|
21. |
Book reviews |
|
Analyst,
Volume 104,
Issue 1239,
1979,
Page 584-592
G. H. Mansfield,
Preview
|
PDF (1118KB)
|
|
摘要:
584 Book Reviews Analyst, June, 1979 ION CHROMATOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS. Edited by EUGENE Ann Arbor, Mich.: Ann SAWICKI, J. D. MULIK and E. WITTGENSTEIN. Arbor Science Publishers. Distributed by John Wiley, Chichester. 1978. Price k17.65. Pp. vi + 210. As would be expected, use of the exciting concept of ion chromatographic analysis developed by Small, Stevens and Bauman in the United States and first published in 1975 (Analyt. Chem., 1975, 47, 1801) is now attracting considerable interest. The book “Ion Chromatographic Analysis of Environmental Pollutants” is a collection of papers describing the use of this new technique, taken from the first symposium held in North Carolina in October 1977 under the auspices of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.If the reader has already studied the first paper by Small et al. and is aware that the great majority of workers using this new technique are using instruments made by the Dionex Corporation based in California the book provides a useful and interesting collections of papers. Whilst it is strongly biased towards analysis of atmospheric pollutants this does not seriously deter from giving a reasonable view of the use of the technique as an analytical tool. The first 12 papers, concerned with aspects of analysis of atmospheric pollutants, show that the new technique is excellent for the measurernent of several different anions on a single small sample and the values obtained are usually in excellent agreement with those using classical methods. Whilst some work on cations is also described this tends to be much more limited.The papers tend to deal very much more with the use of the method than with the development of ion chromatography, as would be expected at this early stage. However, there are some comments on the limitations as in paper six, which, comparing it with AutoAnalyzer techniques, states “. . . the new method is not competitive at present for large loads.” The last three papers are not concerned directly with environmental pollution and show that the new method will expand into areas where measurement of several species is required on a single sample a t a high sensitivity. Ion Chromatographic analysis can often be used directly and avoids problems associated with matrices. This is an interesting book for those involved in the field of ion chromatographic analysis.In general, it is well presented with relatively few errors. It would have been of greater use if the technique had been described in detail in the first paper, but provided the reader is acquainted with the original paper by Small et al. it is a useful reference book. G. H. MANSFIELD COMPUTERS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY. By J. R. CHAPMAN. Pp. x + 266. London, New York and San Francisco: Academic Press. 1978. Price L9.80. This is a most timely book. The association between computers and mass spectrometers, which began as a liaison off-line not much more than a decade ago, has become a marriage unlikely to be broken. The partnership is immensely powerful and continues to develop in a wide variety of ways.Conceptual and practical innovations are appearing regularly in both types of instru- mentation and in the conjunction of the two. The rapid pace of development is underlain by a number of basic concepts relating to the ways in which data are created by the spectrometers and processed by the computers. Dr. Chapman has managed to bring, within this volume, a concise treatment of these principles and processes, which is illustrated by examples and by appropriate and extensive referencing to the literature. He has avoided detailed descriptions of instrumental hardware and proprietary software and thereby renders the book generally useful and one that is likely to remain topical for some years. Hence, it is to be hoped that commercial manufacturers of the appropriate instrumentation will make reference to sections of this book in describing the way their own instruments and software operate.A brief introduction to the basic instrumentation involved in producing and acquiring mass- spectral data is followed by the way in which the raw data can be converted into mass and intensity data and then reduced to the familiar printed and plotted output. Thereafter, a substantial portion of the book deals with the many methods that have been devised to assist the analyst in the recognition, interpretation and quantitation of the mass spectra. This is a particularly useful survey and will not only help readers evaluate the different methods but should also result inBOOK REVIEWS 586 stimulation of new approaches to the problems raised.The writing is a nice blend of theory and practice, with appropriate illustrations and some assessment of the positive and negative features of the different techniques. The content of the book is well summarised under the chapter headings: Instrumentation, Data Acquisition, Data Conversion, Data Reduction, Library Search, Pattern Recognition, Spectrum Interpretation and Quantitative Analysis. The literature referenced is fairly complete up to, and