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Elsevier Science

  • Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 22
    • E.C. Donaldson + 2 more
    • English
    The use of microorganisms and their metabolic products to stimulate oil production is currently receiving renewed interest worldwide. This technique involves the injection of selected microorganisms into the reservoir and the subsequent stimulation and transportation of their in situ growth products, in order that their presence will aid in further reduction of residual oil left in the reservoir after secondary recovery is exhausted. Although unlikely to replace conventional microbial enhanced oil recovery, this unique process seems superior in many respects. Self-duplicating units, namely the bacteria cells, are injected into the reservoir and by their in situ multiplication they magnify beneficial effects.This new approach to enhancement of oil recovery was initiated in 1980 and the first results were published in the proceedings of two international conferences. This book evolved from these conferences, and was designed to encompass all current aspects of microbial enhanced oil recovery: the development of specific cultures, increase of the population for field application, various methods for field applications and the results, and the environmental concerns associated with this newly developed technology. It provides a comprehensive treatise of the subject, and is arranged to show the laboratory development of microbes suited to microbial enhanced oil recovery and the perpetuation of the special cultures in a petroleum reservoir. Thus, this book has specific usefulness in the laboratory, the oilfield and the classroom. Although not written as a text book, it can be used as a reference volume for graduate studies in enhanced oil recovery.
  • Water Management in Reservoirs

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 33
    • L. Votruba + 1 more
    • English
    This book introduces methods for solving the technical and economic problems posed by water reservoirs, so as to ensure they have the best possible economic and social effect. The significance of reservoirs and the development of their function in water management is assessed, and they are classified according to origin and placing. Among the methods for solving the reservoir's function, both graphical and numerical procedures are described, based on the probability theory and mathematical statistics. In the explanation of the supply function of the reservoirs, attention is paid to the processing of hydrological data, the respective probability distribution is assessed, the theory of stochastic processes is explained, and methods of modelling the sequence of mean annual and monthly discharges are mentioned. The demands of consumers and the reliability of water supply are analysed. All types of reservoir discharge control are presented, i.e. multi-year, annual, short-term and compensation. A solution is given for the discharge control in reservoir systems and in special cases of water management, as well as in individual reservoirs. To describe the flood control function of reservoirs, hydrological data are evaluated, the precision of the flood regime characteristics is assessed, the flood routing in a reservoir is resolved, and the question of flood control is discussed. Control of a reservoir is ensured by a special space, as well as by utilizing the supply and overflow components of the reservoir.A separate part is devoted to the water management operations of reservoirs, mentioning the rules for control of the discharge from reservoirs in permanent operation, mainly using central control, and for the study and evaluation of the water management function of reservoirs. The last part of the book describes solutions for new reservoir functions resulting from their incorporation into water management systems and their function in the environment. The basic types of water management systems are described, as well as conditions for their optimal operation. In a similar way, the distribution of investment and operation costs for the various parts of a complex water management project are discussed in detail, as well as the economic impact of the reliability of water supply and flood control. The physical, chemical, biological and social consequences of reservoirs and their significance in creating a cultural landscape are analysed.The book is mainly intended for those who are involved in the development, preparation and operation of water management schemes and students of graduate and post-graduate courses in the field of water management.
  • Analytical Artifacts

    GC, MS, HPLC, TLC and PC
    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 44
    • B.S. Middleditch
    • English
    This encyclopaedic catalogue of the pitfalls and problems that all analysts encounter in their work is destined to spend more time on the analyst's workbench than on a library shelf. The author has dedicated the book to ``the innumerable scientists who made mistakes, used impure chemicals and solvents, suffered the consequences of unanticipated side-reactions, and were otherwise exposed to mayhem yet were not too embarrassed to publish their findings''. Traditionally, the mass spectroscopist or gas chromatographer learnt his trade by participating in a 4-6 year apprenticeship as graduate student and post-doctoral researcher. Generally, no formal training was provided on the things that go wrong, but this information was accumulated by sharing in the experiences of colleagues. Nowadays, many novice scientists simply purchase a computerized instrument, plug it in, and use it. Much time can be wasted in studying and resolving problems due to artifacts and there is also a strong possibility that artifacts will not be recognized as such. For example, most analysts realize that they should use glass rather than plastic containers; but few of them would anticipate the possibility of plasticizer residues on glassware washed using detergent from a plastic bottle.This book is an easy-to-use compendium of problems encountered when using various commonly used analytical techniques. Emphasis is on impurities, by-products, contaminants and other artifacts. A separate entry is provided for each artifact. For specific chemicals, this entry provides the common name, mass spectrum, gas chromatographic data, CAS name and registry number, synonyms and a narrative discussion. More than 1100 entries are included. Mass spectral data are indexed in a 6-peak index (molecular ion, base peak, second peak, third peak) and there are also formula, author and subject indexes. An extensive bibliography contains complete literature citations.The book is designed to be used. It will not only allow experienced analysts to profit from the mistakes of others, but it will also be invaluable to other scientists who use analytical instruments in their work.
  • Advanced Scientific Computing in BASIC with Applications in Chemistry, Biology and Pharmacology

