Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects is an international journal devoted to the science of the fundamentals, engineering fundamentals, and applications of colloidal and interfacial phenomena and processes. The journal aims at publishing research papers of high quality and lasting value. In addition, the journal contains critical review papers by acclaimed experts, brief notes, letters, book reviews, and announcements. Basic areas of interest include the following: theory and experiments on fluid interfaces; adsorption; surface aspects of catalysis; dispersion preparation, characterization and stability; aerosols, foams and emulsions; surfaces forces; micelles and microemulsions; light scattering and spectroscopy; detergency and wetting; thin films, liquid membranes and bilayers; surfactant science; polymer colloids; rheology of colloidal and disperse systems; electrical phenomena in interfacial and disperse systems. These and related areas are rich and broadly applicable to many industrial, biological and agricultural systems. Of interest are applications of colloidal and interfacial phenomena in the following areas: separation processes; materials processing; biological systems (see also companion publication Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces); environmental and aquatic systems; minerals extraction and metallurgy; paper and pulp production; coal cleaning and processing; oil recovery; household products and cosmetics; pharmaceutical preparations; agricultural, soil and food engineering; chemical and mechanical engineering.