including, 1976. The main types of instrumentation are apparent in the computerised mass spectrometer field : firstly, the highly specialised instruments involved in basic research into mass spectrometry; secondly, the considerable number of instruments of moderate complexity involved in wide- ranging analytical problems in chemistry and in biomedical research, etc.; and thirdly, simplified, compact instruments for use in routine analysis in hospitals and analytical control laboratories. Chapman’s book should be invaluable to those involved in the operation and use of all of these instruments. Additionally, if teaching of analytical chemistry in Universities were given due prominence, then this book would serve as an important text. G. EGLINTON QUANTITATIVE SURFACE ANALYSIS OF MATERIALS. A SYMPOSIUM SPONSORED BY ASTM COMMITTEE E-42 on SURFACE ANALYSIS, CLEVELAND, OHIO, 2-3 MARCH, 1977. Edited by N. S. MCINTYRE. A S T M Special Technical Publication 643. Pp. x + 214. Phila- delphia: American Society for Testing and Materials. 1978. Price $21.50. This book is a collection of papers presented 2 years ago at the first meeting to be devoted exclusively to the quantitative analysis of surfaces by electron spectroscopy and ion-induced methods.It makes absorbing and exciting reading, because the further development of these new techniques will depend to a large extent on the successful solution of the problem of quantita- tive analysis of surfaces. The papers are grouped loosely into electron spectroscopy (XPS, Auger and soft X-ray photoemission) and ion-induced methods (SIMS and ISS). The physical basis of both is discussed in detail by C . J. Powell, C . D. Wagner and D. M. Hercules ei al. (electron spectroscopy) and D. E. Newbury (ISS). The sample itself has a great effect on the signal, and this is reflected by the results presented by the various authors for polymers, glasses, alloys, rare earth oxides and metal chelates.Interesting practical observations abound, such as the evidence of Sparrow and Mishmash that chromic acid treatment of soda-glass strips out trace elements leaving a surface of silica, whereas alcoholic potassium hydroxide is less effective and leaves calcium and sodium ions on the surface. In several of the papers different techniques are compared and in at least one, L. E. Davis and R. L. Gerlach’s study of metal alloys by SIMS and Auger spectroscopy, the results from the two methods are inconsistent, which serves to emphasise the danger of placing great reliance on just one surface analysis. By the publication of the proceedings it will become more widespread and others in the field will greatly value this early account of the state of the art.D. BETTERIDGE On the evidence presented here, there is still a long way to go. Several models are discussed, but as yet none is completely satisfactory. The organisers must have felt that they had initiated an important debate. THE ANALYSIS OF NUTRIENTS IN FOOD. By D. R. OSBORNE and P. VOOGT. Food Science and Technology: A Series of Monographs. Pp. xvi + 252. London, New York and San Francisco: Academic Press. 1978. Price L10.50; $21.75. This book is one in a series of monographs on food science and technology and its appearance makes a very useful contribution to the analytical scene. The authors have set out to produce a text that is more than a collection of analytical methods and in this sense their approach is quite different to that of the AOAC, for example.Quite rightly, in my view, they argue that the analyst needs to know the basic chemistry of the nutrients he is called upon to measure and more importantly he should know the basic functions of the nutrients so that the reasons behind the request for analyses are understood. The analyst also needs two other types of information in order to assess the values that are obtained; these are information about the typical concentrations of nutrients in foods and some guidance on assessing nutritional value.586 BOOK REVIEWS Analyst, Vol. 104 The first part deals with the basic chemistry and biological role of nutrients. The nutrients are considered in two categories, macronutrients, protein, fat, carbohydrates and, interestingly and quite properly, water.Vitamins and inorganic constituents are discussed in a chapter on micronutrients. ’This is followed by a chapter on nutrient analysis that reviews the over-all problems and requirements in this area. A fourth chapter gives a long review of recommended intakes of nutrients and the interpretation of nutritional data. In recognition of the international interest in this topic the various official recommendations in many countries are compared. This is interesting as an essay but could be rather confusing to the non-nutritionist. The need for taking the relative importance of a foodstuff in the diet into account when assessing its nutritional value is well presented. The final chapter in this first part consists of a table giving the composition of selected foods. This will be useful but in many instances the need to restrict space has resulted in a very condensed table that may cause confusion, Little is said about the normal levels of variation and this, I feel, is rather unfortunate.The suggestions for further reading