Heat and Mass Transfer in Fibrous Materials: Theory and Applications (Hardbound - 2009)

Waste has always been associated with human activity and is a necessary evil in any developmental process. Today, the sheer quantity and diversity of wastes generated by industries and municipalities pose serious risks to both human health and environment. It is imperative, therefore, to create awareness among entrepreneurs, manufacturers and local authorities for the need to treat and recycle wastes generated from the applications of varied technologies and convert them into wealth.

The arbitrary exploitation of natural resources and ignorance of the deleterious effects have resulted in the alarming increase of environmental pollution alongside the urbanization, industrialization and changing agricultural practices. Contrary to popular belief, the environmental pollution particularly in the developing countries, is not as much caused by industrial emissions or nuclear wastes as is caused by day-to-day living of human beings because industrial pollution is concentrated in certain towns and cities and can be shifted anywhere but no such measure can be taken for the sudden prohibition of human-derived pollution occurring at all places. The resulting solid waste, sewage and night soil pose the most grave and widespread of all environmental problems. The disposal of the incessant piling of such waste requires proper solid and hazardous waste management.

The book Heat and Mass Transfer in Fibrous Materials: Theory and Applications is an attempt to put together the various options available to meet the twin goals of environmental conservation and sustainable development. The main aim of the book is to bring to light different ways of converting waste into wealth. The text throughout is sufficiently supplemented with diagrams and tables which would facilitate quick grasping of the concepts. The book is of reference value to practicing engineers, entrepreneurs, consultants, financial institutions, researchers, students, teachers as well as voluntary agencies. Besides, it will prove extremely useful to environmentalists, development practitioners, and waste management experts.

A.K. Haghi holds a B.Sc. in Urban and Environmental Engineering from the University of North Carolina (USA), an M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University (USA), a DEA in Applied Mechanics, Acoustics and Materials from Université de Technologie de Compiègne (France), and a Ph.D. in Engineering Sciences from Université de Franche-Comté (France). He is a full professor at University of Guilan (Iran). He serves as an associate member of the Technology Studies Research Collective of Communication Department (University of Ottawa, Canada). He has written over 300 articles which have appeared in scholarly journals and anthologies. He has presented over 200 papers in conferences and seminars. He has authored 15 books and edited several volumes. He is the Editor-in-Chief of International Journal of Chemoinformatics and Chemical Engineering (IJCCE).

S. Thomas is a Professor of School of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India. He is a Ph.D. from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur and is a B.Tech in Polymer Science and Technology from Cochin University. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and Member of the American Chemical Society. Dr. Thomas has published over 300 papers in wide ranging topics on Material Engineering and has been a contributor to several books. He has edited four books on Material Engineering and has guided over thirty researchers. Dr. Thomas has two patents against his name for his work.

L.A. Pothan, a Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry from the Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, is a Reader at the Department of Chemistry, Bishop Moore College, Kerala, India. He is a Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry and the American Chemical Society. He is a scientist having research interests in Natural Fibre Composites, Green Composites, Nano Fibre Composites and Material Engineering. Dr. Pothan, who has research collaborations with a number of eminent scientists in his field of interest, is currently engaged in developing nano fibre based biodegradable composites.