- Email: [email protected]
CE of small molecules and ions
trends in analytical chemistr)!
IX
vol. 13, no. 5, 1994
which are not explained and some extended papers which are hard to follow. Among case studies, which are often an illustration on how well laboratories are able to follow international standards, GLPs, accreditation systems in sectors as varying as lead testing laboratories, hazardous waste industry, programmes to establish QA schemes for meat, seafood analysis etc., the reader is confronted with papers dealing with heavy-going descriptions of statistics for the validation of methods which, although of great importance, should have been summarized. Very interesting developments are described viz. the approach adopted by the NOAA for their National Status and Trends Project in designing a quality assurance programme on a total quality management principle. This performance-based QA programme is designed to test new and improved methodologies evaluated in interlaboratory studies without being stuck on standardized methods. The experience gained since 1987 has clearly shown that the quality of data generated using new methods is comparable or superior to that generated by “old” standardized methods. The achievement of this evaluation is obtained by clear protocol requirements, use of certified reference materials (CRMs), QA sam-
ples, interlaboratory studies, etc. Examples are given from intercomparison exercises by NIST and NRC under the NS & T programme. The importance of CRMs is highlighted in other contributions and an interesting development is described for new generations of RMs for QA in water microbiology. A point too often forgotten is also addressed in the achievement of a good management structure and motivation in QA: the human element. The human aspects are developed and highlighted in the QA standard and system world which is often hard to follow; it is clearly stressed that without motivation of staff and good training, QA cannot be achieved. The harmonization of protocols is obviously a major and necessary trend. The experience described by W. Horwitz with IUPAC is a good illustration of the efforts made to obtain a harmonized protocol for application performance interlaboratory studies. The book ends with a listing of general terms concerning standardization, related activities and their definitions which is very useful in this context. Ph. QUEVAUVILLER Dr. Ph. Quevauviller is at the Measurement and Testing Programme, Commission of the European Communities, Brussels, Belgium.
CE of small molecules and ions Capillaty Electrophoresis of Small Molecules and Ions, by Petr Jandik and Giiniher Bonn, VCH, Weinheim, 1993, DM 108 (x + 298pages), ISBN 3-527-89533- 7
There has been a steady flow of books on capillary electrophoresis (CE) over recent years but this is the first to concentrate on the specific use of CE for small molecules and ions. In this text, these solutes are interpreted to include inorganic anions and cations (which carry by far the greatest emphasis),
low-molecular-mass carboxylic acids and amines, amino acids, carbohydrates, as well as some other solutes. Both of the authors have extensive experience in ion chromatography (IC) and have also been involved in the pioneering development of CE as a tool for inorganic analysis. They are therefore well qualified to discuss this subject and have made many useful comparisons between the performance of CE and that of IC. The book opens with a short introductory section which is followed by
a chapter dealing with the fundamentals of CE. This chapter covers the basic theory of the technique, such as the origin of electroosmotic flow, separation modes, and factors influencing resolution and efficiency. Chapter three, which comprises approximately half of the book (132 pages) deals with hardware, selection and handling of capillaries, detection methods, and instrumentation and system performance. Two further chapters are devoted to selected applications of both counterelectroosmotic and coelectroosmotic methods, and the book concludes with a short but adequate index. The text is easy to read and contains careful and well-structured explanations for all of the features of CE. Numerous figures, both original and taken from the literature, are used to amplify the text and liberal use has been made of Tables and other supporting data. An appropriate amount of theory has been included and these theoretical treatments have been supported by illustrative calculations to show their application to practice. Literature references are plentiful and are up-to-date. Two of the chief strengths of the book are the systematic manner in which CE has been discussed and the frequent comparisons made with IC. Furthermore, there is a strong practical emphasis throughout the discussion which should enable users of CE to readily implement the concepts explained. I am sure that this book will gain wide acceptance and should appeal particulary to ion chromatographers wishing to employ CE for the same solutes typically analysed by IC. I strongly recommend its purchase by scientists in this category or by experienced CE users wishing to move from the traditional areas of CE into the newer application area of inorganic analysis. PAUL R. HADDAD Paul R. Haddad is Professor of Chemistry at the University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