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 4
    • P Valko + 1 more
    • English
    This book gives a practical introduction to numerical methods and presents BASIC subroutines for real-life computations in the areas of chemistry, biology, and pharmacology. The choice of BASIC as the programming language is motivated by its simplicity, its availability on all personal computers and by its power in data acquisition. While most of the scientific packages currently available in BASIC date back to the period of limited memory and speed, the subroutines presented here can handle a broad range of realistic problems with the power and sophistication needed by professionals and with simple, step-by-step instructions for students and beginners.Please note that a diskette containing the 37 program modules and 39 sample programs listed in the book is no longer available.The main task considered in the book is that of extracting useful information from measurements via modelling, simulation, and statistical data evaluations. Efficient and robust numerical methods have been chosen to solve related problems in numerical algebra, nonlinear equations and optimization, parameter estimation, signal processing, and differential equations. For each class of routines an introduction to the relevant theory and techniques is given, so that the reader will recognise and use the appropriate method for solving his or her particular problem. Simple examples illustrate the use and applicability of each method.
  • Advances in Cell Biology

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 2
    • K.R. Miller
    • English
    As a discipline, cell biology has classically been defined by the boundaries which define the limits of its interests. These boundaries may apply to location -cell biologists study material within the cell - or they may apply to size - cell biologists study material above the level of the macromolecule. For many years, the limits of technique enforced these boundaries as surely as any custom of the discipline. Our inability to investigate structures which could not be observed or molecules which could not be detected assured that cell biology would not cross the boundaries which linked the cell to other levels of organization. As the twentieth century nears its close, however, the development of an enormous range of tools and techniques, some physical, some chemical, some biological, has changed this situation forever. Cell biology today crosses the boundary, links the molecule with the organelle, associates the cellular response with the larger organism. For some, these advances have produced a sense of consternation as it becomes increasingly difficult to define the exact distinction between a cell biologist, a biophysicist, and a molecular biologist. But for many others, the same crisis of identity is perceived as a great opportunity, an opportunity to make connections at a range of levels which integrate our knowledge of living systems in a way that the pioneers of our field could hardly have imagined. I hold to this latter view, and I suspect that nearly all of the contributors to this volume do as well. Each of the articles within this volume cross boundaries in their efforts to deal with the complexities of the living cell. As examples, the work of Carl Cohen illustrates the emergence of a new understanding of the interface between cell membrane and cytoskeleton. Robert Murphy's studies follow the movement of material into the cell and through a maze of cellular compartments, and the studies of Vivianne Nachmias and Ken-ichi Yoshida illustrate the influences exerted by a range of proteins on shape changes in platelets. Each of the studies in this volume has, in a certain sense, crossed the traditional limits of study and made an important contribution to developing a complete and dynamic picture of biology at the level of the cell. In its own way, each article points towards the ultimate goal of cell biology: an understanding in which all of the boundaries which separate organism from cell and cell from molecule will have been breached. That goal is not yet in sight, but the journey is only beginning.
  • Principles of Environmental Science and Technology

    • 2nd Edition
    • Volume 33
    • I. Johnsen + 1 more
    • English
    Since the publication of the first edition of this book in 1981, it has been widely used as a textbook at university level for graduate courses in environmental management, environmental science and environmental technology (for non-engineers). As this second edition is significantly improved, it should find an even wider application than the first.In the second edition, the section on ecotoxicology and effects on pollutants has been expanded considerably, as has Chapter 4 on ecological principles and concepts. Further improvement has been made by the addition of a section on ecological engineering - the application of ecologically sound technology in ecosystems - and an appendix on environmental examination of chemicals. The problems of agricultural waste have been included in Part B, and in Chapter 6 on waste water treatment, several pages have been added about non-point sources and the application of ``soft'' technology. Throughout the book, more examples, questions and problems have been included, and several figures and tables have been added to better illustrate the text.
  • Laboratory Studies of Heterogeneous Catalytic Processes

