The Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds, since its inception, has been recognized as a cornerstone of heterocyclic chemistry. Each volume attempts to discuss all aspects - properties, synthesis, reactions, physiological and industrial significance - of a specific ring system. To keep the series up-to-date, supplementary volumes covering the recent literature on each individual ring system have been published. Many ring systems (such as pyridines and oxazoles) are treated in distinct books, each consisting of separate volumes or parts dealing with different individual topics. With all authors are recognized authorities, the Chemistry of Heterocyclic Chemistry is considered worldwide as the indispensable resource for organic, bioorganic, and medicinal chemists.

The past decade has seen a dramatic acceleration of activity and interest in phenomena surrounding lanthanide and actinide organo metallic compounds. Around the world, active research in organo-f element synthesis, chemistry, catalysis, crystallography, and quantum chemistry is in progress. This activity has spanned a remarkably wide range of disciplines, from synthetic/mechanistic inorganic and organic chemistry to radiochemistry, catalytic chemistry, spectroscopy (vibra tional, optical, magnetic resonance, photoelectron, Mossbauer), X-ray and neutron diffraction structural analysis, as well as to crystal field and molecular orbital theoretical studies at the interface of chemistry and physics. These investigations have been motivated both by fundamental and applied goals. The evidence that f-element organo metallic compounds have unique chemical and physical properties which cannot be duplicated by organometallic compounds of d-block elements has suggested many new areas of endeavor and application. For these reasons, a great many scientists felt the need for some international forum devoted exclusively to the subject of lanthanide and actinide organometallic compounds. In September of 1978, a NATO Advanced Study Institute entitled, "Organometallics of the f-Elements," was held at the SOGESTA Conference Center near Urbino, Italy. It was the universal feeling of the partic ipants that this first meeting was a great success and that vital international communication and collaboration had been stimulated. The principal lectures at this Institute were published by Reidel in 1979 as part of the NATO ASI Monograph Series ("Organometallics of the f-Elements," T. J. Marks and R. D. Fischer, editors)."

Bringing together academic, industrial, and governmental researchers and developers, Catalysis of Organic Reactions comprises 57 peer-reviewed papers on the latest scientific developments in applied catalysis for organic reactions. The volume describes the use of both heterogeneous and homogeneous catalyst systems and includes original research articles on processes with potential industrial applications.

The contributors, renowned leaders in the field, discuss noteworthy findings that include the award-winning studies by Isamu Yamauchi on metastable precursors to Raney(R) catalysts and by Gadi Rothenberg on methods for finding the best homogeneous catalysts. The book covers the synthesis of fine chemicals and pharmaceutical intermediates, solid acid catalysis, selective oxidation, chiral synthesis, combinatorial methods, nanotechnology, and "green" processes. These topics are organized by broad groupings based on major process types, such as hydrogenations and oxidations, or themes, such as novel methods and environmental consciousness.

Covering the most recent significant developments in catalysis, this compilation is ideal for chemists and chemical engineers who apply homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis in the synthesis of pharmaceutical, fine, or commodity chemicals.

This long awaited fourth edition continues with its popular and outstanding methodologies for the elucidation of reaction mechanisms. This book has constantly tried to assist the students in learning mechanisms considering a broad coverage of every important aspect of mechanistic techniques. It has been extensively used as a text for the last 30 years by both graduate and postgraduate level students. In addition, research workers have also enormously benefited because of the in-depth discussion of the subject and inclusion of recent bibliography. The book consists of 14 chapters and is written in a reader friendly language. The contents of this edition provide a concrete and compact description of the subject. New end-of-chapter problems have been appended. This book will hopefully continue to inspire its readers in focussing on the mechanistic approach to chemistry.

Since the publication of our earlier book on transition metal mediated organic synthesis, * there has been a widespread increase of interest in this topic, and transition metal based methodology has become firmly established in many areas of organic chemistry. The direct, catalytic formation of organic carbonyl compounds using carbon monoxide as the source of the carbonyl group has seen exceptional progress, and this carbonylation chemistry is being used increasingly in research and on a larger scale for fine chemicals production. In view of these developments, there is a need for a modem, practi cally oriented book dealing with transition metal based carbonylation chemistry. The present monograph should help fulfill this need, since it is intended specifically to foster the adoption of catalytic carbonylation as a general tool in synthetic organic chemistry. It deals exclusively with reactions involving the interconversion of carbon monoxide and organic carbonyl compounds, and although the majority of the reactions discussed involve catalytic formation of carbonyl compounds, potentially valuable syntheses requiring stoichiometric quantities of transition metal are also included. In addition, a chapter is devoted to the remarkably useful reverse transformation (decarbonylation), in which an organic carbonyl group is eliminated in the form of carbon monoxide."

