Books and Software: Worldwide textbook? - Analytical Chemistry (ACS

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Books

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Software

Welcome to Biosensors

I

NTRODUCTION IN BIOANALYTICAL

SENSORS

Introduction to Bioanalytical Sensors Alice J. Cunningham John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 605 Third Ave. New York, NY 10158-0012 1998, 403 pp., $69.95

Few scientists could have written a more comprehensive introductory book on biosensors than Alice Cunningham. The author has been interested in bioanalytical methods for more than 30 years, and the book constantly reminds us of her wealth of knowledge in the subject area. Most of the information is current—about 90% of the bibliographic citations are only a few years old (1993-1997). This timely book will surely be welcomed by a wide range of readers. Students and teachers in graduate or advanced undergraduate courses will find it an excellent supplementary text that enlightens their understanding of fundamental analytical principles. Researchers who just jumped onto the biosensor bandwagon will find it valuable for quickly learning basic principles and terminologies or for charting new paths of intellectual adventure. Professionals in biomedical engineering, bioprocess control, health care services, and environmental monitoring will also benefit by updating their knowledge of new sensor technologies. Chapter 1 is an excellent starting point for a novice to get familiar with the basic issues and terminologies of biosensors 212 A

(e.g., definition, classification, performance evaluation, practical applications, current R&D accomplishments, and future directions). Chapter 2 emphasizes what needs to be considered when designing a sensor, including analytes frequently encountered in the real world, basic signal transduction strategies, and the mass transport problem. To illustrate a point, the author uses ample examples; potentially difficult concepts, such as the terminology and properties of enzymes, are discussed in detail. Chapter 3 is entirely devoted to the immobilization of bioselective layers. Diverse immobilization strategies are discussed because a particular choice depends on the type of substrate surface and the type of molecular recognition agent. Again, the author's presentation of the data is thorough and well organized. Chapter 4 discusses biosensors based on electrochemical signal transduction. The many figures and illustrations in this chapter greatly enhance readability. The treatment of relevant electrochemical principles is just enough to refresh readers' memories but not as indepth as the classic textbooks on electrochemistry. Chapter 5 examines optically based biosensors, with an emphasis on the instrumentation of waveguide devices such as optical fibers, internal reflection elements, near-field probes, and surface plasmon resonance prisms. The chemical and optical properties of molecular probes, be they fluorescent labels or light-scattering particles, are barely discussed. The short length of this chapter may reflect the fact that optical biosensors are not being used as widely as those based on electrochemistry. Similarly, biosensors based on thermal and acoustic wave are treated only briefly in Chapter 6. Bibliographic citations are highly useful because the title text of each entry is included. The citations are indexed alpha-

Analytical Chemistry News & Features, March 1, 1999

betically according to the last name of the first author, but a full author index is not given. Nevertheless, this inconvenience may be circumvented with two excellent appendices—one sorts citations by analyte names, and the other lists review articles by topics. Reviewed byLiSun,TexasA&M University

Worldwide Textbook?

Analytical Chemistry R. Kellner, J.-M. Mermet, M. Otto, and H. M. Widmer, Eds. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 605 Third Ave. New York, NY 10158-0012 1998, 903 pp., $84.95

This book has been written to support a uniform undergraduate analytical chemistry curriculum adopted by the Division of Analytical Chemistry of the Federation of European Chemical Societies (FECS). In the foreword, the president of the FECS expresses the hope that this book will facilitate the adoption of the curriculum "worldwide". Not surprisingly, an especially diverse array of methods and techniques is recommended in the curriculum and discussed in the book, certainly more than S66IT1S possible to cover in one yccir of ciiici~ lytical chemistry. Whereas most instructors who teach two undergraduate analytiCeil courses under the general rubric of

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. The section on qualitative and quantitaBASIC GAS e W t r o c h e m ' al th H tive analysis covers major methods, ,ncludCHROMATOGRAPHY 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 lacking in some areas in ways that will The last three sections of the book cover l . l~ l j j. ± • 1 programmed-temperature GC and special probably frustrate many instructors. As one topics such as GC/MS, chiral analyses, deriI T , , 1 1 , ,1 vatization, and troubleshooting GC systems. example, I suspect those who thoroughly In addition, the troubleshooting section incover chemical equilibria in their courses cludes valuable schematic chromatograms Basic Gas Chromatography will find the sections on acid-base chemis1 Kl'h r\ i f fi 1 lr denoting the symptoms, possible causes, Harold M. McNair and James M. Miller t TII • i 6 X 6S W and remedies of various GC problems. This John Wiley & Sons A J am^ , If is a valuable tool for the less experienced 605 Third Ave. an un ergraduate to work tnroug a conpractitioner using GC systems. cept coverea mat day in class are rarely 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 iiinmerxy. InstrucThis book is part of the Techniques ss An- clear and succinct guideline for selecting tors who regularly give out-ot-class assignalytical Chemistry Series, which was writ- capillary columns, and includes comments UlC^llLo w i l l HCv^vI LU d C V i o C l l l V J s t U l L11C11 \J W l l 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 i. lie? KJ\J\)I\. l_.UIltaJ.Ilo L.UI1L1 l U L l L l U I l s I I ( J i l l for practitioners of GC combines the best Appendix III reflects the authors' extensive LllC fr CU.1LUI o f i l l Li J u OLIIC-1 d U L I I O I o . JLIiC of two previous works (Basic Gas Chro- experience solving problems associated strength of such an approach is that the with GC. Both authors have valuable lesmaterial is written by experts in each topic matography yy H. M. McNair rnd E. J. Bonelli, and Chromatography: Concepts sons for the experienced and inexperiarea. x ne weakness is mat there is no uniand Contrastt by 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) precede the discussion of spectroscopic and

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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