Author Archive

Predicting Nanomaterial Safety

Nanotechnology is now part of our everyday lives and new nanomaterials are continuously being developed for many applications.

However, as there are still concerns over the effects of some nanomaterials on our health and the environment any new material must be thoroughly risk assessed. Up to now, information on the techniques available to evaluate the materials is scattered throughout the literature and mainly focuses on experimental methods.

Towards Efficient Designing of Safe Nanomaterials edited by Jerzy Leszczynski, Jackson State University, USA and Tomasz Puzyn, University of Gdansk, Poland covers the recent developments of both empirical and new computational methods including benefits versus risks, environmental detection and quantitative analysis, chemometric modelling, human exposure assessment, toxicity testing, nano-QSAR, risk assessment strategies, policy and regulatory frameworks. The book provides a comprehensive resource for researchers designing new materials to conduct the risk assessments necessary.

Don’t run the risk of missing out – access the content today.

Interested in other books on nanomaterials? Read more in the RSC Nanoscience & Nanotechnology Series.

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Safeguarding our Material Resources

We’re all familiar with sustainability when it comes to energy and food, but the world is also in jeopardy from running out of certain materials.

We are slowly exhausting a number of substances derived from our planet such as oil, phosphates, helium, gold and even elements such as rare earths are becoming scarce.

In this new book, Materials for a Sustainable Future, experts provide a readable account of the concepts of sustainable living including include up-to-date statistics, recent research, and references to the latest work.

The book brings together five key themes which can appear disparate in topic, but which are all linked to sustainability allowing comparisons, synergies and issues to be identified. These include elements that could soon be in short supply; sustainability related to biomass; methane for transportation fuel and chemical production; materials related to energy conversion, storage and distribution; and sustainability related to materials in the urban environment and to water.

From industrialists and researchers to policy makers and the public, this book is suitable for anyone wanting a better understanding of sustainable materials.

Sustain your knowledge – get the book today!

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Architecture at the Nanoscale

Materials with defined functional structures are needed for many applications such as catalysis, solar cells and drug delivery, however, to be able to produce the correct architecture an understanding of the concepts and methods is required.

‘Nanoarchitectonics’ was introduced by Masakazu Aono, Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials Science, Japan and describes the organisation of nanostructured units into a specific arrangement to produce a specific function.

In Manipulation of Nanoscale Materials, Katsuhiko Ariga introduces this concept, covering nanoarchitectonics for materials development, bio-conjugates and bio-applications, and advanced devices. The first book in its field, this is essential reading for anyone interested in nanomaterials research.

Build up your knowledge – read the book today!

Interested in other books on nanomaterials? Read more in the RSC Nanoscience & Nanotechnology Series.

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Bringing Photofunctional Materials to Light

Photofunctional materials hold great promise for energy and optoelectronic/photonic applications. To design useful materials with specific functional roles we need to understand the different methods of synthesis available.

In this timely book, Molecular Design and Applications of Photofunctional Polymers and Materials, leading experts in the field provide a critical perspective of the current field, with emphasis on fundamental concepts and current uses.

Shed light on the subject – access the content now.

Interested in polymer research? Find further books in the RSC Polymer Chemistry Series.

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RSC Book Author Wins Award

Congratulations to RSC Book Author, Dr Eric Block, State University of New York at Albany, on receiving the Sterling Hendricks Memorial Lectureship Award sponsored by USDA-Agricultural Research Service and co-Sponsored by AGFD and AGRO Divisions of the American Chemical Society.
 
Dr Block’s book, Garlic and Other Alliums, provides an entertaining account of the history and uses of these plants whilst introducing the reader to the chemistry and biochemistry.

“What do garlic and onions have in common with gunpowder? A lot. They’re incendiary. They can do harm and they delight. Sulfur is central to their powers. And they helped inspire the work of a chemist who has just published a welcome treatise on the smelly yet indispensable allium family. Dr. Block’s book may be the definitive word on the alliums for the moment, but as it and he make clear, there are new flavors to look forward to.” Reviewed in The New York Times

“Both entertaining, and at the same time a challenging read, there is a lot of valuable information in this book. My hat is off to Eric for the amazing contribution to the world’s collection of allium science.” Reviewed in The Garlic Press

Want to know more? Get your copy of Garlic and Other Alliums today.

