1109 ANALYST SEPTEMBER 1986 VOL. 111 BOOK REVIEWS lmmunoassays in Food Analysis Edited by B. A. Morris and M. N. Clifford. Pp. xxii + 222. Elsevier. 1985. Price f25. ISBN 0 85334 321 7. This book is based on the papers presented at the first UK Symposium on Immunoassays in Food Analysis which was held at the University of Surrey in 1983. It is divided into three sections that cover the principles of immunoassay its appli-cation to the analysis of macromolecules and to the analysis of small molecules. The first published application of an immunoassay to food analysis appeared in 1970 and in the first chapter M. N. Clifford traces the development of this topic. As an appendix to this chapter Dr. Clifford has compiled a bibliography of papers (160 papers up to 1983) on food analysis by immunoas-say and this provides a most valuable source for the novice in this area.In Chapter 2 (B. A. Morris) the principles and practical aspects of immunoassay development are skilfully expounded. This chapter is packed with useful information on all aspects of assay development (labelling antibody pro-duction assessment of antisera assay conditions separation systems). The coverage is extended to enzyme immunoassay (EIA) in Chapter 3 which includes brief practical details of assay protocols in tabular form. No book on immunoassay would be complete without a chapter on non-isotopic labels, and in Chapter 4 G. W. Aherne surveys fluorescent chemi-luminescent and bioluminescent labels. Time-resolved fluor-escence immunoassays and chemiluminescent immunoassay have made considerable progress since 1983 and so this chapter is rather out of date in places but nonetheless provides a useful overview.The remainder of the book covers specific applications. Food analysis is complicated by the complexity of the sample and the multi-step sample preparation procedures (e.g. meat mixtures must be minced homogenised centrifuged and filtered in order to produce a sample suitable for analysis). Various applications are described including EIAs for animal albumins. These are used for species identification of meat (EIA ensures that the meat in your beefburger really is beef and not kangeroo!). DetaiIs of assays are also presented for arnyloglucosidase in beer (this enzyme is used to produce low-calorie beers) and staphylococcal enterotoxins in food.The third section of the book is devoted to the analysis of small molecules such as ochratoxin A (a toxic secondary metabolite of fungal species such as Aspergilius) anabolic hormones (e.g. diethylstilboestrol) and glycoalkaloids (e.g. a-solan-me). Overall this book provides a good introduction to the scope and problems of EIA in food analysis. L . J . Kricka Ion Solvation Yizhak Marcus. Pp. vii + 306. WiIey-lnterscience. 1985. Price f42. ISBN 0 471 90756 1. The author well known for two earlier works on solution chemistry “Ion Exchange and Solvent Extraction of Metal Complexes” (with Kertes) in 1969 and “Introduction to Liquid State Chemistry” in 1977 continues this theme with the present volume. Following an introduction ion solvation in the gas phase studied largely by mass spectrometry is briefly dealt with.The author then discusses various interactions that take place during liquid-phase solvation followed by an analysis of structural and kinetic aspects; here the use of X-ray infrared and NMR methods makes interesting reading. Chapter Five is devoted to the particular case of ion hydration. Chapters Six and Seven deal with ion - solvent interactions in non-aqueous and mixed solvents Chapter Eight with ion-pairing reactions (some in molten hydrated salts) and the final chapter discusses applications. The work is interspersed with excellent compilations of relevant data such as appropriate AGO AW and ASo values solvent - ion size parameters and hydration numbers.This well written and assembled book can be warmly recommended to any chemist concerned with an understand-ing of ionic reactions in solution although a good grip on basic thermodynamics would be a prerequisite for a full apprecia-tion of the theory involved. The final chapter on applications where for example pH scales in non-aqueous solvents, solvometallurgy topically interesting nuclear fuel reprocess-ing reactions ion-exchange resin behaviour in mixed solvents and relevance to organic synthesis are discussed acts as a pleasant leavening of the earlier theoretical rigour. M. A. Leonard Spectroscopic Properties of Inorganic and Organo-metallic Compounds. Volume 17 Senior Reporters G. Davidson and E. A. V. Ebsworth. Specialist Periodical Report.Pp. xvi + 395. Royal Society of Chemistry. 