Natural and synthetic water soluble polymers are used in a wide range of familiar industrial and consumer products, including coatings and inks, papers, adhesives, cosmetics and personal care products. They perform a variety of functions without which these products would be significantly more expensive, less effective or both. Written for research, development and formulation chemists, technologists and engineers at graduate level and beyond in the fine and specialty chemicals, polymers, food and pharmaceutical industries, the Handbook of Industrial Water Soluble Polymers deals specifically with the functional properties of both natural and synthetic water soluble polymers. By taking a function based approach, rather than a “polymer specific” approach the book illustrates how polymer structure leads to effect, and shows how different polymer types can be employed to achieve appropriate product properties.

This volume contains a series of papers originally presented at the symposium on Water Soluble Polymers: Solution Properties and Applications, sponsored by the Division of Colloids and Surface Chemistry of the American Chemical Society. The symposium took place in Las Vegas City, Nevada on 9 to 11th September, 1997 at the 214th American Chemical Society National Meeting. Recognized experts in their - spective fields were invited to speak. There was a strong attendance from academia, g- ernment, and industrial research centers. The purpose of the symposium was to present and discuss recent developments in the solution properties of water soluble polymers and their applications in aqueous systems. Water soluble polymers find applications in a number of fields of which the following may be worth mentioning: cosmetics, detergent, oral care, industrial water treatment, g- thermal, wastewater treatment, water purification and reuse, pulp and paper production, sugar refining, and many more. Moreover, water soluble polymers play vital role in the oil industry, especially in enhanced oil recovery. Water soluble polymers are also used in ag- culture and controlled release pharmaceutical applications. Therefore, a fundamental kno- edge of solution properties of these polymers is essential for most industrial scientists. An understanding of the basic phenomena involved in the application of these polymers, such as adsorption and interaction with different substrates (i. e. , tooth enamel, hair, reverse - mosis membrane, heat exchanger surfaces, etc. ) is of vital importance in developing high performance formulations for achieving optimum efficiency of the system.

Brings together the diverse experience of those working with and using water-soluble polymers. Gives a detailed description of important advances in inversion emulsion polymerization of synthetic water-soluble monomers. Reports on the tremendous increase in research and the state-of-the-art in fundamental concepts and application performance of water-soluble polymers. Looks at the solution properties of some important carbohydrate polymers, and examines recent developments in the characterization of water-soluble polymers by chromatographic and NMR techniques.

With its content taken from only the very latest results, this is an extensive summary of the various polymeric materials used for biomedical applications. Following an introduction listing various functional polymers, including conductive, biocompatible and conjugated polymers, the book goes on to discuss different synthetic polymers that can be used, for example, as hydrogels, biochemical sensors, functional surfaces, and natural degradable materials. Throughout, the focus is on applications, with worked examples for training purposes as well as case studies included. The whole is rounded off with a look at future trends.

Few scientific developments in recent years have captured the popular imagination like the subject of'biodegradable' plastics. The reasons for this are complex and lie deep in the human subconscious. Discarded plastics are an intrusion on the sea shore and in the countryside. The fact that nature's litter abounds in the sea and on land is acceptable because it is biodegradable - even though it may take many years to be bioassimilated into the ecosystem. Plastics litter is not seen to be biodegradable and is aesthetically unacceptable because it does not blend into the natural environment. To the environmentally aware but often scientifically naive, biodegradation is seen to be the ecologically acceptable solution to the problem of plastic packaging waste and litter and some packaging manufacturers have exploited the 'green' consumer with exaggerated claims to 'environmentally friendly' biodegradable packaging materials. The principles underlying environmental degradation are not understood even by some manufacturers of 'biodegradable' materials and the claims made for them have been categorized as 'deceptive' by USA legislative authorities. This has set back the acceptance of plastics with controlled biodegradability as part of the overall waste and litter control strategy. At the opposite end of the commercial spectrum, the polymer manufactur ing industries, through their trade associations, have been at pains to discount the role of degradable materials in waste and litter management. This negative campaign has concentrated on the supposed incompatibility of degradable plastics with aspects of waste management strategy, notably materials recycling.

The enormous advances in nanomedicine and precision medicine in the past two decades necessitated this comprehensive reference, which can be relied upon by researchers, clinicians, pharmaceutical scientists, regulators, policymakers, and lawyers alike. This standalone, full-color resource broadly surveys innovative technologies and advances pertaining to nanomedicine and precision medicine. In addition, it addresses often-neglected yet crucial areas such as translational medicine, intellectual property law, ethics, policy, FDA regulatory issues, nano-nomenclature, and artificial nano-machines—all accomplished in a user-friendly, broad yet interconnected format. The book is essential reading for the novice and the expert alike in diverse fields such as medicine, law, pharmacy, genomics, biomedical sciences, ethics, and regulatory science. The book’s multidisciplinary approach will attract a global audience and serve as a valuable reference resource for industry, academia, and government.