Books and Software: GC practical advice - Analytical Chemistry (ACS

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porates information on essential new technology. Historical citations are included in the reference section along with recent citations of technologies. The book is divided into 11 sections, covering topics such as theory, columns, detectors, and troubleshooting. Nine appendices offer practical answers to common questions for the inexperienced user. The first three parts of the book give an overview of the history, definitions, instrumentation, basic concepts, and processes of GC. The next three sections cover stationary phases as well as packed and capillary columns, including inlet systems. The detector section principally covers flame ionization, thermal conductivity, and electron-capture detectors. Because these detectors are commonly used, the level of coverage is appropriate for this book. Tiff The section on qualitative and quantitacede the discussion of spectroscopic and BASIC GAS tive analysis covers major methods, ,ncludelectrochemical methods CHIIIIMATIIIIIIAI'HY ing area-normalization and response facThe breadth of coverage, coupled with tors, external standard, internal standard, a desire to "limit the size... to under 1000 and standard addition. pages," means that depth of coverage is The last three sections of the book cover lacking in some areas in ways that will programmed-temperature GC and special probably frustrate many instructors. As one topics such as GC/MS, chiral analyses, deriexample, I suspect those who thoroughly vatization, and troubleshooting GC systems. cover chemical equilibria in their courses In addition, the troubleshooting section inwill find the sections on acid-base chemiscludes valuable schematic chromatograms Basic Gas Chromatography try, solubility, and complex formation lackdenoting the symptoms, possible causes, Harold M. McNair and James M. Miller ing. Illustrative examples that would enable and remedies of various GC problems. This John Wiley & Sons an undergraduate to work through a conis a valuable tool for the less experienced 605 Third Ave. cept covered that day in class are rarely practitioner using GC systems. New York, NY 10158 provided. Quantitative problems are not 1998, 194 pp., $49.95 Two of the appendices from this book given at the end of the chapters on equilibare worth mentioning. Appendix II is a rium, gravimetry and titrimetry. InstrucThis book is part of the Techniques si An- clear and succinct guideline for selecting tors who regularly give out-of-class assignments will need to devise most of their own alytical Chemistry Series, which was writ- capillary columns, and includes comments ten for readers with little or no knowledge on the advantages and the disadvantages of problems for most topics of the subject. This up-to-date resource various options. The information offered in The book contains contributions from for practitioners of GC combines the best Appendix III reflects the authors' extensive the 4 editors and 30 other authors. The of two previous works (Basic Gas Chro- experience solving problems associated strength of such an approach is that the matography yb H. M. McNair ran E. J. with GC. Both authors have valuable lesmaterial is written by experts in each topic Bonelli, and Chromatography: Concepts sons for the experienced and inexperiarea. The weakness is that there is no uniand Contrasttsb y. M. Miller) )nd incorenced practitioner alike. form style to the writing. Some sections quantitative and instrumental analysis probably use two texts, the breadth of coverage in this book offers the potential to use it for any undergraduate analytical chemistry course. The introductory material establishes the important role of the analytical chemist as a problem solver and implies that this theme will be developed throughout. Unfortunately, the theme is abandoned once the focus shifts to specific analytical methods. Many of the chapters start with some interesting information on the historical development of a method. However, instead of developing a novel approach related to the use of analytical techniques in solving problems, the coverage is often descriptive and, at times, encyclopedic. The order of topics is one that I prefer the elements of separation science (including equilibrium and chromatography)

are quite lucid; others are not. Certain basic topics arise in more than one chapter and are often not related to the prior material. In several instances (e.g., broadening of chromatographic peaks), equations with the terms defined are given in lieu of any substantive qualitative description of the actual processes that occur. The text will certainly meet the needs of some instructors. Unfortunately, a critical amount of material that I covered in my courses was not adequately supported by the text; something I suspect others will find as well. Reviewed by Thomas J. Wenzel, Bates College

GC Practical Advice

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Analytical Chemistry News & Features, March 1, 1999 213 A

Books and Software An index containing more than 60 applications precedes the subject index. Considering the relatively small size of this book, the applications are rather diverse and informative. The subject index is well done, and subdivisions make it easy to find the topic of interest. This book will be a valuable addition for any laboratory-practicing chromatographer. It could even replace its two well-worn predecessors were it not for their sentimental value. Reviewed by Mary A. Kaiser, Dupont Corporate Center for Analytical Sciences

ity assurance issues, and the assay of biomarkers. The book also features a unique compendium on drugs-in-biofluids assays. This book is aimed at libraries, researchers, and professional organizations who participate in drug development and bioanalytical research. Fluorescence Microscopy and Fluorescent Probes 2 Jan Slavík, Ed. Plenum Publishing Corporation 233 Spring St. New York, NY 10013 1998, 272 pp.. $95