1985. Price f95; $138. ISBN 0 85186 153 9; ISSN 0584 8555. This book is a review of the spectroscopic properties of inorganic and organometallic compounds summarising the chemical literature to the end of 1983. It is produced to the high standard that is normally associated with RSC publi-cations with clear figures and chemical structures. The book is sub-divided on a technique basis into seven chapters by different authors viz. NMR by B. E. Mann with 2856 references in 154 pages; NQR by K. B. Dillon with 96 references in 17 pages; Rotational Spectroscopy by S. Cradock with 105 references in 10 pages; Characteristic Vibrations of Main-group Elements by S. Cradock with 344 references in 21 pages; Vibrational Spectra of Transition-element Compounds by G.Davidson with 350 references in 27 pages; Vibrational Spectra of Some Co-ordinated Ligands by G. Davidson with 426 references in 51 pages; Mossbauer Spectroscopy by J. D. Donaldson S. J. Clark and S. M. Grimes with 771 references in 94 pages; and Gas-phase Molecular Structures Determined by Electron Diffraction by D. W. Rankin and H. E. Robertson with 59 references in 14 pages. The different authors have adopted a similar format for each chapter. Within each chapter the work is summarised on a problem rather than technique basis. Key reviews in each area are cited together with a comprehensive overview of the literature. The various authors have succeeded in the gigantic task of condensing information from over 5000 references into a book of this size (395 pages).The major criticism of the book is that the inevitable time lag in producing the book almost 2 years from the period covered to publication reduces its impact on specialists working in the various areas. The Editor promises that the next volume will be produced from camera-ready copy which should reduce this time. In summary this is an excellent book which provides a good overview of the diverse spectroscopic techniques used to study inorganic and organometallic compounds. It will be a useful reference manual for specialists and others interested in this subject. D. P . Leworth 1110 ANALYST SEPTEMBER 1986 VOL. 111 Trace Analysis. Volume 4 Edited by James F. Lawrence. Pp. xii + 305. Academic Press.1985. Price $65; f65. ISBN 0 12 682104 6. This is the second volume of the Trace Analysis series that I have received the previous one being Volume 3. Although I found this volume less stimulating than Volume 3 it was equally well presented and provides a mine of useful infor-mation concerning the topics covered. Chapter 1 concerning ion-selective membrane electrodes and written by Les Ebdon and Beverley King is well written and covers most aspects of the design and application of ion-selective electrodes. It would have been of benefit, however to have had some comparisons between the enzyme and immuno-electrodes presented with other non-potentiometric electrochemical sensors. The second review by Terry F. Bidleman on high-volume collection of organic vapours using solid absorbants is a workmanlike presentation with comprehensive lists of materials used to collect pollutants and adequate descriptions of methods for collection.The third review on “Trace Analysis of Environmental Samples by X-ray Emission Spectroscopy,” is an excellent guide to the technique with a good and easily understandable explanation of X-ray tech-niques and their application to air and water pollution analysis. The fourth review “Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectrometry Applied to Elemental Analysis,” was similarly presented but the authors John R. Garbarino and Howard E. Taylor from the US Geological Survey seem not to have noticed that major developments in this field have occurred outside the USA. Thus the references cited are predominantly those published in the USA.Either these authors are not aware of the source of some of the developments they quote for example electrochemical vaporisation into the ICP or they suffer from the “not invented here” syndrome. The final review “Trace Analysis of Wet Atmospheric Deposition by Nuclear Methods” (Landsberger Jervis and Monaro) is also well presented and describes theoretical and practical considerations of neutron activation analysis and proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) in addition to the analytical procedures constraints and interpretation of the method. In their conclusions these authors present a real assessment of the techniques and offer areas for improvement rather than claim the techniques to be ultimate.To quote them “certainly the last chapter on the analysis of atmos-pheric precipitation chemistry has not been written yet.” This is also true of most analytical techniques and I look forward to reading subsequent volumes of Trace Analysis series to find out more. R. D. Snook Synthetic Polymeric Membranes. A Structural Perspec-tive. Second Edition Robert E. Kesting. Pp. xiv + 348. Wiley-lnterscience. 