ANALYST, JULY 1993, VOL. 118 81N Book Reviews Analytical Methods for Pesticides and Plant Growth Regulators. Volume XVI. Specific Applications Edited by Joseph Sherma. Pp. ix + 268. Academic Press. 1988. Price US$65.00. ISBN 0-1 2-78431 6-7. This volume of the series begun in 1963 by Zweig continues the valuable reference work for chemists involved with the analysis of pesticides and plant growth regulators. As men- tioned in the preface, this book is the first to be published since the death of Gunter Zweig but the layout follows the familiar style of previous volumes in this series dealing with specific applications. Although the book is divided into three parts (insecticides and insect growth regulators, herbicides, class analysis), it divides naturally into two sections, one dealing with specific insecticides and herbicides and the other with three different compound classes.Part I contains three chapters covering the compounds ethoprop, fenoxycarb and fenvalerate. As usual in this series, the chapters on ethoprop and fenoxycarb have been written by analysts working for the companies producing the pesticides commercially and each chapter follows the standard format with the first part devoted to general information on the nomenclature, history and properties of the compound concerned, and the second part describing methodology for the product and residue analysis of the pesticides. The section on fenvalerate is merely an update to the information on this compound contained in Volume XI11 of the series, and only gives details on the analysis of fenvalerate emulsifiable concentrate formulation.Part I1 includes Chapters 4-8 and covers the herbicides chlorimuron ethyl, chlorsulfuron, glyphosate, metsulfuron methyl and sulfometuron methyl. Four of the chapters deal with compounds of the same chemical class and are written by analysts working for the same company. The sections on residue analysis of glyphosate and metsulfuron methyl are interesting in that the former describes the use of HPLC with post-column fluorogenic labelling for quantification, and the latter the use of multidimensional HPLC for metabolite analysis. Chapter 9 deals with the determination of anticoagulant rodenticides and is written by Hunter, an internationally recognized authority on this subject. The majority of the chapter is devoted to background information and formula- tion and residue analytical methodology for the rodenticides chlorophacinone, diphacinone, brodifacoum, bromadiolone, coumatetralyl, difenacoum and warfarin.Multiresidue meth- ods, which are particularly useful in cases of suspected poisoning, are also described and the chapter concludes with a brief review of immunoanalytical procedures for the determi- nation of rodenticide residues. The penultimate chapter describes advances in pyrethroid determination, updating the analytical methodology for these compounds reported in Volume XI11 of the series. Fairly comprehensive references are given to the analysis of many different pyrethroids by gas and liquid chromatography, and the author has effectively summarized the published meth- odology in a series of tables.Because many of the newer pyrethroid products are often based on the most active isomer(s) of compounds exhibiting both optical and geometric isomerism, it is appropriate that the chapter closes with a review of the published literature on the analysis of pyrethroid enantiomers. The determination of fumigant residues in stored foodstuffs is the theme for the final chapter of this book. Detailed multiresidue procedures based on cold extraction, steam distillation and purge-and-trap extraction are followed by specific sections on a wide range of fumigants. In summary, this book supplements this comprehensive reference series dealing with the analysis of specific pesticides and plant growth regulators and is a useful reference work for those laboratories involved in the analysis of the compounds mentioned above. S.Forbes Analytical Methods for Pesticides and Plant Growth Regulators. Volume XVII. Advanced Analytical Tech- niques Edited by Joseph Sherma. Pp. ix + 272. Academic Press. 1989. Price US$65.00. ISBN 0-1 2-784317-5. This book, which continues the series on product and residue analytical methodology for pesticides and plant growth regulators, deals with a variety of analytical techniques ranging from sweep co-distillation to immunoassay. Conse- quently it can be treated either as a reference work for pesticide analysts planning to take a new technology onstream in their laboratory, or can be read from cover to cover by those wishing to keep abreast of the newer developments in this field. All chapters contain fairly comprehensive lists of references for those wishing to obtain more information on a particular technique.The first chapter deals with sampling techniques for pesticide analysis. Given the importance of correct sampling procedures in analytical work, it is good to see this frequently overlooked subject included in the present volume. Following a short section on sampling theory, the majority of the chapter is devoted to sections describing the sampling of air, food and crops, soil and water. Chapter 2 focuses on universal extraction and clean-up methods for pesticide residue analysis. The author gives a fairly lengthy description of solvent systems for pesticide extraction and the evolution of universal extraction methods; he then proceeds to describe the use