cover the: field very thoroughly and the analyst should be able to find his way into the relevant literature very rapidly with this section as a guide. The second part follows the more conventional pattern of an analytical text. Methods are described and step-by-step instructions given for their execution. These instructions give the impression of being well tried and most workers would be able to set up and use the methods from these instructions.For those who wish to see the original description a few references are given. In a sense, an analytical text is like an anthology and any reader will notice when his particular favourite methods are not included. This book is no exception and the sections on fibre and unavailable carbohydrates, for example, are a little short. For many nutrients two or more methods are described and the analyst will be able to choose between, for example, a manual technique or a more sophisticated automated method. Methods for all the usual nutrients are included but some of the trace elements are not discussed in any great detail and a few selected references .to the nutrients not covered in detail (e.g., fluorine, iodine, cholesterol) would have been useful.The book is a very useful addition to the analyst’s library and is thoroughly recommended for all laboratories that are called upon to analyse for nutrients. D. A. T. SOUTHGATE The book is divided into two parts. THE PRACTICING SCIENTIST’S HANDBOOK. A GUIDE FOR PHYSICAL AND TERRESTRIAL SCJENTISTS AND ENGINEERS. By ALFRED J. MOSES. Pp. xii + 1292. New York, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Dallas, San Francisco, London, Toronto and Melbourne : Van Nostrand. 1978. Price k42.55. This applications-oriented handbook is a vast compendium of tabular data on materials properties, intended to facilitate the task of choosing the best materials for particular applications. Properties are divided into physical, mechanical, chemical, thermal and thermodynamic, electrical and electronic, magnetic, acoustic, optical and.nuclear. Materials are divided into elements, organic compounds, inorganic compounds, alloys,, refractories and supercooled liquids, composites, polymers and adhesives, semiconductors, superconductors, the environment and miscellaneous. Tables of (American) threshold limit values provide useful data on chemical hazards, dusts, carcinogens, heat stress, lasers, microwave radiation, noise, etc. Containing a mine of information, this book usefully complements the well known CRC “Handbook of Chemistry and Physics.” P. C. WESTON ANTIBIOTICS : ISOLATION, SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION. Edited by MARVIN J. WEINSTEIN Pp. xiv + AND GERALD H. WAGMAN. 771. Amsterdam, Oxford and New York: Elsevier. 1978. Price $84.75; Dfl195. Journal of Chromatography Library, Volume 15. This book contains 17 chapters by various authors on naturally occuring antibacterial substances, including substances obtained from.marine organisms and plants as well as from microbes. Most of the chapters are written in a format that includes details of the organisms from which the antibiotics are obtained, brief accounts of chemical and physical properties, of therapeutic use and of assay methods, and a more detailed account of isolation and purification of the antibiotics. It will be apparent from this summary that, although the book is published in the “Journal of Chromatography Library” series, the chromatographic content is fairly small,Juute, 1979 BOOK REVIEWS 587 being concerned primarily with the preparative chromatography that is involved in many of the isolation and purification procedures.It is also noteworthy, for readers of The Analyst, that the analytical content is far from comprehensive, although some chapters include references to major review articles in this area. The Editors have apparently applied a strict policy of excluding accounts of semi-synthetic derivatives of the naturally occurring compounds. This is understandable for space reasons, but it is particularly unfortunate with regard to penicillins where it leads to the nonsensical situation of a section titled “Therapeutic Use and Pharmacology of Penicillins,” which discusses penicillins F, G, K and X but has no mention of the much more widely used semi-synthetic derivatives. The Editors imply in their Preface that they see the major objective of the text as a practical manual for scientists working on the isolation of naturally occurring antibiotics for use in mole- cular-manipulation programmes. The amount of detail on isolation procedures varies from chapter to chapter but generally seems sufficient to meet this objective.The book successfully brings together a vast amount of information on widely diverse compounds in a clear and easily comprehensible format. It therefore seems likely to become a well used reference work for scientists involved in antibiotic research. The index is restricted to the names of the antibiotics discussed in the book and there is a moderate sprinkling of errors and misprints. Prime examples of these are a pK, value of 516 (p. 95), a surely incorrect double negative (“.. . but not virtually inactive against . . .”) on p. 88 and an astonishing 20-fold increase in an amount of benzyl clavulanate achieved simply by passing it down a chromatography column (p. 410). A. E. BIRD HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY. By JOHN H. KNOX, JOHN N. DONE, ANTHONY F. FELL, MARY T. GILBERT, ANDREW PRYDE and RICHARD A. WALL. Pp. x + 205. Edinburgh : Edinburgh University Press. 