1985. Price f55.75. ISBN 0 471 807 17 6. This book is devoted to thin polymer films as solids or liquids, which act as semipermeable barriers for permeants in the gaseous liquid or solid state. It ought therefore to be of interest to scientists of various specialisations including analytical scientists. It is towards the last named group that this review is directed and who will be concerned with polymer filtration dialysis gas separations membrane elec-trodes ion-exchange gel permeation chromatography etc.A scan of the chapter headings reveals that there is not a great deal for the routine analyst who will in any case be using well tried systems. Thus out of the ten chapters devoted to topics such as biological membranes liquid membranes, porous membranes phase inversion membranes dense mem-brane polymer solutions and membrane polymers it is only those devoted to membrane separation processes and miscel-laneous uses of membranes that will be of major interest. Nevertheless the three chapters covering membrane poly-mers separations and miscellaneous uses make up just over half the book. Even so the treatment is frequently cursory; for example five pages can hardly do justice to membranes for electrodes.Having regard to emphasis and price this cannot be recommended for the wider readership although there are points of general interest to the more forward looking research analyst through access to libraries. J . D. R. Thomas Plasma Chromatography Edited by Timothy W. Carr. Pp. xiv + 259. Plenum. 1984. Price $37.50. ISBN 0 306 41432 5. Plasma chromatography an emerging analytical technique is based on the principle of the separation of ion-molecules produced from a sample gas containing organic molecules contacted with ions to convert each organic molecule into a very stable ion-molecule. The ion-molecules are separated by injection into a tube of non-reactive gas through which they are progressed by a strong electric field to arrive at a collector as ion peaks at times related to their structure.The first patent for the technique was applied for in 1968 and issued in 1972. This book is devoted to progress made. The objective has been to deal in the first part of the book with fundamental aspects covering instrument design (G. E. Spangler and M. J. Cohen) ion mobility theory (E. A. Mason) and theory of atmospheric pressure ionisation (M. W. Siegel). This plan has led to a sound introduction to all the essentials of basic instrument design and performance sam-pling handling considerations use of the plasma chromato-graph as a gas chromatographic detector and all the basic theory and rate equations for reagent ion and sample ion production and for ion depletion.The result is a readable and easy to follow account supported by well drawn and clear diagrams and systematically developed equations. Four of the remaining chapters are devoted to applications with well chosen underlying theory for covering the behaviour of isomeric compounds for illustrating the use of ion mobility spectra in analysis (D. F. Hagen) use of plasma chromato-graphy as a gas chromatographic detector (H. H. Hill and M. A. Bain) and applications in the areas of toxic airborne chemical analysis (R. J. Dam) and analysis of semiconductor surfaces and gases inside microelectronic packages (T. W. Carr). The final chapter devoted to instrument design and automation (R. F. Wernlund).is an appropriate ending for stimulating the reader on to more elaborate possibilities such as coupling with mass spectrometry and computer interfacing. The book emphasises that plasma chromatography is an extremely sensitive detection technique. It also discusses the other advantages such as information about the size of molecular species but with cautious reminders of limitations and the need for attention to such matters as the internal standardisation of the instrumental technique. All this points to a good book on the pioneering of plasma chromatography, which is an appropriate introduction to all who wish to learn something of the technique. J . D. R. Thoma ANALYST SEPTEMBER 1986 VOL. 111 1111 Advances in Steroid Analysis ‘84 Edited by S. Gorog. Analytical Symposia Series Volume 23.Pp. xii + 604. Elsevier. 1985. Price $139; Df1375. ISBN 0 444 99533 1. I recently organised a members’ papers meeting of my Association and was concerned that I was not able to check the contents of the talk in the same way that I would if the paper had been submitted for publication in a journal. In the event, the papers were very good and this is also the case with this book which reports the papers presented at the 1984 Szeged (Hungary) Symposium. The book contains 66 papers presen-ted by steroid analysts working in the field with a bias towards the methodology of steroid analysis. The range of steroids considered ranges across all of the important groups including hormones both bound total and free vitamins cardiac drugs and bile salts.The range of methods covered represents the latest technology such as HPLC GC RIA EIA and densitometry . My particular subjects of interest included “blood spot levels of 17-hydroxyprogesterone on CAH” and “steroid levels during sports performance. ” Billed as an International Forum on Steroid Analysis it should be recognised that most of the papers presented are from Eastern Bloc countries although there are some papers from the UK (Steroid analysi’s in saliva from the Welsh National School of Medicine and Sterols by GC - MS from Glasgow Royal Infirmary). The fact that this is the 23rd in the series speaks for the success of this type of book but because of the wide-ranging nature of the topics it is difficult to visualise it as a textbook for everyone but more as a book that should be on the shelf of the routine and research laboratory in order to convey the state of the art in steroid analysis and to avoid duplication in research programmes.J. F. Stevens Cosmetic Analysis. Selective Methods and Techniques Edited by P. Bore Cosmetic Science and Technology Series Volume 4. Pp. xii + 534. Marcel Dekker. 