of GPC as a universal clean-up procedure.Clean-up of extracts by sweep co-distilla- tion is covered in the third chapter of this book. Commercial and home-built equipment for performing sweep co-distilla- tion are described and then several applications of the technique are given, including the isolation of a variety of pesticide residues from several sample matrices including animal fats and plant material. Useful recovery data are included as are GC traces of extracts following clean-up by sweep co-distillation. Although the majority of this volume is of greatest value to the pesticide residue analyst, Chapters 4-6 (which deal respectively with GC-FTTR, LC-MS, and computer evalua- tion of GC data) are of more general analytical interest.The value of GC-FTIR for pesticide isomer discrimination is demonstrated in Chapter 4 by reference to the analysis of organochlorine insecticides. Chapter 5 starts with a fairly comprehensive description of LC-MS interfaces and proceeds with a review of the application of LC-MS to pesticide analysis in which the author makes reference to a variety of compound types including carbamates, phenoxyacids, organophos- phates, triazines, ureas and organochlorines. The first part of Chapter 6, which describes the instrumentation and operation of chromatographic data systems, does not particularly warrant inclusion in this book and dilutes the more informa- tive section on author-written computer programs for the GC screening of pesticide residues.82N ANALYST, JULY 1993, VOL.118 The final chapter of this volume describes immunoassay techniques for pesticide analysis; such techniques have gained much attention in recent years and this has culminated in commercially available test kits for pesticide residue analysis. Hammock et al. first introduce the reader to the principles and variants of immunoanalytical techniques before describing the systems that have been developkd for the analysis of specific pesticides. In addition to describing the technical aspects of this technology, the authors address other important issues such as the acceptance and validation of immunoanalytical techniques. In summary, this is a book that, owing to the diversity of subject matter covered, holds the reader’s attention.Although of greatest value to those dealing with pesticide residue analysis, a large part of the book is also of interest to those involved in more general aspects of analytical chemistry. S. Forbes Chemical Instrumentation: A Systematic Approach. Third Edition By Howard A. Strobel and William R. Heineman. Pp. xxiii + 1210. Wiley. 1989. Pricef34.85. ISBN 0-471-61223-5. This book is a major update of the second edition published some 15 years earlier. It is claimed that a primary goal in the update has been to reflect the extensive developments in instrumental analytical chemistry. This claim is largely ful- filled with a comprehensive range of measurement techniques. Fundamental principles are developed and their realization in instrumental form described in a logical way.Although somewhat austere in its presentation, the book is packed with information that will benefit the teaching of the subject at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Good use is made of worked examples, with exercise questions added to all but two of the 32 chapters, spanning 1200 pages. Useful and pertinent references are included as a bibliography to each chapter. ‘The strength of this book lies in its emphasis on the instrumentation behind the chemical measurements’. As with any all-encompassing texts of this kind, it has both its strengths and its weaknesses. The strength of this book lies in its emphasis on the instrumentation behind the chemical measurements. The sections on optical spectroscopic, chro- matographic and electroanalytical techniques are particularly good in this respect, with a useful section devoted to energetic particle and X-ray methods.These sections are underpinned by 12 chapters devoted to basic electronics, optics and quantification. The basic quantification section includes a useful overview of statistics, measurement quality, calibra- tion , chemometrics and signal-to-noise enhancement. The section on basic electronics is disappointing and outdated and perhaps attempts the impossible in a field that is changing so rapidly. For example, under power supplies no discussion of modern switched-mode devices is given. However, what is lacking in basic electronics is more than compensated for in the excellent section on basic optics, which includes com- prehensive discussion of spectrometer design.If it has a weakness it is the rather sparse use of chemical measurement applications and examples as well as a small number of curious editorial anomalies: for example, why is more space devoted to the discussion of the obsolete liquid chromatographic syringe pump than to its ubiquitous reciprocating counter- part? But, overall, this is a book worthy of serious considera- tion against a handful of the other established ‘giants’ in the competitive field of instrumental analytical chemistry texts. With its emphasis on the facet of instrumentation, it has no equal. P. R. Fielden Algorithms for Chemists By Jure Zupan. Pp. xv + 290. Wiley. 