Engineering Technologies for Renewable and Recyclable Materials ― Physical-chemical Properties and Functional Aspects

Recycling and reuse of materials is of considerable interest these days. This new resource, Engineering Technologies for Renewable and Recyclable Materials: Physical-Chemical Properties and Functional Aspects, focuses on many recent advances in recycling and reuse of materials, outlining basic tools and novel approaches. It covers such important issues as e-waste recycling, bio-mass recycling, vermitechnology, recovery of metals, polymer recycling, environmental remediation, waste management, recycling of nanostructured materials, and more. Also included is coverage of new research in the use of laser spectroscopy, pyrolysis, and recycled biomaterials for biomedical applications.

Written by some of the most innovative minds in various fields of study, this book will help professionals and students understand cutting-edge and futuristic areas of recycling and reuse of materials, facilitating further research and application of some methods into real-world applications and helping to find suitable methods for solving a burning question of waste management. The volume will be of interest to scientists, engineers, technologists, and those in industry.

Mr. Jithin Joy is Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Newman College, Thodupuzha, India. He is engaged in doctoral studies in the area of nanocellulose-based polymer nanocomposites. He has also conducted research work at Clemson University, South Carolina, USA. He is a co-editor of the books titled Natural Rubber Materials: Volume 2: Composites and Nanocomposites, published by the Royal Society of Chemistry, and Micro- and Nanostructured Polymer Systems: From Synthesis to Applications, published by Apple Academic Press. In 2010, Mr. Joy received a prestigious research fellowship administered jointly by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and the University Grants Commission of the Government of India. He has publications in international journals and conference proceedings to his credit. He is a co-author of several books chapters, peer-reviewed publications, and invited presentations in international forums. He received his MSc degree in Chemistry from Mahatma Gandhi University.

Maciej Jaroszewski, PhD, is an Assistant Professor and Head of the High Voltage Laboratory at Wroclaw University of Technology in Wroclaw, Poland. He received his MS and PhD degrees in high voltage engineering from the same university in 1993 and 1999 respectively. Dr. Jaroszewski was a contractor/prime contractor of several grants and a head of grant project on "degradation processes and diagnosis methods for high voltage ZnO arresters for distribution systems" and is currently a contractor of a key project co-financed by the foundations of the European Regional Development Foundation within the framework of the Operational Programme Innovative Economy. His current research interests include high-voltage techniques, HV equipment diagnostics, HV test techniques, degradation of ZnO varistors, and dielectric spectroscopy.

Praveen K. M. is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at SAINTGITS College of Engineering, India. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Engineering Sciences at the University of South Brittany (Universite de Bretagne Sud) – Laboratory IRDL PTR1, Research Center "Christiaan Huygens," in Lorient, France, in the area of coir-based polypropylene micro composites and nanocomposites. He has published an international article in Applied Surface Science (Elsevier) and has also presented poster and conference papers at national and international conferences. He also has worked with the Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Mahatma Gandhi University, India; and the Technical University in Liberec, Czech Republic. His current research interests include plasma modification of polymers, polymer composites for neutron shielding applications, and nanocellulose.

Sabu Thomas, PhD, is a Professor of Polymer Science and Engineering at the School of Chemical Sciences and Director of the International and Inter University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India. The research activities of Professor Thomas include surfaces and interfaces in multiphase polymer blend and composite systems; phase separation in polymer blends; compatibilization of immiscible polymer blends; thermoplastic elastomers; phase transitions in polymers; nanostructured polymer blends; macro-, micro- and nanocomposites; polymer rheology; recycling; reactive extrusion; processing–morphology–property relationships in multiphase polymer systems; double networking of elastomers; natural fibers and green composites; rubber vulcanization; interpenetrating polymer networks; diffusion and transport; and polymer scaffolds for tissue engineering. He has supervised 68 PhD theses, 40 MPhil theses, and 45 Masters thesis. He has three patents to his credit. He also received the coveted Sukumar Maithy Award for the best polymer researcher in the country for the year 2008. Very recently, Professor Thomas received the MRSI and CRSI medals for his excellent work. With over 600 publications to his credit and over 23683 citations, with an h-index of 75, Dr. Thomas has been ranked fifth in India as one of the most productive scientists.

Reza Haghi, PhD, is a research assistant at the Institute of Petroleum Engineering at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom. Dr. Haghi has published several papers in international peer-reviewed scientific journals and has published several papers in conference proceedings, technical reports, and lecture notes. Dr. Haghi is an expert in the development and application of spectroscopy techniques for monitoring hydrate and corrosion risks and developed techniques for early detection of gas hydrate risks. He conducted integrated experimental modeling in his studies and extended his research to monitoring system to pH and risk of corrosion. During his PhD work at Heriot-Watt University, he has developed various novel flow assurance techniques based on spectroscopy as well as designed and operated test equipment. He received his MSc in Advanced Control Systems from the University of Salford, Manchester, England, United Kingdom.