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Books in Physical sciences and engineering

  • Renewable Photocatalysts

    Technologies, Applications, Economics, Environmental Analysis, and a Sustainable Future
    • 1st Edition
    • Hui Xu + 2 more
    • English
    Renewable Photocatalysts: Technologies, Applications, Economics, Environmental Analysis, and a Sustainable Future offers an innovative and broad approach to photocatalysts, integrating design, materials, methods, applications, economics, and sustainable development. The book begins by introducing solar energy and catalysis, before delving into cutting-edge photocatalyst technologies and applications. The third section focuses on regulations, economics, and commercialization, before the final chapters provide further in-depth coverage of environmental considerations, life cycle, and applications. The lens of sustainable development is applied throughout the book, with a view to developing renewable photocatalysts that support the reduction of CO2 emissions, net zero goals, and sustainable development. This is a valuable resource for researchers, students, faculty, engineers, R&D, scientists, and policy makers, with an interest in solar energy, photocatalysts, and sustainable development.
  • Sustainable Biogas Production

    Transforming Waste into Energy and Fertilizers
    • 1st Edition
    • Dawid Skrzypczak + 1 more
    • English
    Sustainable Biogas Production: Transforming Waste into Energy and Fertilizers is a comprehensive guide to managing digestate from biogas plants, with a focus on renewable energy and sustainable agriculture. Grounded in the principles of circular economy, the book explains technological foundations and treatment technologies, all supported by sustainability assessments and global case studies. It begins with an introduction to biogas technology, providing an overview of biogas production, its historical context, evolution, and its role in sustainable waste management. It then delves into the principles of biogas production, explaining the types of organic waste suitable for biogas production, the anaerobic digestion process, and more. Other sections discuss the efficacy and application of biogas fertilizers, present global case studies on biogas projects, and provide an overview of the sustainability and economic viability of biogas production. The book concludes with a discussion on the policy and regulatory framework for biogas production, including future outlooks on policy trends and their implications for the biogas industry.
  • Introduction to Supercritical Fluids

    A Spreadsheet-Based Approach
    • 2nd Edition
    • Richard L. Smith + 2 more
    • English
    Introduction to Supercritical Fluids: A Spreadsheet-Based Approach, Second Edition provides an accessible overview of elementary supercritical fluid processes (including extraction, particle formation, heat exchangers, phase equilibrium, chemical reaction equilibrium) supported by easy-to-use Excel spreadsheets suitable for both specialized-discipli... (chemistry or chemical engineering student) and mixed-discipline (engineering/economi... student) classes. Each chapter contains worked examples, tip boxes and end-of-the-chapter problems and projects. Part I covers web-based chemical information resources, applications and simplified theory presented in a way that allows students of all disciplines to delve into the properties of supercritical fluids and to design energy, extraction and materials formation systems for real-world processes that use supercritical water or supercritical carbon dioxide. P Part II takes a practical approach and addresses the thermodynamic framework, equations of state, fluid phase equilibria, heat and mass transfer (newly added), chemical equilibria and also reaction kinetics (newly added) of supercritical fluids. Spreadsheets are arranged as Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) functions and macros that are completely (source code) accessible for students who have interest in developing their own programs. Programming is not required to solve problems or to complete projects in the text. Introduction to Supercritical Fluids, Second Edition is written primarily for graduate students and researchers in chemistry, chemical engineering, and materials science.
  • Methanol Synthesis from CO2

    Towards Achieving Carbon Neutrality
    • 1st Edition
    • Lebohang Macheli + 3 more
    • English
    Methanol Synthesis from CO2: Towards Achieving Carbon Neutrality explores the conversion of CO2 into methanol, a vital step towards carbon neutrality, and delves into the intricate chemical reactions, catalytic mechanisms, and engineering strategies that underpin this transformative process. By addressing the global carbon challenge, the book emphasizes the urgent need to repurpose CO2 from a harmful pollutant into a valuable feedstock, paving the way for a sustainable future powered by methanol. The book covers a wide array of topics, including the historical evolution of methanol synthesis, sustainable feedstocks, and advanced catalytic methods. Readers will gain insights into reaction mechanisms, process technologies, and the role of artificial intelligence in optimizing production. Additionally, the book examines the environmental and economic implications of methanol synthesis, providing a holistic view of its potential applications across various industries, from fuel blending to chemical manufacturing. This is an essential resource for researchers, engineers, policymakers, and industry professionals in fields such as chemical engineering, environmental science, and renewable energy.
  • Life Cycle Assessment of the Environmental Impact of Natural Materials

