Water-soluble polymers have been attracting increasing atten­ tion because of their utility in industrial applications of great current concern. Perhaps preeminent among these is their ability to flocculate suspended solids, e.g., wastes in municipal sew­ age-treatment plants or pulp in papermaking. other important applications are to aid in so-called secondary recovery of petroleum, to reduce turbulent friction of water, and as components of water-based finishes developed in response to environmental constraints. Some water-soluble polymers have shown interesting bio­ logic activity, which is being investigated further. This book is based on papers presented at a symposium held by the American Chemical Society, Division of Organic Coatings and Plastics Chemistry, in New York City on 30-31 August 1972. The large attendance and the favorable response of the audience con­ firmed not only our view of the importance of the field but also the need to bring these topics together. The chapters in this book are generally enlarged and more detailed, with more complete bibliographies, than the papers presented at the Symposium. They include not only the important applications described above, but also descriptions of new syntheses and characterization methods.