The spoilage of formulated products by microbial action is a factor in determining the shelf life. This book should be of interest to formulation scientists and technologists, technical and regulatory managers, and chemists working on the development of materials for products.

Microbes are known to live in an enormous range of environments. Their ability to survive and proliferate in diverse industrial systems is often a surprise to those not exposed to these problems in their work. These systems contain a range of potential carbon sources, one common theme being surfactants. Surfactants are often not the components most prone to spoilage since some systems contain highly susceptible natural components, such as starch and xanthum gum, but the surfactant is a key part of the formulation, and its extensive breakdown usually means that the material is beyond recovery. The aim of this book is to describe in detail all aspects of the preservation of surfactant containing materials. The book should be viewed as being in three discrete sections. • chapters 1-5 deal with and summarise essential background information • chapters 6-11 discuss in detail various end use applications • chapters 12-15 outline the regulatory and toxicology implication associated with the safe handling of preservatives Given the format of the book there is inevitably some duplication of information in the middle section with different authors describing essentially the same phenomena but on different substrates. I hope the reader will find that although different chapters touch on the same topics the information around these areas is sufficiently different to justify their inclusion in this book and to be of interest. It should also demonstrate what can be the most useful source of information, the hard practical experience of the authors.

Agrochemical products and adjuvants are of vital importance in agriculture, to protect food and fibre crops from weeds, insect pests and diseases, in order to feed and clothe the growing world population. In recent years there have been increasing pressures to produce agrochemical formulations which have a lower environmental impact and are safer in use. Enormous changes have taken place in the chemistry and technology of agrochemicals over the last twenty years or so and this book provides a timely review of the most important area of technology in the development of new products. This book covers issues around international product quality and safety standards and describes the current and likely future trends which will carry the industry forward into the next millennium. It brings together well known international experts with many years of practical experience from agrochemical companies, consultancies, academic institutions and regulatory bodies. Chemists and technologists involved in developing new or improved agrochemical formulations will find this book an essential reference in the course of their work. The book will also be of interest to those working in research and development departments of raw material suppliers, as a concise review of this important field.

This two-part book combines the insights of world experts on Microbicides with detailed a detailed inventory of Microbicide Data. The combination of the two parts in one book is unique, and has produced the most authoritative information in the field.

With more international contributors than ever before, Block’s Disinfection, Sterilization, and Preservation, 6th Edition, is the first new edition in nearly 20 years of the definitive technical manual for anyone involved in physical and chemical disinfection and sterilization methods. The book focuses on disease prevention—rather than eradication—and has been thoroughly updated with new information based on recent advances in the field and understanding of the risks, the technologies available, and the regulatory environments.

Surfactants are vital components in biological systems, are key ingredients in many formulated products and play an important role in many industrial processes. The property which makes surfactants so useful is their ability to stabilize complex colloidal and interfacial systems. It is not surprising therefore that many new surfactant materials are developed, many of which have novel properties. However because their potential is not fully appreciated they remain underutilized by industry. The main purpose of this book is to illustrate the utility of a range of novel surfactants, in particular those which have been found useful in specific areas and which seem to offer promise across a wider range of applications. The contributors are drawn from industry and academic research and provide a comprehensive account of the preparation, properties and applications of these specialist surfactants. Research chemists in industry and academia will find this book a concise and authoritative account of this important group of surfactants.