1989. Price f39.50. ISBN 0-471-92173-4. The title Algorithms for Chemists is perhaps an understate- ment of the contents of the book.The book is based on a course taught by Jure Zupan to students at the University of Ljubljana. The contents are, therefore, a comprehensive introduction to understanding and using computers in a chemistry environment. Although writing and developing algorithms are featured, data collection, processing of data and data handling are the real subject material. The book opens with chapers outlining the form and nature of data as represented by measured and multidimensional data using mass spectra and NMR data as examples. Groups of data (files) are then considered and the various structures, formats and types explained with reference to a selection of operating systems such as MS DOS as used on PCs and DEC’s VMS and FORTRAN, BASIC and PASCAL programming languages.Example algorithms include techniques for linking partitioned records, hash algorithms, techniques for genera- tion of random numbers and sorting. Having covered the nature of data and files the scene moves to processing data, using infrared spectra as examples. Techniques discussed include smoothing data, derivatives, peak detection, integra- tion and baseline correction. Optimization and transform techniques frequently feature in modern instruments. It is pleasing to see a readable explanation of methods such as Fourier and Hadamard transformations, principal component analysis, autocorrelation, and deconvolution, whilst optimiza- tion techniques are illustrated by simplex methods. Data handling looks at clustering and pattern recognition methods including the fundamental concepts and the role they play in data handling.Handling of chemical structures explains various representation notations for coding structural fragments, connectivity matrix and connection tables are developed and given for a number of small linear and cyclic molecules. Fractal images have achieved extensive publicity in the popular scientific press but fractal techniques do have serious applications typified by Brownian motion of small molecules, population patterns of micro-organisms and the chaotic flow of gases and liquids. Jure Zupan includes a chapter on fractal processes, which serves as an overview to the subject. The final chapter is in a similar vein with an explanation of expert systems and the key functional com- ponents to a working database system.The theme is developed using a spectroscopic expert system as an example. Although algorithms are scattered throughout the various chapters the book is really an introduction to scientific data handling, processing and filing, with many examples of applications; a sound readable book that can be recommended as a good introductory text on computer techniques for processing and handling data. A . Braith waite Computerised Multiple Input Chromatography By M. Kalijurand and E. Kullik. Ellis Horwood Series in Analytical Chemistry. Pp. 225. Ellis Horwood. 1989. Price f45.00. ISBN 0-7458-01 20-X (Ellis Horwood); 0-470- 21 228-4 (Halstead Press). This book is one of over sixty books covering specialized aspects of analytical chemistry and chemical measurements. Thus the book under review is a thorough treatment of a rather novel approach to chromatographic separations, namely that of using computer control of the sample introduction cycle, with particular emphasis on gas chromato-ANALYST, JULY 1993, VOL.118 83N graphic techniques. A thorough explanation of the mathema- tical principles of the technique and algorithms to process the data output is included and is not for the faint hearted. However, the book is written in a clear, lucid manner and can be used as an introduction to the technique by the curious chromatographer or those with considerable knowledge of computer techniques. Computers can contribute to three aspects of a chromato- graphic analytical procedure: control of the instrument functions, processing the signal output to obtain the chroma- tographic data and finally to derive further information from the data using chemometrics.The book introduces chromato- graphic instrumentation and data processing by considering the response of the chromatographic column to various sample introduction cycles or input functions. Correlation chromatography, which utilizes a random input, is explained in terms of multiplex methods and decorrelation techniques for unscrambling the chromatogram, including Fourier and Hadamard techniques. The text then concentrates on the ‘added value’ of using algorithms to modify the sample introduction time sequence to achieve multidimensional and multiplex chromatography. This is illustrated by a thorough explanation of two-dimensional chromatography utilizing multiple injection and column switching techniques.‘a fascinating account of the other side of gas chromatography’ A description follows on the hardware required to carry out multiple input chromatography and contains two sections: the computer system and the chromatographic instrumentation. A basic set-up for a ‘computerized chromatography system’ is discussed in detail including details of various sample intro- duction methods and apparatus ranging from simple injection and pyrolysis reactors to exponential dilution techniques and diffusion cells, with a short overview of the computer system. Practical aspects are illustrated by considering two application areas: thermochromatography and, briefly, environmental analysis.Thermochromatography or pyrolysis gas chromato- graphy looks at the analysis of gases evolved from pyrolysis of samples, particularly polymers, and includes comments on various