The Handbook of Chemical Substitutes

Contents -

Introduction -
Substitute Requirements -
Miscellaneous -
List of Substitutes and Alternatives -
Appendix -

Preface -
Historically, this book was started about 40 years ago. At that time, the
cosmetic, drug and flavor industries were seeking substitutes for glycerin
and ethyl alcohol-for economic reasons and to avoid the red tape connected
with the buying, storage, use, and selling of alcohol and alcoholic
products. Fair substitutes were developed for both of these products, but
when the price of glycerin was stabilized at a reasonable figure, these substitutes
were almost completely forgotten.

Over a period of years, this writer has developed substitutes or alternatives
for numerous products in diverse industrial fields. Thus, a file of such
materials has been built up. To this has been added the suggestions of
others and references from scientific and technical journals and texts.

This book cannot be regarded as complete or encyclopediac. The subject
matter is in a state of flux and is growing and changing continuously. It
should be useful to many as a starting point. It should not be expected
to give the final answer to a highly specialized need. It is the task of the
specialist or expert to glean from it what may be applicable and to interpret,
interpolate, or "imagineer" a solution to his specific problem.

Condensation, rather than elaboration, has been the precept in assembling
this information, in order to expedite the publication of this book. It is
the concentrated essence of many years of experience of many chemists,
engineers, and other technical workers.