They function for structure (e.g. cellulose, chitin), storage (e.g. starch, glycogen), and gel formation (e.g. agar, pectins); they are abundant, renewable, and biodegradable; and they could and should play an increasingly important role for industrial purposes as reserves of petroleum-based synthetic polymers dwindle (and become so highly politicized that the world can"t stop fighting wars). This volume reflects the current state of knowledge of polysaccharides, with emphasis on structures, methods of structural analysis, functions and properties, and novel routes of modification. Among the applications: biotechnological production, waste water treatment, ion exchange resins, precious metal recovery, gas-and liquid-phase separations, biosurfactants, and electro-optical applications. For this substantial, comprehensive work, editor Dumitriu (U. of Sherbrooke, Canada) brings together 49 chapters from a long international list of contributors. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)