approaches to polymer characterization. Having considered the mathematics, chemometrics, hard- ware and applications the authors round off the book with three appendices for those who have mastered the nitty gritty of the main chapters. These are in-depth explanations, equations and listings relating to matrix algebra, fast Hada- mard transforms and correlation chromatography, the algor- ithms being in BASIC. I found the book a fascinating account of ‘the other side of gas chromatography’ and can recommend it to those with a scant knowledge of the subject and for readers who require a ‘review-plus’ treatment, the plus being details of the principles behind the various approaches to multiple input chromatography. It is well written with plenty of references for further reading, thus catering for those readers seeking baptism by fire and the more initiated who want an in-depth treatment of the main aspects of the technique.A. Braithwaite Mass Spectrometry. Volume 10 Senior Reporter M. E. Rose. Specialist Periodical Reports. Pp. xv + 431. The Royal Society of Chemistry. 1989. Price f95.00. ISBN 0-851 86-348-5. Volume 10 of this excellent series covers the mass spec- trometry literature between July 1986 and June 1988. Eleven chapters are included with 3390 references cited. The chapters cover fundamental studies, organic, inorganic and biochem- ical applications, mixture analysis and instrumentation. The senior reporter is to be congratulated in obtaining such a broad coverage of the area.He has also taken care that topics which have not been covered before in the series such as high temperature studies are included. The various authors, who bring considerable experience and expertise to the task, have gone about the difficult task of presenting the wealth of information available to them in different ways. This ranges from a structured listing of the complete work published in an area during the period, enabling the reader to find information relevant to their own interests efficiently, to a more detailed review of the totality of the work carried out indicating the major conclusions and citing the most influential papers.Both these approaches have their attractions, but, in a series that is of necessity a snapshot of the literature in what is a very fast moving area, it is likely that the more judgmental approach will stand the test of time a little better. In order to compete with the increasingly sophisticated forms of computer search- ing now available the use of the experience and expertise of the reviewing author to act as a filter in selecting the most important of the vast numbers of papers that have been published in an area will be a major consideration. The choice of the senior reporter to select an area for natural products (here nucleosides, nucleotides and nucleic acids) is a good one enabling a detailed rather than a very broad coverage.The chapters that have the greatest challenge are those that deal with areas that change very rapidly making even the most astute of predictions often wide of the mark. Those that cover more mature parts of the wide science base of the technique are more able to sum up the work carried out. The use of camera-ready copy, to be expected in a volume under as many time constraints as this one, is acceptable but does lead to varying typefaces and typesize, which can be a little distracting. One of the advantages of this method is, however, the inclusion of a subject index, which is extremely useful. In conclusion, the volume is to be warmly welcomed and recommended to all laboratories seriously interested in mass spectrometry research. To those scientists whose area of research is among those specifically covered the publication is clearly essential but it is also to be hoped that researchers in other areas will find information and discussion relevant to their own area of work.J . H . Scrivens Chemical Sensors and Microinstrumentation Edited by Royce W. Murray, Raymond E. Dessey, William R. Heineman, Jiri Janata and W. Rudolf Seitz. American Chemical Society Symposium Series 403. Pp. xii + 410. American Chemical Society. 1989. Price US$89.95 (USA and Canada); US$107.95 (Export). ISBN 0-841 2-1 661 -4. This book, one in the well known American Chemical Society Symposium Series, is based on the papers presented at the 196th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society held at Los Angeles in 1988. Although a camera-ready format is adopted, the collection of papers is supported by a very comprehensive and useful subject index.The symposium, an amalgamation of two symposia proposed to cover modern chemical sensors and microinstrumen tation , respectively, is led from the chemical sensing aspect. The 25 papers include many of the best known experts in the field of chemical sensors and biosensors amongst the authors. Indeed, a glance at the five editors should inspire confidence that this is a significant work. A useful and well-referenced overview by Murray sets the scene for the papers, which are categorized as being concerned with sensors based on electrical, mass or thermal, and optical84N ANALYST, JULY 1993, VOL. 118 measurements. Each section is also preceded by a brief, but pertinent, introduction.The overall impression of this text is that it is a demonstration of the maturation of sensor research, with each expert showing just how far work has progressed since the early days of sensors in the late 1970s. In this