The series Advances in Polymer Science presents critical reviews of the present and future trends in polymer and biopolymer science. It covers all areas of research in polymer and biopolymer science including chemistry, physical chemistry, physics, material science. The thematic volumes are addressed to scientists, whether at universities or in industry, who wish to keep abreast of the important advances in the covered topics. Advances in Polymer Science enjoy a longstanding tradition and good reputation in its community. Each volume is dedicated to a current topic, and each review critically surveys one aspect of that topic, to place it within the context of the volume. The volumes typically summarize the significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years and discuss them critically, presenting selected examples, explaining and illustrating the important principles, and bringing together many important references of primary literature. On that basis, future research directions in the area can be discussed. Advances in Polymer Science volumes thus are important references for every polymer scientist, as well as for other scientists interested in polymer science - as an introduction to a neighboring field, or as a compilation of detailed information for the specialist. Review articles for the individual volumes are invited by the volume editors. Single contributions can be specially commissioned. Readership: Polymer scientists, or scientists in related fields interested in polymer and biopolymer science, at universities or in industry, graduate students.

This book presents a comprehensive study on a new class of branched polymers, known as hyperbranched polymers (HBPs). It discusses in detail the synthesis strategies for these particular classes of polymers as well as biocompatible and biodegradable HBPs, which are of increasing interest to polymer technologists due to their immense potential in biomedical applications. The book also describes the one-pot synthesis technique for HBPs, which is feasible for large-scale production, as well as HBPs’ structure-property relationship, which makes them superior to their linear counterparts. The alterable functional groups present at the terminal ends of the branches make HBPs promising candidates in the biomedical domain, and the book specifically elaborates on the suitable characteristic properties of each of the potential biological HBPs’ applications. As such, the book offers a valuable reference guide for all scientists and technologists who are interested in using these newly developed techniques to achieve faster and better treatments.

This first book to specifically focus on applications of conjugated polymers in the fields of biology and biomedicine covers materials science, physical principles, and nanotechnology. The editor and authors, all pioneers and experts with extensive research experience in the field, firstly introduce the synthesis and optical properties of various conjugated polymers, highlighting how to make organic soluble polymers compatible with the aqueous environment. This is followed by the application of these materials in optical sensing and imaging as well as the emerging applications in image-guided therapy and in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The result is a consolidated overview for polymer chemists, materials scientists, biochemists, biotechnologists, and bioengineers.

This book explores the potential of advanced microwave techniques, specifically microwave-assisted pyrolysis, for the production, adsorption, and regeneration of activated carbon (AC) as a promising solution to address wastewater pollution caused by dyes. The author begins with a chapter devoted to the environmental implications of water pollution and emphasizes the characteristics of dyes and various treatment techniques for their removal. The advantages and disadvantages of commercially available activated carbon are also discussed, along with the determinants for effective adsorption using high-quality activated carbon. Additionally, the chapter delves into the different types of adsorbents, including agricultural and industrial waste, as well as bioadsorbents such as microorganisms. In Chapter 2, readers will find the latest trends in using microwave techniques for the activation process. In this chapter, the author elucidates the characteristics and mechanism of microwave heating and compares it with conventional heating methods. The advantages of microwave techniques, such as improved activation procedures and the influence of different factors, are explored. Various modeling and optimization approaches for adsorption and different techniques for analyzing the surface chemistry of activated carbons are also discussed. Furthermore, the chapter showcases the applications of microwave-assisted activated carbon for dye removal. The book closes with a chapter devoted to the recycling and regeneration of spent activated carbon (SAC) using microwave techniques. In this chapter, the author examines the procedures for SAC regeneration through microwave-assisted pyrolysis and highlights the advantages over conventional heating methods. The applications of microwave-assisted activated carbon regeneration and other miscellaneous technologies utilizing microwave heating for AC production and SAC regeneration are also explored. Given its breadth, this book is a valuable resource for researchers, professionals, and policymakers in the field of environmental science and engineering.

This book introduces advanced or emerging technologies for conversion of wastes into a variety of high-value chemicals and materials. Energy and resources can be recovered from various residential, industrial and commercial wastes, such as municipal wastewater and sludge, e-waste, waste plastics and resins, crop residues, forestry residues and lignin. Advanced waste-to-resource and energy technologies like pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction, fractionation, de-polymerization, gasification and carbonization are also introduced. The book serves as an essential guide to dealing with various types of wastes and the methods of disposal, recovery, recycling and re-use. As such it is a valuable resource for a wide readership, including graduate students, academic researchers, industrial researchers and practitioners in chemical engineering, waste management, waste to energy and resources conversion and biorefinery.

This book gathers the various aspects of the porous polymer field into one volume. It not only presents a fundamental description of the field, but also describes the state of the art for such materials and provides a glimpse into the future. Emphasizing a different aspect of the ongoing research and development in porous polymers, the book is divided into three sections: Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications. The first part of each chapter presents the basic scientific and engineering principles underlying the topic, while the second part presents the state of the art results based on those principles. In this fashion, the book connects and integrates topics from seemingly disparate fields, each of which embodies different aspects inherent in the diverse field of porous polymeric materials.