    • 1st Edition
    • Sanjay Mavinkere Rangappa + 3 more
    • English
    Life Cycle Assessment of the Environmental Impact of Natural Materials explores the LCA of natural materials that are currently being utilized in product development. The book covers LCA theories, strategies, and current methodologies and presents the vital role that LCA plays in assessing the environmental impact of natural resources in different industries, including agriculture, mining, bio-based products, and textiles. It demonstrates how LCA can be used to steer the creation of environmentally-frie... products and to advance sustainability within the circular economy. In addition, the book demonstrates ways of incorporating LCA into everyday decision-making processes, with a particular emphasis on diverse industrial sectors.It will be a valuable reference resource for all those who are concerned about the environmental safety and sustainability of natural materials that are used in the development of environmentally- friendly products. It will allow the reader to make well-informed decisions regarding natural resources to actively participate in environmentally-cons... practices.
  • Natural Polymer-Based Films and Coatings in Food Technology

    • 1st Edition
    • Ewelina Jamróz + 1 more
    • English
    Natural Polymer-Based Films and Coatings in Food Technology provides a thorough overview of several bio-based polymers used in the preparation of single- or multi-layer films and coatings, as well as their current and potential applications in the field of food science. The book starts with an introduction to biopolymer films and coatings, followed by a discussion of their properties, production, and utilization as smart packaging materials. It then discusses the applications and future trends of biopolymer films and coatings in food technology, as well as the interaction between food and packaging, including chemical migration.In the last chapters, the book addresses materials’ biodegradation, lifecycle assessment, and packaging legal regulations, ending with a presentation of real-world examples of industrial and commercial applications. This book is a valuable resource for academic and industrial researchers, materials scientists, and R&D professionals seeking to explore the advancements and applications of natural polymer-based films and coatings in the food industry.
  • Robust Dynamic State Estimation of Power Systems

    • 1st Edition
    • Junbo Zhao + 2 more
    • English
    Robust Dynamic State Estimation of Power Systems demonstrates how to implement and apply robust dynamic state estimators to problems in modern power systems, thereby bridging the literatures of dynamic state estimation and robust estimation theory. The book presents Kalman filter algorithms, demonstrating how to build powerful, robust counterparts. Following sections build out case study-based implementations of robust Kalman filters to decontextualized applications across dynamic state estimation in power systems. Coverage encompasses theoretical backgrounds, motivations, problem formulation, implementations, uncertainties, anomalies and practical applications, such as generator parameter calibration, unknown inputs estimation, control failure detection, protection, and cyberattack detection. Future research topics are identified and discussed, including open research questions. The book will serve as a key reference for power system real-time monitoring, control center engineers, and graduate students for learning (course related work) and research.
  • Seismic Retrofit of Buildings

    Portal Frames, Performance-Based Plastic Design, and Detailing Techniques
    • 1st Edition
    • Moosa Mazloom
    • English
    Moderate to severe earthquakes can cause vast damage to buildings and their foundations, endangering the lives of residents and leading to complex and costly search, rescue, and clean-up efforts. Seismic Retrofit of Buildings provides in-demand information on state-of-the-art technology and materials that are reshaping the field, with a particular focus on prefabricated, moment-resisting steel portal frames.The book’s gradual introduction of performance-based plastic design concepts primes readers for the acquisition of in-depth technical competence in the implementation of solutions that not only improve the overall safety of a structure in the event of life-threatening ground motions but also offer advantages of both cost-effective and practical resilience significance. Rehabilitation issues, specialized techniques, considerations related to aesthetic appeal, construction drawings, functional detailing, photos from real-life projects, and other practice-informed insights are all included to make up a carefully composed and balanced reference resource that is of value for audiences in both academia and industry.
  • Nanocellulose for Biomedical Applications

    • 1st Edition
    • Jayanta Kumar Patra + 5 more
    • English
    Nanocellulose for Biomedical Applications thoroughly reviews the core principles and practical aspects for the synthesis and application of nanocellulose in biomedicine. The book begins with coverage of the production and properties of nanocellulose, detailing the unique physico-chemical properties, surface modification and characterization techniques, and synthesis and sterilization methods of various nanocellulose types. A key selection of biomedical applications is reviewed - including tissue engineering, drug delivery, and sensing - detailing the benefits and challenges of nanocellulose in each and enabling readers to make informed materials selections. Finally, the commercial aspects of nanocellulose-based products are explored, from lifecycle assessment and industrial-scale production to degradation pathways and environmental impacts. This book provides an interdisciplinary resource that will be of interest to researchers and academics in materials science, biomaterials, nanotechnology, tissue engineering, pharmaceutical science, and microbiology.
  • Advances in Waste Plastic Recycling and Upcycling

    • 1st Edition
    • Roger Ruan + 2 more
    • English
    Advances in Waste Plastic Recycling and Upcycling discusses recent developments in the mechanical and chemical recycling of waste plastics for the production of fuels, chemicals, and materials. The plastic chemistry and status of plastic recycling is introduced, and the book addresses optimization and upgrading procedures that aim to improve the quality and the environmental impact of plastic conversion as well as the techno-economic, lifecycle assessment, and social impacts of chemical recycling. In addition, the book covers how to effectively manage and recycle global waste plastics and various plastic pathways.