respect, the book is a milestone in sensor development. Dominant themes include membrane and film-based sensors and asso- ciated materials technology. Biosensing as defined by the substrates is also prevalent amongst the papers. ‘specificity at the expense of generality’ As with any text based upon a collection of symposium papers, there is often specificity at the expense of generality. For example, Meyerhoff‘s interesting paper entitled ‘Poten- tiometric sensors’ devotes much of its content to the measure- ment of anions using sensors based on metalloporphyrins.In contrast, an equally fascinating paper by Hill entitled ‘Bioelec- trochemistry at microelectrodes’ majors on band microelec- trodes, but devotes sufficient space to include useful reference to other microelectrode devices. Overall, sensing technology based on potentiometric, amperometric, surface acoustic wave, piezoelectric bulk resonators, fibre optic and optical waveguide devices is covered in the book. It was a surprise that relatively little was reported on the development of sensor arrays, with only two papers being reported: one by Wohltjen using an array of four surface acoustic wave sensors, and one by Giuliani who describes a multi-element optical waveguide sensor array. This book is a specialist text, but nonetheless should appeal to a wide readership in the rapidly expanding field of chemical sensors, biosensors and microinstrumentation.The cost of this book is likely to be prohibitive for many who would benefit from its contents, particularly postgraduate students who are working in the field of sensing. This, however, is an inevitable feature of any specialist text of this type. P. R. Fielden Wilson and Wilson’s Comprehensive Analytical Chem- istry: Volume XXIV. Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluores- cence Analysis Edited by G. Svehla. Pp. xx + 431. Elsevier. 1990. Price US$215.50; DF1420.00. ISBN 0-444-98897-1. It is the self-stated aim of this book ‘to present, in a concise manner, the physical principles and technical aspects of energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) analysis and to survey its applications’.In fact, I felt that the book, with 14 chapters and 431 pages, dealt with the subject more in a comprehensive than concise manner. The chapters are arranged conventionally and take the reader through Fun- damentals of XRF, Excitation, Secondary Radiation from Samples, Detection then via aspects of the spectrometry and quantification to Applications. Overall the clarity of the descriptions in the Fundamentals section has much to recommend it. It is refreshing to see an author concentrating on photon excitation and also consider- ing energies up to the K lines of the transuranic elements. On the debit side, the source of data in the mass absorption coefficients and line intensity tables was not quoted, which substantially reduces their usefulness. The description of radioisotope sources in the Excitation chapter is very comprehensive.This is an area infrequently or only briefly covered elsewhere and is a particularly valuable contribution. Unfortunately, this complete coverage of radio- isotope systems is very much at the expense of the use of low- power X-ray tubes. The author is unduly concerned with the stability of X-ray tube excitation, which likely reflects the position in Eastern Europe in 1978 (the date of the original Polish text) and is not in tune with current practice. The chapter on Secondary Radiation is disappointing and lacks the clarity often found in treatments describing the fundamental parameter approach. The Detector and Spec- trometry chapters, like the one on Excitation, concentrate on the technology used in benchtop radioisotope-excitation , proportional counter analysers.The coverage of these systems is both comprehensive and excellent but that of contemporary semiconductor detection systems is poor and rather dated. ‘a high degree of readability’ The Selection of Conditions chapter in fact concentrates on analytical calibration, which it covers very well. This is to miss an opportunity to give much-needed guidance on the selection of excitation kV, filters and secondary targets in tube-excited systems. Matrix effects and their correction are covered in considerable (but very readable) detail including a section on particle size effects, which is more comprehensive than any I know and is highly recommended.It is very gratifying to find a whole chapter devoted to Sources of Error, including details on line overlap and background calculation methods and a treatment of detection limits which closely follows that of Currie. The last four short chapters cover a variety of applications. Of particular note is the chapter on Geological Prospecting and Mining, which covers the important topics of field analysis and XRF logging in boreholes and the chapter entitled On- stream Analysis. In general, 1 found the sparing use of italicized keywords and phrases added to the high degree of readability. The translation is first class, the reference list wide (although a little dated) and the overall presentation quality good. Despite the drawback arising from a lack of coverage of contemporary X-ray tube excited, semiconductor detector systems this important book deserves a place in the analytical chemistry section of any library and is essential reading for anyone wanting to know what makes the ever-popular benchtop EDXRF machine tick.A. T. Ellis Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry. Tech- niques and Applications By Alfred L. Yergey, Charles G. Edmonds, lvor A. S. Lewis and Marvin L. Vestal. Modern Analytical Chemistry. Pp. ix + 306. Plenum Press. 