1978. Price j55. This well produced monograph is the result of two successful courses on HPLC run by Professor Knox and his co-authors for the Scottish Region of the Analytical Division of the Chemical Society. I t covers, in thirteen chapters, both theoretical and practical aspects of modern liquid chromato- graphy, including exclusion chromatography.As one might expect, those chapters dealing with theoretical topics are particularly well written. These chapters are of particular use to the practising chromatographer who wishes to appreciate some of the more fundamental aspects of HPLC without having to resort to major works such as J . C. Giddings’ “Dynamics of Chromatography.” This book is an ideal companion to P. A. Bristow’s “Liquid Chromatography in Practice” and is a must for the chromatography bookshelf. However, the use of carefully controlled elevated temperatures for reversed-phase and ion-pair chromatography goes almost unmentioned except for a fleeting reference on p. 37 of liquid - liquid chromatography. This is surprising as many of the example chromatograms quoted are obtained at 60 “C or 70 “C.Even more surprising, the temperature is not quoted for either the viscosity data in Table 12.4 or the D, values calculated from the Wilkie - Chang equation! Notwithstanding these oversights, this is a book to be thoroughly recommended to analytical chemists and chromatographers alike and, at j55, well within the price range of many students as well. C. BURGESS Naturally, it is not possible to cover all aspects of HPLC in 205 pages. ESSAYS ON ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY IN MEMORY OF PROFESSOR ANDERS RINGBOM. Edited by ERKKI WANNINEN. Pp. xiv + 607. Oxford, New York, Toronto, Sydney, Paris and Frankfurt: Pergamon Press. 1977. Price $55. This book must be judged on two related counts, as a memorial volume to Professor Ringbom and as a contribution to analytical chemistry.The book is attractive and well presented but has a few typographic errors. The 52 essays by eminent analytical chemists are, on the whole, up to date and stimulating. Professor Ringborn’s contribution was mainly in the area of solution equilibria and the associated classical analytical chemistry, and appropriately the first half of the book is devoted to these topics. Inevitably, owing to the range of authors who have contributed, the latter part of the book is a miscellany of topics, but nevertheless includes many useful articles.588 BOOK IREVIEWS Analyst, VoJ. 104 Under “acid - base complexes” Kolthoff takes a modern look at acid - base reactions in non- aqueous solvents and Bates is concerned with the measurement of hydrogen ion concentration and with standards for these determinations.Other papers are concerned with an increasingly important topic, the protonation behaviour of amino acids and peptides, and a particularly interesting discussion of nuclear magnetic resonance titrations is included. In the “metal complex” section Beck uses a new approach in giving a concise but lucid account of how stability constants are determined. Mixed ligand complexes, whose importance in analytical chemical systems was recognised only belatedly, are covered excellently by several authors; the general essays by Berger and by Perrin are essential reading. Petit-Ramel and Paris put up a convincing case for an increased use of spectropolarimetry in equilibrium studies, and Tanaka suggests possible kinetic analytical methods based on ligand exchange reactions.Under the sub-heading of “chemical structure,” J. Bjerrum gives a refreshingly new account of hard and soft acids and others present recent material on the structure of water in electrolyte solutions . The “titrations” section is a miscellany of interesting articles; Ingman and Still compare the relative merits of titration (ordinary and Gran ) with direct potentiometric measurement. The essays on titration reagents in complexometry and on newer trends in redox titrimetry by Pribil and Zyka, respectively, come as a relief to the mon-mathematician and to those who believe that descriptive classical titrimetry should not be neglected in this modern age. Svehla gives an interesting account of radiofrequency titrations, a technique that Laitinen later suggests should be reconsidered for use in the modern analytical laboratory in the light of improved electronics, In the “photometric analysis” section Flashka and Coulter take a new look at the advantages of using very long absorption cells, and other essays are concerned with a rigorous treatment of colour changes in indicators and the effect of mixed ligand complex formation on indicators.The “electrochemistry” section includes a survey of electrometric techniques by Laitinen and of ion-selective electrodes by Pungor, T6th and Nagy. Elving and co-workers present two recent examples of the use of polarography in investigating chemical reactions. Simon and co-workers give a stimulating account