IX
vol. 13, no. 5, 1994
which are not explained and some extended papers which are hard to follow. Among case studies, which are often an illustration on how well laboratories are able to follow international standards, GLPs, accreditation systems in sectors as varying as lead testing laboratories, hazardous waste industry, programmes to establish QA schemes for meat, seafood analysis etc., the reader is confronted with papers dealing with heavy-going descriptions of statistics for the validation of methods which, although of great importance, should have been summarized. Very interesting developments are described viz. the approach adopted by the NOAA for their National Status and Trends Project in designing a quality assurance programme on a total quality management principle. This performance-based QA programme is designed to test new and improved methodologies evaluated in interlaboratory studies without being stuck on standardized methods. The experience gained since 1987 has clearly shown that the quality of data generated using new methods is comparable or superior to that generated by “old” standardized methods. The achievement of this evaluation is obtained by clear protocol requirements, use of certified reference materials (CRMs), QA sam-
ples, interlaboratory studies, etc. Examples are given from intercomparison exercises by NIST and NRC under the NS & T programme. The importance of CRMs is highlighted in other contributions and an interesting development is described for new generations of RMs for QA in water microbiology. A point too often forgotten is also addressed in the achievement of a good management structure and motivation in QA: the human element. The human aspects are developed and highlighted in the QA standard and system world which is often hard to follow; it is clearly stressed that without motivation of staff and good training, QA cannot be achieved. The harmonization of protocols is obviously a major and necessary trend. The experience described by W. Horwitz with IUPAC is a good illustration of the efforts made to obtain a harmonized protocol for application performance interlaboratory studies. The book ends with a listing of general terms concerning standardization, related activities and their definitions which is very useful in this context. Ph. QUEVAUVILLER Dr. Ph. Quevauviller is at the Measurement and Testing Programme, Commission of the European Communities, Brussels, Belgium.
CE of small molecules and ions Capillaty Electrophoresis of Small Molecules and Ions, by Petr Jandik and Giiniher Bonn, VCH, Weinheim, 1993, DM 108 (x + 298pages), ISBN 3-527-89533- 7
There has been a steady flow of books on capillary electrophoresis (CE) over recent years but this is the first to concentrate on the specific use of CE for small molecules and ions. In this text, these solutes are interpreted to include inorganic anions and cations (which carry by far the greatest emphasis),
low-molecular-mass carboxylic acids and amines, amino acids, carbohydrates, as well as some other solutes. Both of the authors have extensive experience in ion chromatography (IC) and have also been involved in the pioneering development of CE as a tool for inorganic analysis. They are therefore well qualified to discuss this subject and have made many useful comparisons between the performance of CE and that of IC. The book opens with a short introductory section which is followed by
a chapter dealing with the fundamentals of CE. This chapter covers the basic theory of the technique, such as the origin of electroosmotic flow, separation modes, and factors influencing resolution and efficiency. Chapter three, which comprises approximately half of the book (132 pages) deals with hardware, selection and handling of capillaries, detection methods, and instrumentation and system performance. Two further chapters are devoted to selected applications of both counterelectroosmotic and coelectroosmotic methods, and the book concludes with a short but adequate index. The text is easy to read and contains careful and well-structured explanations for all of the features of CE. Numerous figures, both original and taken from the literature, are used to amplify the text and liberal use has been made of Tables and other supporting data. An appropriate amount of theory has been included and these theoretical treatments have been supported by illustrative calculations to show their application to practice. Literature references are plentiful and are up-to-date. Two of the chief strengths of the book are the systematic manner in which CE has been discussed and the frequent comparisons made with IC. Furthermore, there is a strong practical emphasis throughout the discussion which should enable users of CE to readily implement the concepts explained. I am sure that this book will gain wide acceptance and should appeal particulary to ion chromatographers wishing to employ CE for the same solutes typically analysed by IC. I strongly recommend its purchase by scientists in this category or by experienced CE users wishing to move from the traditional areas of CE into the newer application area of inorganic analysis. PAUL R. HADDAD Paul R. Haddad is Professor of Chemistry at the University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.