1990. Price US$65.00. ISBN 0-306- 431 86-6. The stated objective of this book is to be of use to people who are beginning to use the techniques as well as more experienced practitioners. Techniques and applications of current importance are to be described while not neglecting descriptions of approaches that may be of significance in the future. These are laudable ideals; however, the book has suffered more than any I can recall in the recent past from the, often rapid, progress of science.After an introduction to the area the book describes three technique areas in some detail, these are: direct liquid introduction, mechanical transport and thermospray. The then new approach of particle beam is covered briefly in two pages. There then follows three applications chapters covering the LC-MS of nucleic acids, conjugated molecules and approaches in amino acids, pep- tides and proteins. A detailed bibliography follows covering the literature to May 1988. There is a very good practical treatment of the techniquesANALYST, JULY 1993, VOL.118 85N covered; this is a very fast moving field, however, and the newer techniques of particle beam (covered here briefly) atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and electrospray have become widely used subsequent to the publication of this book. As a consequence of these developments the book can now only be recommended as part of a more general study of LC-MS methods or to those people with a specific interest in the technique areas described. There is a need for a text in this area, which is growing in importance, and these shortcomings could possibly be overcome by an updated text. The applications chapters are very heavily biased in favour of biochemical methods although this is not clear from the title, or indeed, the introduction. Those readers with an interest in non-biological separations will find little here to help them specifically although the general principles described may be useful.Owing to the technical advances already mentioned and other relevant developments such as matrix assisted laser desorption (MALD) some of the comments made in the book can now be misleading. In the chapter on thermospray for example the indication is given that thermospray might be the technique of choice in the determination of peptide molecular mass. This would now be much better obtained using electrospray or MALD coupled with a time-of-flight analyser. In conclusion, there is much to admire in this book taken as a snapshot in time. It treats an important area well, covering what were then the major methods and combining practical advice with a detailed bibliography.The emphasis on bio- chemical methods is not identified in the title but perhaps reflects the major spread of interest in the area. The rapid advances made in this area, however, have made the book largely a historical document of interest mainly to people with a specific need for one of the techniques described or for those with an interest in seeing how fast an area can develop. The need for a text covering this area is still present but the fast moving nature of the field makes the timing of an update or new publication difficult. J. H . Scrivens Factor Analysis in Chemistry. 2nd edn. By Edmund R. Malinowski. Pp. xii + 350. Wiley. 1991. Price f43.70. ISBN 0-471 -53009-3. This is the second edition of a book first published in 1980.At the time of the initial publication the microcomputer revolu- tion had not yet occurred and most calculations were made on mainframe computers. In the intervening years very significant advances have been made in the area of chemometrics with work in experimental design, signal processing and other areas being carried out. This book, as did the earlier edition, concentrates on the area of factor analysis, here defined rigorously as a multivariate technique for reducing matrices of data to their lowest dimensionality by the use of orthogonal factor space and transformations that yield predictions and/or recognizable factors. A rather more approachable definition is also given in which the objective of factor analysis is defined as the development of a complete, physically meaningful, model for a data set.This combination of rigorous definition followed by the use of a simpler explanation is a feature of this book in which the context and meaning of the mathematical equations and algorithms used is always clearly explained. By judicious skipping one could obtain a clear overview of the principles and applications without needing to follow the detailed argument. This would be a waste, however, as the mathemat- ical concepts have rarely been better explained and a whole chapter is devoted to developing the complete details of a factor analysis calculation using model data. This gives the inexperienced reader the ability to use the computer programs later described, or those available elsewhere, with greater confidence.