of lipophilic complexing agents used in liquid-state ion-selective electrodes.In the “separations” section chelating compounds in GLC is covered by Belcher, Khalique and Stephen, and ion-exchange chromatography by Inczbdy and by Schmuckler. Schill and co- workers write on ion-pair extraction of drugs, and Uesagi and Freiser on butyldithizone. The remaining 16 essays cover the general areas “trace analysis,” “kinetic analysis” and “other analytical techniques.” Alimarin, always worth reading, writes about activation analysis of high purity substances, and Guilbault gives a detailed account of fluorescence analysis on solid surfaces. P. W. West’s essay, which includes experimental procedures, on the analysis of air- borne particulates is extremely interesting. With the increasing use of centrifugal analysers the essays on kinetic methods are particularly pertinent.Cheng and Prather have provided a useful review of photoelectron spectroscopy iin analytical chemistry and Hirsch presents an analytical chemist’s view of statistics. Most analytical chemists will be attracted by the eminence of the contributors, many of whom I have been unable to mention, and will find much to interest them in this volume. The contributors have risen to the occasion and many of the articles should be included as essential in bibliographies in their particular fields. A. G. FOGG In conclusion, let it be said that this book is a worthy tribute to Professor Ringbom. TRACE METALS IN THE ENVIRONMENT. VOLUME: 1. THALLIUM. By IVAN C. SMITH AND BONNIE L. CARSON. Pp. xii + 394.Ann Arbor, Mich.: Ann Arbor Science Publishers. Distri- buted by John Wiley, Chichester. 1977. Price k15.15. Very early in the present decade when ecological scares became an almost weekly occurrence in the media, it was clear that knowledge on the levels of heavy metals, especially the more esoteric and possibly toxic elements, was sketchy, being detailed in parts, while almost non-existent in others. There were many suggestions on how to achieve a solution to this problem, and there were many seminars, teach-ins, reports and projects to gather such data. One such programme was initiated by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences who financed theJztne, 19 79 BOOK REVIEWS 589 Midwest Research Institute to assemble such information as there may be on the production, uses, natural and man-influenced environmental levels of thallium plus the concomitant human and animal health effects.Although in the mid-1940s much thallium was used usually in the form of thallium(1) sulphate to control rats in theatres of war, its estimated use in 1975 was only 1000 lb. Thus, we are dealing with a minor element but nevertheless a very toxic one as the long list of accidental poisonings bears witness, as a result of ingestion (often by children) of such rodenticide baits. The book is presented in a format that will presumably be standard for this series, being almost in report form. Hence, the book opens with a summary, is followed by a short introduction and then proceeds to detail under chapter headings the uses of thallium compounds, the chemistry of the element, occurrence in the geochemical environment, industrial processes as environmental sources of thallium, occurrence of thallium and physiological effects in organisms, the associated health hazards plus conclusions and recommendations. The book is completed by a lengthy appendix that is concerned with the occurrence of thallium in the geochemical environment, and a subject index.As far as analytical chemistry is concerned, the subject is short (5 pages) but contains some definite truths that are of wide application. Thus, the “analysis of thallium in environmental and biological samples a t trace levels is not limited by instrumental capabilities but by the availability of standard reference materials.” How true this statement is one wonders for many elements, many much more common than rather rare thallium.Although the con- clusions and recommendations are only three pages long, if implemented they rely very heavily on analytical chemistry and the selectivity of the procedure finally adopted. However, much of the information given is directly applicable only to the North American situation; how much is or should be applied to the European (in particular the United Kingdom) context is probably a matter of conjecture and active debate. No doubt as a compilation on thallium the book is valuable but surely will appeal to only a handful of research workers particu- larly now that the element and its compounds are banned as rodenticides almost universally. The book is well produced and contains many references to a widely dispersed literature. At a time when all laboratory budgets must be carefully scrutinised much thought would be needed before this particular book is purchased.G. NICKLESS ANALYSIS WITH ION-SELECTIVE ELECTRODES. By J. VESEL‘~~, D. WEISS and K. STULfK. Ellis Horwood Series in Analytical Chemistry. Pp. 245. Chichester : Ellis Horwood. Distri- buted by John Wiley. 