Few polymer chemists have much familiarity with recent developments in the synthesis of speciality polymers. This volume provides up-to-date reviews of areas of current interest and is directed at polymer chemists in the academic world and industry.

Carbohydrate Chemistry provides review coverage of all publications relevant to the chemistry of monosaccharides and oligosaccharides in a given year. The amount of research in this field appearing in the organic chemical literature is increasing because of the enhanced importance of the subject, especially in areas of medicinal chemistry and biology. In no part of the field is this more apparent than in the synthesis of oligosaccharides required by scientists working in glycobiology. Clycomedicinal chemistry and its reliance on carbohydrate synthesis is now very well established, for example, by the preparation of specific carbohydrate- based antigens, especially cancer-specific oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates. Coverage of topics such as nucleosides, amino-sugars, alditols and cyclitols also covers much research of relevance to biological and medicinal chemistry. Each volume of the series brings together references to all published work in given areas of the subject and serves as a comprehensive database for the active research chemist Specialist Periodical Reports provide systematic and detailed review coverage in major areas of chemical research. Compiled by teams of leading authorities in the relevant subject areas, the series creates a unique service for the active research chemist, with regular, in-depth accounts of progress in particular fields of chemistry. Subject coverage within different volumes of a given title is similar and publication is on an annual or biennial basis.

Need help with organic chemistry? Get extra practice with this workbook If you're looking for a little extra help with organic chemistry than your Organic Chemistry I class offers, Organic Chemistry I Workbook For Dummies is exactly what you need! It lets you take the theories you're learning (and maybe struggling with) in class and practice them in the same format you'll find on class exams and other licensing exams, like the MCAT. It offers tips and tricks to memorize difficult concepts and shortcuts to solving problems. This reference guide and practice book explains the concepts of organic chemistry (such as functional groups, resonance, alkanes, and stereochemistry) in a concise, easy-to-understand format that helps you refine your skills. It also includes real practice with hundreds of exam questions to test your knowledge. Walk through the answers and clearly identify where you went wrong (or right) with each problem Get practical advice on acing your exams Use organic chemistry in practical applications Organic Chemistry I Workbook For Dummies provides you with opportunities to review the material and practice solving problems based on the topics covered in a typical Organic Chemistry I course. With the help of this practical reference, you can face down your exam and pass on to Organic Chemistry II with confidence!

Organometallic chemistry is an interdisciplinary science which continues to grow at a rapid pace. Although there is continued interest in synthetic and structural studies the last decade has seen a growing interest in the potential of organometallic chemistry to provide answers to problems in catalysis synthetic organic chemistry and also in the development of new materials. This Specialist Periodical Report aims to reflect these current interests reviewing progress in theoretical organometallic chemistry, main group chemistry, the lanthanides and all aspects of transition metal chemistry. Specialist Periodical Reports provide systematic and detailed review coverage of progress in the major areas of chemical research. Written by experts in their specialist fields the series creates a unique service for the active research chemist, supplying regular critical in-depth accounts of progress in particular areas of chemistry. For over 80 years the Royal Society of Chemistry and its predecessor, the Chemical Society, have been publishing reports charting developments in chemistry, which originally took the form of Annual Reports. However, by 1967 the whole spectrum of chemistry could no longer be contained within one volume and the series Specialist Periodical Reports was born. The Annual Reports themselves still existed but were divided into two, and subsequently three, volumes covering Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry. For more general coverage of the highlights in chemistry they remain a 'must'. Since that time the SPR series has altered according to the fluctuating degree of activity in various fields of chemistry. Some titles have remained unchanged, while others have altered their emphasis along with their titles; some have been combined under a new name whereas others have had to be discontinued. The current list of Specialist Periodical Reports can be seen on the inside flap of this volume.

Silicon Based Polymers presents highlights in advanced research and technological innovations using macromolecular organosilicon compounds and systems, as presented in the 2007 ISPO congress. Silicon-containing materials and polymers are used all over the world and in a variety of industries, domestic products and high technology applications.

Among them, silicones are certainly the most wella "known, however there are still new properties discovered and preparative processes developed all the time, therefore adding to their potential. Less known, but in preparation for the future, are other silicon containing-polymers which are now close to maturity and in fact some are already available like polysilsesquioxanes and polysilanes.

