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Chromatographic analysis of pharmaceuticals
0039-9140/92 $5.00+0.00 PcrgmonPEdspk
Tatbra, Vol. 39,No.4,p.457,1992 F'rinterl in Great Britain
BOOK REVIEWS
Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1991. Pagesviii + 97. Bat& Meammmem Teelmiquw for Light Miaoscopy: S. BRADBURY, E9.95 (softback). This, the latest (no. 23) in a series of excellent little handbooks from the Royal Microscopical Society, satisfactorily firltils the author’s intention to guide light microscopists to the various available techniques for the measurement of the sixe of microscopic objects. The emphasis is on simpler methods but there are also brief references to more recent digital and image analyser techniques. The 6rst chapter includes a very readable history of the origins and development of techniques and accessories; the tinal chapter provides a very short introduction to automated and electronic methods of linear measurement. In between there is a mmarkably thorough coverage of a wide range of techniques. Chapters on approximation or comparison methods and on linear measumments by use of projection and drawing equipment precede the largest section, on linear measurement by using scales in the microscope. In general this chapter is clear in its treatment of its topics and its final section on sources of error in measurements is particularly valuable but there are disappointments also. First, figures spread over two or three pages have components that are large and clear but the legends and related text are then awkwardly remote. Secondly, in the section on the calibration and use of the graticule-containing eyepiece, the text paragraph immediately after the description of the determination of the micrometer value is alarmingly incomprehensible. However, these are small blemishes and perhaps negligible in the context of the wealth of information provided and the lucid manner of presentation in the whole. A short chapter on angular and depth measurements introduces interferometer systems but the larger topic of interference microscopy is scheduled to be the subject of another monograph. This handbook, which includes over 90 literature references, given by chapter, will be an asset to those who wish to use the light microscope to measure biological materials, soil or smoke particles, droplets, crystals, etched surfaces, microcircuits and other microscopic objects. J.A. HOWSON
chrom8togr8phicAn8lyslsofPlt8rm-
. J. A. Ao~~ovtcs (editor), Dekker, New York, 1990. Pages vii + 661. $125.00
(U.S. and Canada), $150.00 (elsewhere). Chromatographic Analysis of Pharmaceuticals is volume 49 in the chromatographic science series of monographs published by Marcel Dekker. The first section of the book, which occupies about one third of the total, is divided into three parts-regulatory considerations, sample treatment (pretreatment and robotics), and chromatographic techniques (TLC, CC, he&space analysis and HPLC). These topics are dealt with in a precise and competent manner and the deliberate omission of theory (only a small number of very basic equations are included) makes for easy, as well as interesting, reading. The tinal two thirds of the book is devoted to applications and this section establishes the volume as a handy reference source. Here the text is dominated by a single table which extends, without a break, over 319 pages. This table is a listing of the chromatographic methods that have been used to test over 1300 pharmaceuticals, their excipients and impurities. The table headings are: compound formulation (e.g., bulk, tablets, solution etc.), mode (e.g., TLC, CC, HPLC) sample pretreatment, sorbent and temperature, mobile phase, detection method, comments and reference source. In total the book contains about 2000 literature references up to the year 1988. The book is an important addition to the literature because chromatographic analysis is the main technique used for the analysis of pharmaceutical substances in bulk and in formulations. The numerous applications quoted make this text a necessity for all those involved in the analysis of pharmaceuticals. P. J. Cox
457
Tatbra, Vol. 39,No.4,p.457,1992 F'rinterl in Great Britain
BOOK REVIEWS
Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1991. Pagesviii + 97. Bat& Meammmem Teelmiquw for Light Miaoscopy: S. BRADBURY, E9.95 (softback). This, the latest (no. 23) in a series of excellent little handbooks from the Royal Microscopical Society, satisfactorily firltils the author’s intention to guide light microscopists to the various available techniques for the measurement of the sixe of microscopic objects. The emphasis is on simpler methods but there are also brief references to more recent digital and image analyser techniques. The 6rst chapter includes a very readable history of the origins and development of techniques and accessories; the tinal chapter provides a very short introduction to automated and electronic methods of linear measurement. In between there is a mmarkably thorough coverage of a wide range of techniques. Chapters on approximation or comparison methods and on linear measumments by use of projection and drawing equipment precede the largest section, on linear measurement by using scales in the microscope. In general this chapter is clear in its treatment of its topics and its final section on sources of error in measurements is particularly valuable but there are disappointments also. First, figures spread over two or three pages have components that are large and clear but the legends and related text are then awkwardly remote. Secondly, in the section on the calibration and use of the graticule-containing eyepiece, the text paragraph immediately after the description of the determination of the micrometer value is alarmingly incomprehensible. However, these are small blemishes and perhaps negligible in the context of the wealth of information provided and the lucid manner of presentation in the whole. A short chapter on angular and depth measurements introduces interferometer systems but the larger topic of interference microscopy is scheduled to be the subject of another monograph. This handbook, which includes over 90 literature references, given by chapter, will be an asset to those who wish to use the light microscope to measure biological materials, soil or smoke particles, droplets, crystals, etched surfaces, microcircuits and other microscopic objects. J.A. HOWSON
chrom8togr8phicAn8lyslsofPlt8rm-
. J. A. Ao~~ovtcs (editor), Dekker, New York, 1990. Pages vii + 661. $125.00
(U.S. and Canada), $150.00 (elsewhere). Chromatographic Analysis of Pharmaceuticals is volume 49 in the chromatographic science series of monographs published by Marcel Dekker. The first section of the book, which occupies about one third of the total, is divided into three parts-regulatory considerations, sample treatment (pretreatment and robotics), and chromatographic techniques (TLC, CC, he&space analysis and HPLC). These topics are dealt with in a precise and competent manner and the deliberate omission of theory (only a small number of very basic equations are included) makes for easy, as well as interesting, reading. The tinal two thirds of the book is devoted to applications and this section establishes the volume as a handy reference source. Here the text is dominated by a single table which extends, without a break, over 319 pages. This table is a listing of the chromatographic methods that have been used to test over 1300 pharmaceuticals, their excipients and impurities. The table headings are: compound formulation (e.g., bulk, tablets, solution etc.), mode (e.g., TLC, CC, HPLC) sample pretreatment, sorbent and temperature, mobile phase, detection method, comments and reference source. In total the book contains about 2000 literature references up to the year 1988. The book is an important addition to the literature because chromatographic analysis is the main technique used for the analysis of pharmaceutical substances in bulk and in formulations. The numerous applications quoted make this text a necessity for all those involved in the analysis of pharmaceuticals. P. J. Cox
457