‘an excellent introduction to an important area of chemometrics’ The second edition has been very considerably updated. The notation has been changed to conform to current practice. A number of key approaches developed since the previous edition such as cross-validation and other methods for rank determination are described and there is a whole new chapter on special methods in factor analysis such as partial least squares, modelling methods and multimode factor analysis. Perhaps slightly disappointingly the applications chapters are largely unchanged although they do cover the basic applica- tion of the methods to practical problems. The book concentrates on the extraction of pure spectra, together with concentrations, from a data matrix of responses.The various approaches to obtaining the number of pure components are described clearly together with the most common methods of transforming the abstract solution to physically meaningful results. The effect of experimental error on target factor analysis, which complicates the application of these methods considerably is treated in some depth detailing how errors affect the various factor analysis steps. Among the various technique areas described are absorption and emission spectroscopy, chromatography, mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy with biomedical and environmental applications among those covered. Appen- dices cover FORTRAN programs, written by the author, which enable many of the calculations described to be made.In addition, programs written in MATLAB, a useful, but rather expensive, program system are given. There is also a worthy, but rather out-of-date, bibliography with no books listed after 1978. In conclusion, the book is an excellent introduction to an important area of chemometrics with detailed explanations of basic principles. The original book has been updated to take new approaches into account and a wide range of examples are given. This could be usefully updated although all the main areas are covered. The book can be recommended warmly as part of a general chemometric course or as an aid to analytical chemists or spectroscopists in data analysis. J. H. Scrivens PCs for Chemists Edited by J. Zupan. Data Handling in Science and Technology 5.Pp. xvi + 212. Elsevier. 1990. Price US$lOO.OO; Df1195.00. ISBN 0-444-88623-0. The ubiquitous personal computer has become what might be called the third generation tool €or the analytical chemist, that is, after log tables and calculators. However, the PC is a versatile tool capable of being used for much more than number crunching, for example , data analysis using spread- sheets, information organization and archiving, report genera- tion using word processors and drawing and graphics pack- ages. The chemist is now able to collect raw data from instruments, port this into a spreadsheet, carry out calcula- tions, and data analysis, construct databases and produce graphs. These data can then be incorporated into a report produced on a word processor. This may seem a lengthy procedure and to many that will be the case.However, with a little time and careful planning it is surprising how quickly one can achieve excellent results. Help and ideas are always valuable and PCs for Chemists is such a text. The book is a collection of chapters by various authors whose remit it seems was to write a comprehensive account of86N ANALYST, JULY 1993, VOL. 118 the capabilities and applications of a specific software area. Thus, we have ten chapters on mainstream applications such as word processing, databases and spreadsheets, whilst other chapters have a more specialized appeal, for example programming databases, networks and data acquisition. The first chapter on the use of word processors illustrates the general approach followed throhghout the book, that is, a general introduction to the terminology and capabilities of the software followed by applications.Chapter 1 is in fact a short yet thorough introduction to report and document production and includes details on fonts, graphics and scientific equations and symbols. There follows an extensive chapter on databases and spreadsheets. DBASE 111 is used to illustrate database applications using an atomic absorption procedure for analys- ing thallium samples as an example. Programming procedures are used to produce a macro to handle data entry and prompts. A similar approach is followed for Lotus 1-2-3 where a spreadsheet is developed to collate data from a series of experiments to test the ruggedness of the analytical proce- dure. A similar theme is continued in the next chapter where programming chemical databases is considered.Procedures for representing and handling chemical structures are dis- cussed in terms of a connectivity matrix and connection table. Spectra representation and peak tables are also considered. Techniques for extracting information from a database highlight the complexities involved in efficiently searching large databases. It is appropriate, therefore, that a discussion follows on handling large numbers of multivariate data. Two techniques are explained: fast Fourier transform and fast Hadamard transforms. A look at developing expert systems using PROLOG shows the steps involved in developing a database and the systematic rules required. This is illustrated using data from a chromatographic separation of drugs.The final group of chapters focus on hardware aspects by surveying the basic principles of data acquisition and network- ing. The stated aim of presenting an overview is achieved and the reader should be well equipped to discuss requirements with hardware designers and appreciate the contents of instrument manuals. A varied and interesting book covering a wide range of topics. There is sufficient detail for the reader to consider using a PC for additional applications. A . Bruith waite Handbook of U.S. Colorants. Foods, Drugs, Cosmetics, and Medical Devices. Third Edition By Daniel M. Marmion. Pp. xii + 574. Wiley. 