All these silicon based materials can adopt very different structures like chains, dendrimers, hyperbranched and networks, physical and chemical gels. The result is a vast array of materials with applications in various areas such as optics, electronics, ionic electrolytes, liquid crystals, biomaterials, ceramics and concrete, paints and coatings a ] all needed to face the environmental, energetical and technological issues of today. Some industrial aspects of the applications of these materials will also be presented.

Beads made from Egyptian faience have been excavated from grave deposits (c. 4000-3100 BC), together with beads of glazed steatite (a soft rock) and of se- precious stones such as turquoise, carnelian, quartz, and lapis lazuli. Information on these and many more ancient beads used for ornaments and jewelry, ritual ceremonies, as art artifacts and gifts for amorous women throughout history, and descriptions of the raw materials (e. g. , glass, bone, precious and other stones) and manufacturing technologies used for their production can be located in many references. Many books are devoted to the description of beads that are not of water-soluble polymer origin, techniques for their production, their art, value, and distribution, re?ecting the wealth of information existing in this ?eld of science and art. On the other hand, there are no books fully devoted to the fascinating topic of hydrocolloid (polymeric) beads and their unique applications. A few books c- tain scattered chapters and details on such topics, while emphasizing the possibility of locating fragments of information elsewhere; however, again, there is no book that is solely devoted to hydrocolloid beads and their versatile applications. In the meantime, the use of water-soluble hydrocolloid beads is on the rise in many ?elds, making a book that covers both past and novel applications of such beads, as well as their properties and ways in which to manipulate them, crucial.

Specialist Periodical Reports provide systematic and detailed review coverage of progress in the major areas of chemical research. Written by experts in their specialist fields the series creates a unique service for the active research chemist, supplying regular critical in-depth accounts of progress in particular areas of chemistry. For over 80 years the Royal Society of Chemistry and its predecessor, the Chemical Society, have been publishing reports charting developments in chemistry, which originally took the form of Annual Reports. However, by 1967 the whole spectrum of chemistry could no longer be contained within one volume and the series Specialist Periodical Reports was born. The Annual Reports themselves still existed but were divided into two, and subsequently three, volumes covering Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry. For more general coverage of the highlights in chemistry they remain a 'must'. Since that time the SPR series has altered according to the fluctuating degree of activity in various fields of chemistry. Some titles have remained unchanged, while others have altered their emphasis along with their titles; some have been combined under a new name whereas others have had to be discontinued. The current list of Specialist Periodical Reports can be seen on the inside flap of this volume.

This book describes current advances in the research on membranes and applications in industry, groundwater, and desalination processes. Topics range from synthesis of new polymers to preparation of membranes using new water treatments for effluents, graphite membranes, development of polymeric and ceramic materials for production of membranes intended to separate gases and liquids, and liquid-liquid phases. The authors include materials used to produce catalytic membranes for polymer synthesis. The book also details theoretical approaches and simulation of membrane processes and parameters and design.

This series presents critical reviews of the present and future trends in polymer and biopolymer science including chemistry, physical chemistry, physics and materials science. It is addressed to all scientists at universities and in industry who wish to keep abreast of advances in the topics covered.

Impact Factor Ranking: Always number one in Polymer Science. More information as well as the electronic version of the whole content available at: www.springerlink.com

In this book leading experts have surveyed major areas of application of NHC metal complexes in catalysis. The authors have placed a special focus on nickel- and palladium-catalyzed reactions, on applications in metathesis reactions, on oxidation reactions and on the use of chiral NHC-based catalysts. This compilation is rounded out by an introductory chapter and a chapter dealing with synthetic routes to NHC metal complexes.

Boron-Doped Diamond Electrodes for Electroorganic Chemistry, by Siegfried R. Waldvogel, Stamo Mentizi und Axel Kirste.- Modern Developments in Aryl Radical Chemistry, by Gerald Pratsch und Markus R. Heinrich.- Radical Additions to Chiral Hydrazones: Stereoselectivity and Functional Group Compatibility, by Gregory K. Friestad.- Hydrogen Atom Donors: Recent Developments, by Andreas Gansauer, Lei Shi, Matthias Otte, Inga Huth, Antonio Rosales, Iris Sancho-Sanz, Natalia M. Padial und J. Enrique Oltra.- Radicals in Transition Metal Catalyzed Reactions? Transition Metal Catalyzed Radical Reactions? - A Fruitful Interplay Anyway Part 1. Radical Catalysis by Group 4 to Group 7 Elements, by Ullrich Jahn.- Radicals in Transition Metal Catalyzed Reactions? Transition Metal Catalyzed Radical Reactions? - A Fruitful Interplay Anyway Part 2. Radical Catalysis by Group 8 and 9 Elements, by Ullrich Jahn.- Radicals in Transition Metal Catalyzed Reactions? Transition Metal Catalyzed Radical Reactions?: A Fruitful Interplay Anyway Part 3: Catalysis by Group 10 and 11 Elements and Bimetallic Catalysis, by Ullrich Jahn.-"

