Processes for recovering fresh water from the oceans - of which men have dreamed since antiquity - have changed markedly in the last 20 years. In fact, it has become possible so to increase the productivity of the technical steps involved that the cost of production of such water is almost three orders of magnitude smaller than for other large volume industrial products. However, the monographs and comprehensive reviews which have appeared to date in this field have been prepared by specialists for specialists. In accordance with the tradition and objectives of the Gmelin Handbook, this bibliography has been prepared to provide access to aII of the ways in which fresh water can be, and has been, obtained on an industrial scale from the ocean. Production of fresh water from sea and brackish waters amounts to almost two million cubic meters per day, and this is increasing by about 25% per year. This means that it will increase nearly tenfold in 10 years.

February issue includes Appendix entitled Directory of United States Government periodicals and subscription publications; September issue includes List of depository libraries; June and December issues include semiannual index

Principles of Desalination, Second Edition, Part B focuses on the processes that remove salt and other minerals from saline water. This book consists of five chapters. Chapter 7 focuses on the conversion of saline water to fresh water by freezing, while Chapter 8 describes "hyperfiltration, which is the separation of salts and other low- molecular-weight solutes from solvent by passage under pressure through a selective membrane. The processes, equipment, control devices, and chemical products involved in ultrapure water are outlined in Chapter 9. Chapter 10 covers the mineral-scale problem, chemistry of alkaline scaling, physical factors in scale deposition, and techniques for scale abatement and control. The conversion of radiant energy into forms useful for desalination is elaborated in the last chapter. This publication is a good source for students and researchers conducting work on the principles of desalination.