1991. Price f71 .OO. ISBN 0-471-50074-7. If this text were solely concerned with the uses of colourants in foods it would be tempting to call it a cook-book.The text is divided into three parts, the first of which deals with the history, regulation and use of colourants, the second with colourant analysis and the third with the resolution of mixtures and the analysis of commercial products. The first part opens with a brief history and lists the permitted colourants. Then follows a brief chapter concerned with areas of use and an equally brief chapter on regulations governing use. Next there is a much longer chapter, containing a lot of tabular information, about the certified colours. Basic chemical information is presented, including structural and molecular formulae. The concluding chapter of this section is concerned with colourants exempt from certification.Each of these is accorded a few hundred words of information about chemical composition (many are of natural origin) and use. Interestingly enough, the list of miscellaneous colourants not requiring certification includes lead acetate. An appendix then lists colourant specifications, including the maximum toxic heavy metal content. Three further appendices list some US suppliers (about 20 companies), provides a glossary of terms and a two-page guide to obtaining the listing by the FDA of a proposed new colour additive, respectively. The second part of the book opens with a chapter concerned with identification. The bulk of this chapter is taken up with reproduction of the instrument output from the most charac- teristic qualitative procedure and includes UV-visible spectro- photometry (some of the spectra have percentage trans- mission as the ordinate), proton NMR, and some DSC traces (the instrument and operating conditions are specified).The next chapter is entitled ‘Determination of Strength’. Strength would appear to mean percentage purity of the major component and some standard titrimetric, gravimetric and spectrophotometric methods are described. The chapter also includes a discussion of the use of assay by determination of the organic S, N or halogen content. A two-page chapter on the determination of insoluble matter is followed by one concerned with the inorganic salt content. Ion chromato- graphy is the recommended procedure, but most of the chapter is devoted to spectrophotometric, gravimetric or titrimetric procedures.The following chapter on metals contains the statement that ‘the battery of techniques in use today for the determining metals ranges from the classical to the ultramodern and includes such procedures as the Gutzeit techniques for arsenic, atomic absorption spectroscopy . . . and X-ray fluorescence’. It is curious to see flame AAS categorized as a ‘newer instrumental method’. However, Marmion does acknowledge that methods involving chemical vapour generation, electrothermal atomization and the use of the ICP should all be useful, but indicates that there would appear to be little in the way of published work so far. The procedures detailed in this chapter have a rather old-fashioned feel to them. The next, equally short, chapter deals with organic im- purities. This chapter is really a broad overview and does not attempt to provide details of methods. These are provided in the two subsequent chapters, which deal with ‘Uncombined Intermediates and Other Low Molecular Weight Impurities’ and ‘Homologous, Isomeric and Other Related Colorants’, respectively. The first of these chapters provides details of a number of methods involving primarily HPLC and visible spectrophotometry . The second chapter contains almost exclusively chromatographic methods including a consider- able number of planar chromatography methods. The first chapter in the third part of the book, ‘Resolution of Mixtures’, is some 35 pages of annotated bibliography presented in alphabetical order with respect to the first named author. The following chapter, ‘Analysis of Commercial Products’ adopts much the same format. The chapter is divided into sections dealing with baked goods, beverages, candy and confections, cosmetics, dairy products, drugs, fats and oils, fruits, grain and grain products, jams and jellies, meat and fish, spices and condiments and concludes with a general section. The authors cited include at least two past presidents of the Analytical Division of the RSC, and, who knows, maybe one or two future Presidents. In addition to the references provided in these last two chapters, each of the preceding chapters is fully referenced. The dates of these show that there has been little relevant work published recently, a comment made by the author and alluded to earlier in connection with the use of atomic spectrometry for the determination of metals. The index is first rate. There is no doubt that this manual serves its purpose well and provides an excellent starting point for anyone with an interest in the nature of, the determination of and/or the analysis of colourants. The text would also act as an extremely useful source-book for anyone contemplating the devising of teaching experiments concerned with aspects of colourants in commercial products. Juliun F. Tyson