Engineering of Natural Polymeric Gels and Aerogels for Multifunctional Applications

Engineering of Natural Polymeric Gels and Aerogels for Multifunctional Applications brings together detailed information on gels, hydrogels, and aerogels derived from natural polymers, covering materials, processing, fabrication techniques, structure-property relationships, and novel applications.

The book begins by introducing polymeric gels, hydrogels, and aerogels, the different types and properties, advantages and disadvantages, manufacturing techniques, production and scalability, and the possible applications. This is followed by thorough coverage of processing methods for obtaining natural polymer-based gels and hydrogels, with separate chapters focusing on physical processes, chemical processes, green processes, and processing for aerogels. The final chapters of the book focus on the preparation of natural polymer-based gels, hydrogels, and aerogels for many state-of-the-art applications, including biomedical, absorbent, energy saving, filtration, and sensing areas.

Engineering of Natural Polymeric Gels and Aerogels for Multifunctional Applications is an essential resource for all those with an interest in polymeric gels and natural polymers, including researchers and scientists in polymer engineering, polymer chemistry, sustainable materials, biomaterials, materials science and engineering, and chemical engineering. In industry, this book supports scientists, R&D, and engineers looking to utilize novel bio-based materials for advanced applications.

• Covers the physical, chemical, and green processing methods for obtaining gels, hydrogels, and aerogels from natural polymers
• Explores a range of cutting-edge uses, including in biomedical, absorbent, energy-saving, filtration, and bio-sensing applications
• Presents the latest innovations in the field, including the preparation of lightweight, highly open porous polysaccharide and protein aerogels

Sabu Thomas is currently an Emeritus Professor of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India. He is the former Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University and a Senior Professor of Christ University, Bangalore, India, as well as a visiting Professor at the Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Johannesburg, South Africa, Department of Chemical Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, and an Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Polymer and Process Engineering, IIT Roorkee, India.

Dr. Bastien Seantier is a chemical physicist working in the field of material sciences, currently as associate professor at the Institute of Research Dupuy De Lôme, University of South Britany, Lorient, France. With a background in materials science and polymer chemistry, he completed his PhD in chemical physics for macromolecular imprinting on lipid bilayers at the Institute Charles Sadron, Strasbourg, France, in 2004. Dr. Seantier’s current research deals with designing new polysaccharide aerogels for multifunctional applications. Starting from cellulose nanofibers extracted from several natural resources, he aims to develop biomaterials for various applications, such as thermal insulation, biomedical applications, bio-sensors, filtration, and biocomposites. These materials are now designed with various polysaccharide bioresources and processes as environmentally friendly as possible, like freeze-drying or spray freeze-drying. The aim is to control and tune the structure and morphology of the aerogels to specific applications.

Blessy Joseph is a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA. She earned degrees in Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering from the University of Kerala, India, including a master’s focused on Molecular Medicine. She later pursued her PhD
in the same field at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India. Her research focuses on nanotechnology, drug delivery systems, biomaterials, and polymer nanocomposites for tissue engineering.