1985. Price $85 (US and Canada); $102 (Rest of World). ISBN 0 8247 7113 3. Before deciding whether to purchase this expensive volume, analysts must assess how much of it will be of direct use to them. The Editor and the authors all come from L’OrCal, France and consequently the approach is that of a large manufacturer’s laboratories. The chapters vary between techniques and classes of materials and of the nine chapters only five would be of some help to a control laboratory in checking compliance to the EEC Cosmetic Products Direc-tive.The opening chapter discusses the spectral analysis of polymers used in hair and nail cosmetics for which detailed separation schemes are given with guidance on the charac-teristics of IR and 1H and 13C NMR spectra. Further details of these spectra are gathered in an enormous 231-page Appen-dix which illustrates 112 spectra and whilst this Appendix unbalances the book the information may well be of use in areas outside cosmetics. A brief account of voltammetry follows for three specific applications. Polarographic methods are all too often dis-missed but I doubt if many will be persuaded to buy the equipment on the strength of a few examples.Another short chapter follows on the determination of mercaptoacetic acid, but surprisingly no reference is made to the similar official EEC method. The fourth chapter is a clear account of the application of pyrolysis GC to characterising and identifying high polymers. The same technique is then discussed in relation to quaternary ammonium compounds. A further technique headspace analysis is reported for three particular determinations of residues viz. solvents and monomers in polymers 1,4-dioxane in surfactants and hydrogen sulphide. One of the major analytical problems for cosmetic products is the identification and determination of preservatives of which about 60 may be used. The seventh chapter is a comprehensive review of nine TLC systems that can be combined with nine spray reagents to aid identification.This is information that will remain of use even after an official EEC method is published but it is disappointing that nothing is offered for the quantitation of preservatives. The penultimate ch5pter is a short discussion of ion-exchange chromatography as applied to the analysis of protein derivatives and amino acids. The last chapter is on the analysis of oxidation hair dyes by HPLC and incorporated within its compass there is a fine overview of the technique. This book will be of clear usefulness to other manufacturing laboratories but of considerably less relevance to enforce-ment laboratories. The volume abounds in tables and figures and the printing and binding are of high quality but the number of minor errors is annoyingly high for such a high-priced book.S. Crisp Ion- and Molecule-selective Electrodes in Biological Systems J. Havas. Pp. 238. Springer-Verlag. 1985. Price DM98. ISBN 3 540 13725 4. This is a tightly packed informative book written by an author who has been closely connected with electrochemical measurements in the biological and general scientific field since about the time of the burst of interest in analytical potentiometry occasioned by the ion-selective electrode devel-opments of the 1960s. The main subject matter is very usefully introduced by the opening chapter on equilibria in biological fluids but except for one page this is devoted to blood fluids. The neglect of the other fluids is surprising in view of the importance of electrochemical measurements in sweat saliva urine etc.and having regard to the fact that many such measurements are discussed in the later chapters. Nevertheless the discussion on blood fluids is well done with particular and proper emphasis to acid - base equilibria. The next three chapters are concerned respectively with methodology and instrumentation (Chapter 2) ion-selective electrode applications which include pH sodium potassium, calcium chloride and fluoride electrodes and which essen-tially account for just over a third of the subject matter of the book (Chapter 3) and molecule-selective electrode appli-cations devoted to oxygen hydrogen carbon dioxide ammo-nia and enzyme systems (Chapter 4).There is a final chapter of five pages on ion-selective field effect transistors which