1978. Price Ll6. The aim of this book is to review the theory and practice of the application of ion-selective electrodes, whilst also outlining briefly theories of how the electrodes work. The result is a useful book containing much practical information set out so that most of this information is easy to find. However, some information is obscured behind a superfluity of references, some to super- seded or impractical methods; the reader needing the best published method for a particular analysis is often left to compare the original papers for himself.A more rigorous selection of references would have allowed more space for accuracy and precision data and comparisons with non-potentiometric methods. The first concisely surveys the theory of operation of the different types of electrode and introduces selectivity coefficients. The second is concerned with electrode construction and reviews the various membrane formulations developed for the different determinands. There are also clear sections, complemented by useful tables and figures, on reference electrodes, liquid junctions, measuring instruments and temperature effects.In the third chapter, entitled “Experimental Techniques, ” the authors describe sample preparation methods for liquid and solid samples, and general methods and procedures for using electrodes in the laboratory, including the known addition method, Gran’s plot and potentiometric titrations ; the advantages and disadvantages of each are clearly explained. Continuous measurements and biochemical measurements are briefly mentioned. A section is given to each determinand, which is prefaced by a short introduction on the properties and use of the relevant electrode. This chapter includes an excellent section on fluoride determination, which, reflecting the authors’ interests, includes some of their own previously unpublished work. The other sections are also useful, although sodium and ammonia get scant attention, with some useful papers omitted and some inaccuracies included; moreover, it is surprising to read “there The book is divided into four chapters.The fourth and longest chapter is a review of applications and has 919 references.590 BOOK REVIEWS Analyst, Vol. 104 have been attempts to measure down to 1 0 - 8 ~ of sodium” (the authors apparently preferring 10-6 M as the limit of detection) as there are siix makes of industrial monitor working down to this level, some of which have been in successful operation for years. This book was apparently written in 1975 and several references up to 1977 subsequently inserted. Consequently, many of the 1975 papers and virtually all of the more recent papers are merely noted rather than discussed.For example, 1976 and 1977 theoretical papers are covered by the sentence “Most recently, further theoretical work was carried out on various types of ion-selective electrode [see for example, references (112a, b, c, d, e)].” As the book is primarily concerned with applications, this does not greatly affect its usefulness ; however, some recent developments, for example, flow injection analysis and new types of nitrate electrode, are unfortunately not discussed. Despite the authors’ remark in the Preface that “no book has been devoted to analytical aspects” of ion-selective electrodes, at least four others are available. It seems unnecessary for the title of this one to duplicate that of one of the others. P. L. BAILEY CONTEMPORARY TOPICS IN ANALYTICAL AND CLINICAL CHEMISTRY.VOLUME 2. Edited by DAVID M. HERCULES, GARY M. HIEFTJE, LLOYD R. SNYDER and MERLE A. EVENSON. Pp. x + 286. New York and London: l?lenum. 1978. Price $33. This is the second volume in what is expected to be a continuing series aimed at providing a critical and analytical overview of key developments relevant to the needs of analytical and clinical chemists. Articles are commissioned to review the fundamental background, describe instrumentation, critically assess applications of new techniques and make predictions of future improvements in techniques or their applications. The present volume contains five articles, and with the exception of that on wavelength modulation spectrometry, are on separation and chromatographic topics.T. C. O’Haver has reviewed the historical background and theoretical aspects of wavelength modulation spectroscopy for both small (derivative spectroscopy) and large wavelength modula- tion cases (28 pages, 143 references, cut-off date 1977). The main emphasis in the applications of the first case has been on improvements in resolution and in the second on signal to noise ratio, the principal applications being in molecular and atomic spectroscopy, respectively. Derivative spectra are of current and greatest likely future application as they can be obtained by simple electronic differentiation, although it should be noted that significant detection limit improve- ments are possible using large modulation in various atomic spectroscopic methods. Laser Doppler electrophoresis is a combination of electrophesis in solution with laser Doppler velocimetry.B. A. Smith and B. R. Ware have outlined the basic theory and its implications for experimental design, apparatus and associated optics. This is a new technique and it appears to be particularly suited to the study of living cells, e.g., the effect of enzymes on blood cells (26 pages, 46 references, cut-off date 1977). The major portion of the book is by