Electronic waste includes such items as TVs, computers, LCD and plasma displays, and mobile phones, as well as a wide range of household, medical and industrial equipment which are simply discarded as new technologies become available. Huge and growing quantities of waste are discarded every year and this waste contains toxic and carcinogenic compounds which can pose a risk to the environment. However, if handled correctly, electronic waste presents a valuable source of secondary raw materials. This book brings together a group of leading experts in the management of electrical and electronic...

Nanotechnology is a much talked about, and rapidly expanding area of science, which is sometimes little understood. It looks set to make a significant impact on human life and, with numerous commercial developments emerging, will become a major industry over the coming years. Nanotechnology can be broadly described as developing or exploiting products at nanometre dimensions (i.e. as having one dimension less than 100 nanometres). Such materials have a larger surface area to volume ratio than conventional materials which provides them with an increased level of reactivity, and consequently,...

It is widely recognised that global warming is occurring due to increasing levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Methods of capturing and then storing CO2 from major sources such as fossil-fuel-burning power plants are being developed to reduce the levels emitted to the atmosphere by human activities. The book reports on progress in this field and provides a context within the range of natural absorption processes in the oceans and forests and in soil. Comparisons with alternative energy sources such as solar and nuclear are made and policy issues are also...