The subject of Physical Adsorption has enormous economic and technological value while it continues to present significant scientific challenges with prospects for further important technological developments. The literature on the subject is truly enormous. Particularly during the last few years there have been three developments that led us to organize the Advanced Study Institute on which this volume is based: -Significant development in the theory of physical adsorption; -Developments in instrumf: ntation that allow the detailed characterization of materials including microporous solids; -The realization that closer coupling of scientific and technological pursuits can lead to greater scientific understanding and better technology. The structure of the ASI reflected the coming-together of these three factors. Following an incisive historical review of the subject by K.S.W. Sing, the ASI and the book focus essentially equally on theory, assessment and applications. Topics covered include: -The dramatic progress in theoretical analysis (statistical thermodynamic and quantum mechanics), fuelled by access to exponential increases in computational capabilities, and reflected in the lectures of K. Gubbins, G. Horvath, D. Nicholson and W. Rudzinsky. -The breakthroughs in experimentation, among others: high resolution adsorption, NMR of solids and of adsorbed inert gases such as 129Xe or 1, which are described in the lectures by W.C. Conner, I. Dekany, G. Findenegg, J. Rouquerol and M.A. Springuel-Huet. -The unique aspects of transport in micropores, analysed by J. Karger, D. Ruthven and K.K. Unger.

The subject of acidity and basicity has enormous economic and technological value while it continues to present significant scientific challenges with prospects for further important technological developments. Historically, technological developments in acidity/basicity have often preceded the scientific understanding of the phenomena involved, certainly in the petroleum industry, a key beneficiarry and user of the concepts of acidity. This process, however, is very expensive and less efficient than developments based on a fundamental understanding of the scientific phenomena involved. This has been recognized over the years and it explains why university, government and industrial laboratories have in the last 50 years devoted large efforts to understanding acidity (and basicity to a lesser extent) so they can gain the technological advantage. The scientific and technological literature on the subject is truly enormous. There have been some very important articles and books on the subject that have attempted to critically review many individual contributions. During the last few years there have been three developments that led us to organize the Advanced Study Institute on which this volume is based: a) Significant developments in the theory of acids and bases; b) Developments in instrumentation that allow the detailed characterization of materials including in-situ conditions relevant to industrial processes; c) The realization that closer coupling of scientific and technological pursuits can lead to greater scientific understanding and better technology. The structure of the ASI reflected the coming-together of these three factors.

In 1976, on the occasion of the Centennial of the Ameri can Chemical Society, H. A. RESrnG and C. G. WADE organized an international symposium on magnetic resonance in collo1d and in terface science which brought together a large number of scien tists from the United States and from abroad. The aim of this symposium was to include all experimental inorganic, organic and biochemical systems in which molecules are bound to interfaces and to show the contribution of various techniques based on ma gnetic resonance to the knowledge of these systems. This ambi tious program resulted into a very interesting gathering that initiated a more interdisciplinary approach to the problem of interfaces. Because of the success of this symposium it was sug gested that a similar meeting should be organized in Europe within the next three years. Professor J. FRAISSARD accepted this task but, conside ring the rapid developments in the theory and in the applica tions of the magnetic resonance spectroscopies, the organ1z1ng committee decided to arrange the meeting to be held in MENTON (France) in two parts, the first being a School and the second the Symposium proper. The former was' intended to review and to teach theoretical aspects as well as to discuss the experimental results derived from these advanced methods; the Symposium was to be for the discussion of the latest results at the highest level."

This volume contains the lectures presented at an Advanced Study Institute on "Magnetic Resonance Techniques in Fossil Energy Problems," which was held at the village of Maleme, Crete, in July of 1983. As of this writing, a different popular attitude prevails from that when the ASI was proposed as far as how critical the world energy picture is. In the popular press, a panglossian attitude (the "petroleum glut" of the 80's) has replaced the jeremiads of the 70's ( a catastrophic "energy crisis"). Yet, there are certain important constants: (a) for the foreseeable future, fossil energy sources (petroleum, coal, oil shale, etc. ) will continue to be of paramount importance; and (b) science and technology of the highest order are needed to extend the fossil ener y resource base and to utilize it in a cost-effective manner that is also environmentally acceptable. It is precisely this second item that this volume addresses. The volume introduces the phenomenology of magnetic resonance n a unified and detailed manner, starting from the behavior of spins in a magnetic field and proceeding to a density matrix consideration of the phenomena involved. The various important parameters of NMR and EPR are discussed in detail, as well as their significance and the information that may be obtained from their proper consideration. Advanced topics are then considered, including line-broadening interactions, coherent averaging and multiple quantum methods in NMR, ENDOR, electron spin echoes, dynamic nuclear polarization. problems of quantifi cation, 2-Dimensional N}1R, Mossbauer, and instrumentation."

Magnetic resonance techniques are especially interesting in the study of colloids and interfaces due to their unique ability to elucidate structure, dynamics and function at the atomic and molecular level. This book illustrates the most up to date applications of innovative NMR and EPR techniques, including magnetic resonance imaging and microscopy, to gas-solid and liquid-solid interfaces, organic and biological surfaces, microemulsions, liquid crystals, membranes, structure and dynamics of polymers and micellar systems, and diffusion in heterogeneous systems.

A compendium of advanced NMR and EPR techniques and a state of the art description of the power of advanced new methodologies for the study of molecular dynamics and interfaces.

Magnetic resonance techniques are especially interesting in the study of colloids and interfaces due to their unique ability to elucidate structure, dynamics and function at the atomic and molecular level. This book illustrates the most up to date applications of innovative NMR and EPR techniques, including magnetic resonance imaging and microscopy, to gas-solid and liquid-solid interfaces, organic and biological surfaces, microemulsions, liquid crystals, membranes, structure and dynamics of polymers and micellar systems, and diffusion in heterogeneous systems.

A compendium of advanced NMR and EPR techniques and a state of the art description of the power of advanced new methodologies for the study of molecular dynamics and interfaces.