P. T. Kissinger, L. J. Felice, D. J. Miner, C. R. Preddy and R. E. Shoup and concerns detectors for trace organic analysis by liquid and gas chromatography (121 pages, 176 references, cut-off date 1977). Aspects common to both techniques and/or detectors are considered first ; these include sample preparation, sample injection, use of internal standards, the unambiguous statement of detector sensitivity, instrumental causes of peak distortion including a detailed mathematical treakment of finite response time, finite detector and sample volumes and fluid time-constant effects. All the common and a fair number of recent, and a selection of less common but nonetheless useful, detectors for gas and liquid chromatography are described with their merits and demerits illustrated with salient examples of their application. This is an excellent, well illustrated and balanced introduction to the subjects, which are con- veniently, and with economy, treated in parallel. J.Landon, J. A. Carney and D. J. Langley review radioimmunoassay for the measurement of enzyme levels in terms of their concentration and put forward the views that catalytic assays will continue their predominant role in some instances, that combination with radioimmunoassay provides new data in others but the measurement of concentration may replace conventional assays for certain enzymes (21 pages, 66 references, cut-off date 1976).Clinical liquid chromatography is surveyed by well known authorities in the subject, L. R. Synder, B. L. Karger and R. W. Geise. The basic practice, advantages and limitations of liquid chromatography and the comparision with, and competition with, alternate techniques are clearlyJune, 1979 BOOK REVIEWS 591 set out. The probable impact of liquid chromatography on clinical chemistry is examined in some detail; the application review covers literature from 1976 up to March 1978, is selective and indicates areas of greatest current interest and future potential (80 pages, 323 references).The basic merit of the material is commended but two questions arise: whether a completely specialised chromatographic monograph would not have been of even more value, and indeed how many more analytical review series can be produced without serious overlap and near duplication of material ? D. THORBURN BURNS TRANSFORM TECHNIQUES IN CHEMISTRY. Edited by PETER R. GRIFFITHS. Pp. xxiv + 386. New York and London: Plenum. 1978. Price $47.40. The application of multiplex transform techniques to spectrometer design has resulted in instruments that have opened up whole new fields of chemical investigation. The most striking example is the way pulse Fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers have revolutionised organic structure analysis. by their routine acquisition of natural abundance carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectra and made most of the elements in the Periodic Table accessible to nuclear magnetic resonance study.Although developments in other areas have been less spectacular, transform instrumentation is established in far-infrared spectrometry and also in the mid-infrared region where the highest instrument sensitivity and fastest scanning are required, such as in combined gas chromatograph - infrared instruments. This book, which consists of 14 chapters written by 12 specialists, describes the Fourier and other transform concepts together with the data handling and computer capacity required for on-line Fourier transform processing, the advantages accruing to multi-channel spectrometers and the combination of all of these to produce working spectrometers. The treatment is largely descriptive, but the necessary mathematical nomenclature and expressions are covered with good explanations of their physical significance and illustrated by text figures and tables.The specific areas of application described are infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectroscopy, Hadamard spectrometric imagers, pattern recognition and electrochemistry. Two of the chapters from the Editor cover Fourier transform - infrared theory, instrumentation and chemical applications, including a useful and balanced discussion of the relative merits of grating and transform infrared spectrometers. Fourier transform - nuclear magnetic resonance is also given two chapters for a fairly standard treatment of the instrumentation, decoupling methods, multiple pulse sequences and relaxation time measurements.The remaining applica- tions are given one chapter each and cover areas that, so far as the reviewer is aware, are not yet served by commercially available instruments. However, the potential advantages of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance detailed by Comisarow are such that commercial mass spectro- meters operating on this principle can be confidently expected. This is a well produced book and although the reader will search in vain for Fig. 8.9, its absence is immaterial to understanding the point under discussion.In fact, one suspects that the supression of the figure was deliberate and the failure to delete the reference to it in the text is the real error. In short, this book can be recommended to all who wish to know what goes on inside the “Fourier black box” and to practitioners in any