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 42
    • E.G. Christoffel + 1 more
    • English
    Providing a concise treatment of methods of heterogeneous catalysis used in the laboratory, this book describes the basic phenomena of heterogeneous catalytic reaction systems and discusses in detail the experimental methods and procedures for investigating these systems. The introductory chapter illustrates the whole procedure with an actual example. The next chapter presents the basic phenomena of catalytic systems and the concepts used in studying them. The third chapter covers the description of methods for investigating reaction mechanisms and the dynamics of heterogeneous catalytic reaction systems. The last chapter discusses the design and operation modes of laboratory reactors, frequently used for the investigation of heterogeneous catalytic reactions.The approach is interdisciplinary, providing a balance between chemical engineering and chemical viewpoints of treating laboratory-scale reactors. Chemists and chemical engineers involved in catalyst research will be very interested in this book and it can also be usefully used in specialized courses for graduate students in chemistry or in chemical reaction engineering.
  • Atmospheric Ozone Research and its Policy Implications

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 35
    • S.D. Lee + 3 more
    • English
    These proceedings describe the current state-of-the-art of ozone research. A wide range of topics is discussed including: emissions, transport and transformation of precursors of ozone and of ozone itself, the distribution of ozone, the deposition of ozone at the earth's surface, and its effects on man and the environment. Attention is also given to the role of stratospheric ozone and the role of the ultraviolet radiation which is transmitted through the ozone layer. Finally it describes in detail present and future policy measures to reduce the ozone in the lower atmosphere and to protect the ozone layer in the stratosphere.Many of the papers describe recent developments and new research results. Research carried out in both in Europe and in the United States is described, as are the policy measures which are being taken by both European and U.S. governments.
  • Pesticide Chemistry

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 32
    • G. Matolcsy + 2 more
    • English
    This book provides an overview of the major chemical aspects of pesticides giving detailed descriptions of the various groups of pesticides in current use - insecticides, acaricides, nematocides, rodenticides, fungicides and herbicides. The organic syntheses are discussed in detail, as are the biochemical aspects of the effectiveness and mechanisms of action of these chemical agents. The ecological aspects of the use of pesticides - nowadays an important consideration - are also discussed.The main trends of development in the field are also dealt with, e.g. the development of insecticides which present less of a threat to human beings and animals than the ones presently used, whose point of attack is the nervous system. Research is now concentrated on developing chemical compounds which affect the biochemistry or the special behavioural features of insects, instead of acting upon their nervous system. Newly discovered chemicals with selective action which are still in the developmental and experimentational stages are also described.Because of its comprehensive character, the book will be a useful source of information to those engaged in practical work in this field, as well as to researchers in the agricultural sciences.
  • Natural Products Isolation

    Separation Methods for Antimicrobials, Antivirals and Enzyme Inhibitors
    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 43
    • G.H. Wagman + 1 more
    • English
    This new book encompasses, in great detail, the most recent progress made in the isolation and separation of natural products. It covers antibiotics, marine and plant-derived substances, enzyme inhibitors and interferons. The most recent separation methodology is described. Although there is a bias toward antibiotics, it was done because this is still the largest natural products area of research.The fourteen chapters are written by experts in their respective fields. The first two chapters are largely devoted to new methodology applied to purification of a variety of compounds. They include an extensive review and new applications of counter-current chromatography and the newly emerging HPLC-photodiode array technology. Chapter 3 provides a review of affinity chromatography applied to the separation of antibiotics for the first time. Next are chapters on antimicrobials with an update on all the most recent &bgr;-lactam (after 1976) discoveries. A comprehensive review of a very important class of antiparasitic agents - the avermectins - follows. An update of isolation and purification of a variety of marine-derived compounds is next. The succeeding chapter is a comprehensive review of the most recent developments in isolation and purification of interferons. This is followed by a discussion of enzyme inhibitors and their isolation and purification and ties in with a chapter on plant-derived natural products, some of which are also in this same category. The final chapter is a futuristic essay indicating the isolation of minute amounts of natural products and the fascinating biological properties which they possess.The book has extensive isolation schemes, tables, figures and chemical structures. In many instances a short summary of the producing organism, brief chemical description and structure and biological activity of the compounds is presented. Detailed information of extraction, separation and purification techniques follow. Each chapter has an extensive bibliography and, where applicable, an appendix showing sources of materials and equipment. A detailed index to the subject matter is included at the end of the book.The book thus offers the reader: up-to-date reviews (including 1988) of specific topics in the natural products field not to be found elsewhere; information on new chromatographic methods and techniques described in sufficient detail to be utilized by investigators in this area of research; and extensive references to enable the serious researcher to pursue particular information. It will appeal to pharmaceutical and natural products researchers and is a valuable acquisition for university chemistry and biochemistry departments.