Eco-friendly Functional Polymers: An Approach from Application-targeted Green Chemistry

There is a growing demand for strategies to address the impact of polymers and plastics in ecosystems. The principles of green chemistry offer a good source of such strategies. Ecofriendly Functional Polymers: An Approach from Application-Targeted Green Chemistry provides a holistic overview of polymer chemistry, development, and applications in the context of these sustainability-driven principles. It encourages researchers to consider the principles of green chemistry, environmental impacts, and end-user needs as integral aspects for consideration at the earliest stages of any design process, and draws together key aspects of polymer chemistry, organic synthesis, experimental design, and applications in a single volume.

Beginning with an authoritative guide to fundamental polymer chemistry and its impact in the current environmental context, the book then discusses a range of key theoretical and experimental aspects of designing eco-friendly functional polymers. Applications of ecofriendly functional polymers across an entire range of fields are discussed, and a selection of case studies highlights the implementation of theoretical and experimental information to address a broad selection of issues.

• Highlights the physicochemical principles of green chemistry and the development of biodegradable and recyclable polymers in this context
• Compiles key information connecting structural features with properties, experimental strategies, and appropriate applications into a single volume
• Discusses requirements and applications across a broad range of fields, supported by practical examples

Manuel Palencia is chemist of Universidad de Córdoba (Montería – Colombia) and Doctor in Science of Universidad de Concepción (Concepción – Chile). At present, He is a professor with the Department of Chemistry at the Universidad del Valle (Cali – Colombia) and Director of the Research Group in Science with Technological Applications (GI-CAT).

He is co-author of two invention patents, three book chapters, and several research articles in the fields of polymers, nanotechnology, agricultural and environmental sciences and membrane systems, including aspects of analytical sciences and chemical-physics description of biosystems, macromolecules and hybrid materials for numerous applications. He has been invited speaker in several specialized events. In particular, he was one of the top 5 finalists for the 2018 Elsevier Foundation Green & Sustainable Chemistry Challenge with his project Biomass-plastic: Eco-friendly structural materials, and his project was chose to receive support for development and implementation from the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ICS3)

Tulio A. Lerma is chemist of Universidad del Valle (Cali – Colombia), Master in Chemistry and Candidate Doctor in Science of the same university. At the present, he is a researcher with both the Mindtech Research Group (Mindtech-RG) of Mindtech S.A.S., and the Research Group in Science with Technological Applications (GI-CAT) of Universidad del Valle. He is co-author of several research articles in the fields of polymers, nanotechnology, agricultural and environmental sciences, in particular, macromolecular systems, hybrid materials for sustainable environmental applications and geo- and biomimetic polymer systems.

Viviana Garcés is chemist of Universidad del Valle (Cali – Colombia), Master in Chemistry and Candidate Doctor in Science of the same university. At the present, she is a researcher with both the Mindtech Research Group (Mindtech-RG) of Mindtech S.A.S., and the Research Group in Science with Technological Applications (GI-CAT) of Universidad del Valle. She is co-author of several research articles in the fields of biopolymers and polymers for application in agricultural and environmental sciences, with a particular focus on hydrogels and biotic-support hybrid materials.

Mayra A. Mora is chemist of Universidad del Valle (Cali – Colombia), Master in Chemistry and Candidate Doctor in Science of the same university. At the present, she is researcher with both the Mindtech Research Group (Mindtech-RG) of Mindtech S.A.S. and the Research Group in Science with Technological Applications (GI-CAT) of Universidad del Valle. She is co-author of several research articles in the fields of biopolymers, polymers for application in agricultural and environmental sciences, with a particular focus on functional polymers for separation technologies in several industries.

Jina M. Martínez is chemist of Universidad del Valle (Cali – Colombia), Master in Chemistry and Candidate Doctor in Science of the same university. At the present, she is a researcher with the Mindtech Research Group (Mindtech-RG) of Mindtech S.A.S. She is co-author of several research articles in the fields of functional polymers for environmental applications, including water, soil and air.