials, composites, scaffold materials for tissue engineering, dental implants, sterilization effects on material properties, metallic alloys, and much more. Each chapter author considers the intrinsic and interactive properties of biomaterials, as well as their appropriate applications and historical contexts. Now in an updated second edition, this book also contains two new chapters on the cornea and on vocal folds, as well as updated insights, data, and citations for several chapters.