of the applied areas mentioned who wish to know what is happening or potentially about to happen in related areas. C. P. RICHARDS A HISTORY OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY. Edited by HERBERT A. LAITINEN and GALEN W. EWING. Pp. xvi + 358. Washington, D.C.: Division of Analytical Chemistry of the American Chemical Society. Available from Dr. F. Guthrie, Department of Chemistry, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, Indiana 47803, USA. 1977. Price $11. In the Preface to this book, it is remarked that Szabadvary’s work devotes only 27 out of 401 pages to non-classical analysis; presumably the purpose of the present book is to remedy this situation.Because of the vast territory now covered by analytical chemistry, it was decided to call on a large number of contributors (over 50). The various limits imposed by the Editors are then set out; ‘I. . . we have chosen to de-emphasise those aspects of early work that have been592 BOOK REVIEWS Analyst, Vol. 104 repeatedly covered. . . . The topic Editors were instructed to stress the American scene . . .” and so on. The problems and difficulties are recounted and so the Editors r r . . . have chosen to compromise.’ ’ He had to cover periods when records were few and difficult of access.The development of non- classical methods is far easier to trace, for it is of recent origin and it falls within the period of detailed documentation, though the myths build up even in this sophisticated era. After having completed the hardest part of the operation, Szabadvary cannot be criticised for leaving the comparatively simpler task to others. The limits that were set have produced a rag-bag that has to be gone through in detail to pick out the useful material. The “de-emphasising” has produced a completely unbalanced profile. For example, Lewis and Black are not mentioned, neither is C. F. Chandler, the founder of the American C hemical Society, and first incumbent of the first Chair of Analytical Chemistry ever to be established, nor are other American investigators, such as Alter, Austen, Booth and H.C. Jones. It is like writing a History of England and omitting the reign of Henry VIII because so many biographies have covered his period. I found it difficult to glean historical information in the USA when I was preparing my Bi-Centennial Lecture (1976) and my Royal Institute of Chemistry Centennial Lecture (1977), “The History of American Analytical Chemistry.” I pointed out then that there were many aspects that could be readily researched in the USA but so far nothing seems to have been done. Most of the instrumental history is well covered; as I have said, it is comparatively easy to collect material and the special subjects fall into water-tight compartments. There are many errors.The first primary standards are ascribed to Mohr and the discovery of xylenol orange is incorrectly attributed to Schwarzenbach. Clement Duval is described as “a Director of the National Research Centre”; he has been dead for more than three years and had retired some years previously. D. M. W. Anderson is described as Professor of Analytical Chemistry a t the University of Edinburgh. Regrettably, this is not true. The total number of professors of analytical chemistry in the island of Britain (two) is less than that in the City of Vienna, and neither is at a Scottish University, despite the great contributions that were made there in the last century. The Dorset man, Fox Talbot, is described as a “Scottish worker.” The text is broken up by the inclusion of long wearisome letters and statements that interrupt the narrative; they should have been consigned to an appendix. A book such as this was intended to be should be a life-long companion, yet it is printed in the miserable off-set litho. Apart from its intrinsic ugliness, it denies the writer the flexibility of using different print sizes, an important asset in a book of this kind. It is chastening to realise that such an array of eminent and distinguished chemists could not have done better and it emphasises again the mLagnificent job done by Szabadvary. Perhaps too many people were involved, perhaps the advice of a professional historian should have been sought. It could have been made a “History of Analytical Instrumentation,” “A History of North American Analytical Chemistry” or, if left in its present form, “Essays on the History of Analytical Chemistry.” It is certainly not a “History of Analytical Chemistry” because of the limits the Editors set themselves. For a book of this kind it is cheap and i t contains much valuable information, even though it needs searching for, and if one wants the original papers and the references that are recorded on microfilm, these have to be sent for. The instrumental section has never been covered to the same extent before. However, if the purchaser thinks he is getting a poor man’s Szabadvary, he will be sorely disappointed. R. BELCHER Szabadvary’s scholarly masterpiece was the first, and until now, the only work of its kind. After the limits had been set, the title should have been put in the balance and re-assessed. The question now is, is it to be recommended?
ISSN:0003-2654
DOI:10.1039/AN9790400584
出版商:RSC
年代:1979
数据来源: RSC
|
|