Mad for Garlic? Dr Block will also be talking about the hidden world in a clove of garlic at the upcoming Toronto Garlic Festival, October 13-14 2012.

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The Chemistry of Autumn Colours

As the leaves start to change colour here in the UK, we’ve selected a book that helps us understand more about chromophores, the part of a molecule which gives it colour.
 
Circular Dichroism and Magnetic Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy are techniques that provide details about the conformations and electronic states of chromophore containing molecules. The technique isn’t widely employed due to the inaccessible theory underlying the method. Most books on the subject focus on the mathematical theory, which are aimed at physical chemists and physicists.

September’s book of the month, Circular Dichroism and Magnetic Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy for Organic Chemists, is written by researchers actively using these techniques for other researchers wanting to incorporate the method into their work with specific emphasis on interpreting the spectral data.

Put the colour back into your research – access the content now!

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Tackling microbes the nano way

Nanoparticles in Anti-Microbial MaterialsFrom healthcare products to food packaging, anti-microbial materials are needed to help reduce the spread of infection and disease. Many nanomaterials demonstrate anti-microbial activity, in particular silver nanoparticles, which has lead to a surge of research in this area. By covering the properties, synthesis, characterisation and toxicology, Nanoparticles in Anti-Microbial Materials presents an informative and interesting insight into materials exhibiting anti-microbial properties.

Written by Fiona Regan, James Chapman, Timothy Sullivan, Dublin City University, Ireland, this new book provides an essential source of information for both those with an advanced knowledge of the area and new to the field.

Find out more about the development of materials which resist microorganisms – access the eBook.

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Celebrating the work of Colin Thornton

Discrete Element Modelling of Particulate MediaColin Thornton is one of the pioneers of the discrete element method (DEM), a numerical technique for analysing the mechanics and physics of particulate media. To celebrate his 70th birthday and recognise his exceptional scientific contributions, the International Symposium on Discrete Element Modelling of Particulate Media held at Birmingham, UK on 28-30th March, 2012 was held in his honour.

Discrete Element Modelling of Particulate Media is a collection of the papers from the meeting highlighting the current developments in the areas of two-phase systems, cohesive systems, granular flows and quasi-static deformation, all inspired by Colin’s work.

This book is a welcome addition to the literature for those working on powder handling and formulation.

Don’t miss out on the latest developments – read the book today.

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It’s not the taking part that counts, it’s the chemistry!

Sporting fever is gripping the nation here in the UK and you may not have realised, but chemistry plays a vital role in sport.

From the outfits the athletes wear and equipment they use to ensuring fairness by detecting unscrupulous competitors that use performance enhancing drugs. Even in sporting arenas, its chemistry that has enabled the fabrication of Astroturf to prevent water logged pitches.

Read more about how chemistry is changing the game in John Emsley’s A Healthy Wealthy Sustainable World.

Don’t lose out- get your copy today.

Interested in similar titles? Learn more about how chemistry is improving the clothes you wear in The Chemistry of Textile Fibres.

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Concerned about how environmental agents affect us?

To celebrate the launch of the new RSC Journal, Toxicology Research, we’ve selected Biomarkers and Human Biomonitoring from the Issues in Toxicology Book Series as July’s book of the month.

Human biomonitoring is a technique used to measure exposure to environmental agents such as phthalates, mercury and lead, by testing tissue or fluid samples for specific biomarkers, evidence that an environmental agent has entered the body e.g. the agent itself, its metabolites or a change resulting from the interaction of the agent in the body such as protein levels.

With an increasing use of this technique in environmental health assessments and in monitoring programs worldwide, Biomarkers and Human Biomonitoring provides readers with a complete overview of this fascinating area. Volume one introduces the key concepts of biomonitoring and summarises current global studies along with individual chapters on well known environmental biomarkers including bisphenol A, phthalates,  lead, mercury, arsenic, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and dioxins. Volume two highlights different biomarkers of exposure which are gaining recent attention including hemoglobin adducts, hormone activity and micronuclei as well as biomarkers of human exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and mycotoxins.

Find out more about how the environment is affecting you – read the ebook now:

Biomarkers and Human Biomonitoring Volume 1: Ongoing Programs and Exposures
Biomarkers and Human Biomonitoring Volume 2: Selected Biomarkers of Current Interest

Interested in similar titles? Read more books in the Issues in Toxicology and RSC Drug Discovery Series.

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