This series provides an unequalled source of information on an area of chemistry that continues to grow in importance. Divided into sections mainly according to the particular spectroscopic technique used, coverage in each volume includes: NMR (with reference to stereochemistry, dynamic systems, paramagnetic complexes, solid state NMR and Groups 13-18); nuclear quadrupole resonance spectroscopy; vibrational spectroscopy of main group and transition element compounds and coordinated ligands; and electron diffraction. Reflecting the growing volume of published work in the field, researchers will find this an invaluable source of information on current methods and applications.

Specialist Periodical Reports provide systematic and detailed review coverage of progress in the major areas of chemical research. Written by experts in their specialist fields the series creates a unique service for the active research chemist, supplying regular critical in-depth accounts of progress in particular areas of chemistry. For over 80 years the Royal Society of Chemistry and its predecessor, the Chemical Society, have been publishing reports charting developments in chemistry, which originally took the form of Annual Reports. However, by 1967 the whole spectrum of chemistry could no longer be contained within one volume and the series Specialist Periodical Reports was born. The Annual Reports themselves still existed but were divided into two, and subsequently three, volumes covering Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry. For more general coverage of the highlights in chemistry they remain a 'must'. Since that time the SPR series has altered according to the fluctuating degree of activity in various fields of chemistry. Some titles have remained unchanged, while others have altered their emphasis along with their titles; some have been combined under a new name whereas others have had to be discontinued.

The series Structure and Bonding publishes critical reviews on topics of research concerned with chemical structure and bonding. The scope of the series spans the entire Periodic Table and addresses structure and bonding issues associated with all of the elements. It also focuses attention on new and developing areas of modern structural and theoretical chemistry such as nanostructures, molecular electronics, designed molecular solids, surfaces, metal clusters and supramolecular structures. Physical and spectroscopic techniques used to determine, examine and model structures fall within the purview of Structure and Bonding to the extent that the focus is on the scientific results obtained and not on specialist information concerning the techniques themselves. Issues associated with the development of bonding models and generalizations that illuminate the reactivity pathways and rates of chemical processes are also relevant.
The individual volumes in the series are thematic. The goal of each volume is to give the reader, whether at a university or in industry, a comprehensive overview of an area where new insights are emerging that are of interest to a larger scientific audience. Thus each review within the volume critically surveys one aspect of that topic and places it within the context of the volume as a whole. The most significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years should be presented using selected examples to illustrate the principles discussed. A description of the physical basis of the experimental techniques that have been used to provide the primary data may also be appropriate, if it has not been covered in detail elsewhere. The coverage need not be exhaustive in data, but should rather be conceptual, concentrating on the new principles being developed that will allow the reader, who is not a specialist in the area covered, to understand the data presented. Discussion of possible future research directions in the area is welcomed. Review articles for the individual volumes are invited by the volume editors.
Readership: research scientists at universities or in industry, graduate students
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For all customers who have a standing order to the print version of Structure and Bonding, we offer free access to the electronic volumes of the Series published in the current year via SpringerLink.

In this book, the effect of nutritional habits and wine consumption on ageing and the main degenerative diseases (cardiovascular, cancer, Alzheimer's, etc.) are considered through the most relevant epidemiological and pharmacological studies. Newly isolated wine polyphenols and tannins are presented and their structures and in vitro biological properties are discussed that could strongly support the hypotheses that those molecules could insure beneficial health effects. This book will be of particular interest to people involved in problems of public health, but also in the wine industry or in wine making, as well as to physicians who are concerned by the difficult question of ageing and its related chronic diseases.