in view of recent rapid developments is far from up-to-date. Indeed it is in this last respect that the whole book can be faulted for there are but few references to work published since 1979 although there are one or two references for 1983. The book is imaginative in mode of presentation with clearly presented and well illustrated text preceding the very useful summary tables of applications of the various types of electrodes and sensors which occasionally go beyond poten-tiometric sensors to coulometric and amperometric systems. If the tables were up to date the book would be a sell-out as the brief summary relating to each application area is a model o 1112 ANALYST SEPTEMBER 1986 VOL.111 conciseness in summarising essential information. For exam-ple for a potassium determination it is deduced at a glance that a flow-through electrode was used on whole blood in open-heart surgery and that the potassium values agreed with flame photometry. The reference to each application is keyed to the reference list at the end of the book for the reader who needs source publication. There are a few unfortunate statements such as the total concentration of ions (anions and cations) in blood fluid being ca. 150 mmol dm-3 and some misprints. On the credit side is a discussion of safety considerations underlying the use of elec-trical instrumentation during in vivo monitoring a good index and an extensive reference list even if not recent.On the whole this is a sufficiently different book from others in the field for it to be recommended for purchase. J . D. R. Thomas Biological Reference Materials Availability Uses and Need for Validation of Nutrient Measurement Edited by Wayne R. Wolf. Pp. xviii + 425. Wiley-interscience. 1984. Price f69.40. ISBN 0 471 80636 6. This hardback printed from typescripts is sub-titled “Avail-ability Uses and Need for Validation of Nutrient Measure-ment .” However its coverage includes environmental and clinical materials. It consists of the proceedings forming about 80% of the volume of a meeting on biological reference materials held in 1983 and an Appendix that reproduces in toto a 1982 publication from the US National Bureau of Standards (NBS) of the proceedings of a workshop held in 1980 on reference materials for organic nutrient measure-ment.The main proceedings consist of 17 contributions arranged in groups by 26 participants of whom 21 hail from North America. The first section of six papers covers programmes for certified reference materials available or in preparation, of bodies such as the NBS the EEC Bureau of Reference and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Some analytical information is provided on existing materials and needs for other materials are assessed. Most of the analytes are trace elements but organic constituents of clinical reference materials and edible oils are also mentioned. The matrices range from marine sediments through aquatic and land plants to sewage sludge and animal tissues.Emphasis is placed on requirements for reference materials, such as homogeneity and stability in the second section of four papers which covers the problems of obtaining and characterising materials and of spiking materials to obtain adequate levels of analytes of interest. Three of the four papers in Part 3 are concerned with the provision and use of quality control materials for nutrient (food) analysis and the fourth is an interesting examination of the use of analyte pairs in a reference material as a means of checking analyte dilution. The final two papers address problems of environ-mental specimen banking the first considers requirements for valid sampling and the second reviews trace metal analysis, largely by atomic absorption in a variety of materials within the programme for the German Environmental Specimen Bank. At the end of the formal presentations an open discussion forum was held in which two key themes of the role of specimen banking and the needs production uses and coordination of biological reference materials were explored. Apart from the introductory remarks and a summary the discussion reported for each topic unfortunately extends to less than one page and is of limited value. The 1980 workshop reported in the Appendix was concerned with the then current state of measurement techniques with matrices suitable for reference materials and considered especially fats including cholesterol vitamins and sugars. It made several recommendations and suggested further needs in the NBS programme. This book will be useful to someone new to this specialised and important area and may be of value to groups already active in the fields covered. It is a useful source of information otherwise difficult to gather including helpful background material and has a comprehensive although terse index. However its price and the inclusion of the NBS report, published previously and occupying nearly one quarter of the contents will restrict its appeal. D. H. Cala