GC/MS, will be unveiled at this month's Pittcon meeting. The program introduces fundamental principles of GC/MS, including GC resolution optimization, column types, inlet systems for packed and capillary columns, enrichment techniques, and qualitative and quantitative data analysis. Comprehensive quizzes offer immediate feedback, and a progress log keeps track of each user's history. The quizzes and subject screens can be customized to incorporate a lab's inhouse procedures. Other features include an electronic notepad, a search feature, and an electronic bookmark.

BOOKS RECEIVED Polymer Synthesis and Characterization Stanley R. Sandler, Wolf Kara, Jo-Anne Bonesteel, and Eli M. Pearce Academic Press 525 B St., Ste. 1900 San Diego, CA 92101-4495 1998, 212 pp., $39.95

This manual is a comprehensive introduction to techniques for polymer synthesis and characterization. The experiments in the manual, reviewed for classroom use at Polytechnic University, are designed for completion in one laboratory period, using limited quantities of materials to reduce cost and disposal problems. The writing style and straightforward approach to explaining concepts and procedures will benefit beginning students. More advanced students will appreciate the emphasis on fundamental principles and the references to more indepth explanations of the techniques. Drug Development Assay Approaches: Including Molecular Imprinting & Biomarkers E. Reid, H. M. Hill, and I. D. Wilson, Eds. The Royal Society of Chemistry Thomas Graham House, Science Park, Milton Rd. Cambridge CB4 4WF, U.K. 1998, 300 pp., $99.50

Based on the work of a group of international experts, this edition describes the latest validated methodology in the bioanalysis of drugs. Areas of focus include molecular imprinting and other sample treatment approaches, analyte case histories, analyte distinction or detection, qual214 A

This follow-up to the successful 1996 volume 1 is a compilation of the papers and lectures given at the 1997 conference on fluorescence microscopy, which was held in Prague. Many papers describe fluorescence applications for biology and medicine. The first volume focused mainly on lifetime imaging and digital image processing in general; this second volume covers single molecule imaging and multiphoton excitation.

SOFTWARE RELEASED Chiral Applications CD-ROM Advanced Separation Technologies 37 Leslie Ct., P.O. Box 297 Whippany, NJ 07981 973-428-9080 http://www.astecusa.com Free to chromatographers Requires: Windows 3.1, 95, or NT 4.0

A CD-ROM that includes the latest chiral applications on Chirobiotic V and Chirobiotic T HPLC columns is avaiiable. All parts of the methodology can be reviewed, browsed, and printed, and analytes and chromatograms can be displayed. Search engines can be used to locate compounds of interest, to filter records by their identified functtonal groups, or ro look for up to three analytes. Fundamentals of GC/MS SAVANT P.O. Box 3670 Fullerton, CA 92834 714-870-7880 $595 (Inquire about network pricing.)

Fundamentals of GC/MS, a computerbased, interactive training program for

Analytical Chemistry News & Features, March 1, 1999

Standard Methods for the Examination of Wastewater Water Environment Federation 601 Wythe St. Alexandria, VA 22314 800-666-0206 CD-ROM: $235 (WEF members), $285 (nonmembers) CD-ROM and book: $358 (WEF members), $437 (nonmembers)

The 20th edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Wastewater is rvailable on CD-ROM. The topics covered include metals, inorganic nonmetallic constituents, radioactivity, toxicity, and biological and microbiological examination. The complete text and graphics of the book, including full-color aquatic algae illustrations, are provided. This CD-ROM is fully searchable by keyword or by table of contents. Chromatogram Web Builder LC Resources 2930 Camino Diablo, Ste. 110 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 800-379-5221 http://www. L CResources. com $500 Requires: Windows 95/NT, Internet Explorer 3.0 or above

Chromatogrrm Web Builder helps the user create and maintain a Web site of chromatograms. The program comes with the company's package Chrom Merge, which can set the display features of the chromatograms. The Web Builder reads user-specifiedfiles—inthe standard Analytical Data Interchange (ANDI) format—to create a linked set of HTML files as the Web site. After that, the page can be customized, and old files can be deleted automatically.