MOLECULAR WEIGHr CHANGES AND NE1WORK FORMATION BY SCISSION AND CROSSUNKING A. Charlesby 1 Introduction Main Chain Scission of Polymers ____________________________ _ ________________________ _ 1 Crosslinking ______ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __ . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . ___ . . _. __ . . . . _. _. _____ . _____ . _ 4 5 Random Crosslinking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Enhanced Crosslinking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Other Forms of Crosslinking . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Combined Crosslinking and Scission ___________ _________________ ______ _ ______________ . _. _. 11 Antioxidants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Fillers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . __ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __ . . . 12 Crosslinking of Polymers in Solution ________________________________ . . ______________ . . . . __ 12 References _. __ _ 13 HIGH ENERGY RADIATION-AND UV UGHr-INDUCED CROSSLINKING AND CHAIN SCISSION w. Schnabel Introduction 15 Importance of Radiation-Induced Crosslinking and Main-Chain Scission in Linear Polymers ___________________________ _________________ 15 TYPes of Radiation and Radiation Sources _. ___________________________ . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . _. _. _ . . __ . . . 16 Absorption of Radiation . . _ . . . . _ . . . . . . _ . . _ . . __ . _ . . . . . . . . ____ . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . __ . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . _ . . . . . . _ . . . _ . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . __ . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . _____ . . . . . . . . . ___ . . . 16 General Aspects Concerning XL and CS in Linear Polymers ______________________ . _________ . _____ . _____ 22 Random and Specific Site Attacks . . . . . . . _. ____ . _ . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . __ . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . ___ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . _ . . . . . __ . . . . _ . . . . . . _ . . . . __ . ___ . . . . . . . . . . __ . . _ 22 Detection of XL and CS . . . _. _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _. __ . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . ___ . . . . . . . __ . . . _ . . . _ . . . . . . . . ____ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . _ . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __ . . . . . _ . . . . _ . . . . . _. _ . . . . _ . . . . . . . 22 Simultaneous XL and CS Mechanisms 25 Ion Beam-Induced Radiation Effects In Linear Polymers ____________________________________________________ .

The series Topics in Heterocyclic Chemistry presents critical reviews on present and future trends in the research of heterocyclic compounds. Overall the scope is to cover topics dealing with all areas within heterocyclic chemistry, both experimental and theoretical, of interest to the general heterocyclic chemistry community. The series consists of topic related volumes edited by renowned editors with contributions of experts in the field. All chapters from Topics in Heterocyclic Chemistry are published Online First with an individual DOI. In references, Topics in Heterocyclic Chemistry is abbreviated as Top Heterocycl Chem and cited as a journal.

This volume covers both basic and advanced aspects of organometallic chemistry of all metals and catalysis. In order to present a comprehensive view of the subject, it provides broad coverage of organometallic chemistry itself. The catalysis section includes the challenging activation and fictionalization of the main classes of hydrocarbons and the industrially crucial heterogeneous catalysis. Summaries and exercises are provides at the end of each chapter, and the answers to these exercises can be found at the back of the book. Beginners in inorganic, organic and organometallic chemistry, as well as advanced scholars and chemists from academia and industry will find much value in this title.

The free-radical retrograde-precipitation polymerization (FRRPP) process was introduced by the author in the early 1990s as a chain polymerization method, whereby phase separation is occurring while reactive sites are above the lower cr- ical solution temperature (LCST). It was evident that certain regions of the product polymer attain temperatures above the average ?uid temperature, sometimes rea- ing carbonization temperatures. During the early stages of polymerization-induced phase separation, nanoscale polymer domains were also found to be persistent in the reacting system, in apparent contradiction with results of microstructural coarsening from constant-temperature modeling and experimental studies. This mass con?- ment behavior was used for micropatterning, for entrapment of reactive radical sites, and for the formation of block copolymers that can be used as intermediates, surf- tants, coatings, coupling agents, foams, and hydrogels. FRRPP-based materials and its mechanism have also been proposed to be relevant in energy and environmentally responsible applications. This technology lacks intellectual appeal compared to others that have been p- posed to produce polymers of exotic architectures. There are no special chemical mediators needed. Control of conditions and product distribution is done by p- cess means, based on a robust and ?exible free-radical-based chemistry. Thus, it can readily be implemented in the laboratory and in production scale.

This book presents a comprehensive survey about the most recent developments in industrial applications, processing techniques and modifications of polymers from marine sources. It systematically introduces the reader to the biomaterials Chitin, Collagen, Alginates, Cellulose and Polyesters and links their interwoven industrial significance and environmental implications. The book elucidates the impact of industrial sourcing of the aquatic system for organic and inorganic matter on the environment and deepens the understanding of the industrial and economic significance of aquatic biopolymers. Further it addresses the question of how to balance the conservation of aquatic life and the industrial and economic interest in developing biodegradable alternatives for plastic. Thus the book will appeal to scientists in the field of chemistry, materials and polymer science as well as engineering.