Understand the future of water treatment with this groundbreaking introduction There are few more requirements for human life more vital than clean water. Increasingly, however, both developed and developing countries are facing significant challenges to the maintenance of clean water sources, with population growth, industrial pollution, hazardous water contamination, and climate impact all taking a toll. With conventional methods of water purification proving less and less satisfactory, attention is increasingly turning to biopolymers extracted from natural sources, such as cellulose and chitosan, for their potential as renewable water treatment agents. Biopolymers for Water Purification provides an overview of this growing field of study and its recent developments. It covers key techniques for synthesizing and modifying biopolymers, as well as their roles in treating water pollution and meeting targeted water quality requirements. The result is a detailed, comprehensive introduction to this field with potentially immense ramifications for long-term human life. It is the first book solely dedicated to the engineering of biopolymer-based membranes for water purification and promises to become a landmark in the field. Biopolymers for Water Purification readers will also find: Detailed treatment of important polymers including chitin, glycogen, kerating, and more Discussion of ongoing challenges and directions for future research Introduction to the history and characterization of biopolymers Biopolymers for Water Purification is a useful reference for polymer chemists, water chemists, materials scientists, engineering scientists, and advanced postgraduate researchers in any of these or related fields.