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Mass Spectrometry: Techniques and Applications
B O O K REVIEWS
489
c o m p r e h e n s i v e l y , With a d d i t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n o n e m i s s i o n a n d f l u o r e s c e n c e instrum e n t a t i o n w h e r e this differs f r o m the r e q u i r e m e n t s o f a.a.s. G e n e r a l analytical m e t h o d o l o g y is also d e s c r i b e d at s o m e length, a n d t h e a p p l i c a t i o n s of a.a.s, to a • wide variety o f s a m p l e s a r e s u m m a r i z e d . Finally, details of the a t o m i c a b s o r p t i o n characteristics of each e l e m e n t are s u m m a r i z e d in a l p h a b e t i c a l o r d e r o f the elements. T h e r e is n o a u t h o r index, b u t there is an a l p h a b e t i c a l l y a r r a n g e d list o f 464 references. A. T o w n s h e n d ( B i r m i n g h a m )
Mass Spectrometry: Techniques and Applications, E d i t e d by G. W. A. Milne, W i l e y Interscience, 1971, x + 5 2 1 pp., price £11.75. This b o o k is a c o l l e c t i o n of critical reviews o f various a r e a s of o r g a n i c m a s s s p e c t r o m e t r y . I n all there are twelve c h a p t e r s e a c h written b y a n a c k n o w l e d g e d expert in the area covered. E a c h c h a p t e r a s s u m e s f r o m the r e a d e r s o m e p r i o r k n o w l e d g e o f mass s p e c t r o m e t r y , a n d sets o u t to give an a c c o u n t o f the p r e s e n t state o f the subject, with extensive references, a n d o f possible f u t u r e d e v e l o p m e n t s . T h e c h a p t e r o n a p p l i c a t i o n of m a s s s p e c t r o m e t r y to p r o b l e m s i n m e d i c i n e a n d b i o c h e m i s t r y discusses m a n y a p p l i c a t i o n s o f m.s. to p r o b l e m s in analytical c h e m i s t r y . A l s o of direct interest to analytical c h e m i s t s is the c h a p t e r o n g a s c h r o m a t o g r a p h y - m a s s s p e c t r o m e t r y w h i c h discusses in detail t h e m a i n t y p e s o f interfacing for these techniques. A p p l i c a t i o n s o f m.s. to the s o l u t i o n of s t r u c t u r a l a n d analytical p r o b l e m s in p e p t i d e a n d p r o t e i n c h e m i s t r y a r e also discussed. A c h a p t e r o n stable i s o t o p e s in c h e m i s t r y a n d b i o c h e m i s t r y gives e x a m p l e s o f t h e use o f m.s. for i s o t o p e c o m p o s i t i o n analysis. O t h e r c h a p t e r s deal w i t h i n s t r u m e n t a l techniques, c o m p u t e r - a s s i s t e d i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f m a s s spectra, f r a g m e n t a t i o n p a t h w a y s a n d a s p e c t s o f m e t a s t a b l e transitions. T h e b o o k is well p r o d u c e d a n d a high d e g r e e of u n i f o r m i t y in style has been a c h i e v e d in the v a r i o u s c h a p t e r s , in spite o f t h e r e being n i n e t e e n i n d i v i d u a l c o n t r i b u t o r s . T h e title d o e s n o t clearly indicate t h a t it is a b o o k o n o r g a n i c m a s s s p e c t r o s c o p y . O t h e r i m p o r t a n t aspects of m a s s s p e c t r o m e t r y , such a s s p a r k i o n i s a t i o n of m e t a l samples, are n o t discussed. J. G r i m s h a w (Belfast)
489
c o m p r e h e n s i v e l y , With a d d i t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n o n e m i s s i o n a n d f l u o r e s c e n c e instrum e n t a t i o n w h e r e this differs f r o m the r e q u i r e m e n t s o f a.a.s. G e n e r a l analytical m e t h o d o l o g y is also d e s c r i b e d at s o m e length, a n d t h e a p p l i c a t i o n s of a.a.s, to a • wide variety o f s a m p l e s a r e s u m m a r i z e d . Finally, details of the a t o m i c a b s o r p t i o n characteristics of each e l e m e n t are s u m m a r i z e d in a l p h a b e t i c a l o r d e r o f the elements. T h e r e is n o a u t h o r index, b u t there is an a l p h a b e t i c a l l y a r r a n g e d list o f 464 references. A. T o w n s h e n d ( B i r m i n g h a m )
Mass Spectrometry: Techniques and Applications, E d i t e d by G. W. A. Milne, W i l e y Interscience, 1971, x + 5 2 1 pp., price £11.75. This b o o k is a c o l l e c t i o n of critical reviews o f various a r e a s of o r g a n i c m a s s s p e c t r o m e t r y . I n all there are twelve c h a p t e r s e a c h written b y a n a c k n o w l e d g e d expert in the area covered. E a c h c h a p t e r a s s u m e s f r o m the r e a d e r s o m e p r i o r k n o w l e d g e o f mass s p e c t r o m e t r y , a n d sets o u t to give an a c c o u n t o f the p r e s e n t state o f the subject, with extensive references, a n d o f possible f u t u r e d e v e l o p m e n t s . T h e c h a p t e r o n a p p l i c a t i o n of m a s s s p e c t r o m e t r y to p r o b l e m s i n m e d i c i n e a n d b i o c h e m i s t r y discusses m a n y a p p l i c a t i o n s o f m.s. to p r o b l e m s in analytical c h e m i s t r y . A l s o of direct interest to analytical c h e m i s t s is the c h a p t e r o n g a s c h r o m a t o g r a p h y - m a s s s p e c t r o m e t r y w h i c h discusses in detail t h e m a i n t y p e s o f interfacing for these techniques. A p p l i c a t i o n s o f m.s. to the s o l u t i o n of s t r u c t u r a l a n d analytical p r o b l e m s in p e p t i d e a n d p r o t e i n c h e m i s t r y a r e also discussed. A c h a p t e r o n stable i s o t o p e s in c h e m i s t r y a n d b i o c h e m i s t r y gives e x a m p l e s o f t h e use o f m.s. for i s o t o p e c o m p o s i t i o n analysis. O t h e r c h a p t e r s deal w i t h i n s t r u m e n t a l techniques, c o m p u t e r - a s s i s t e d i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f m a s s spectra, f r a g m e n t a t i o n p a t h w a y s a n d a s p e c t s o f m e t a s t a b l e transitions. T h e b o o k is well p r o d u c e d a n d a high d e g r e e of u n i f o r m i t y in style has been a c h i e v e d in the v a r i o u s c h a p t e r s , in spite o f t h e r e being n i n e t e e n i n d i v i d u a l c o n t r i b u t o r s . T h e title d o e s n o t clearly indicate t h a t it is a b o o k o n o r g a n i c m a s s s p e c t r o s c o p y . O t h e r i m p o r t a n t aspects of m a s s s p e c t r o m e t r y , such a s s p a r k i o n i s a t i o n of m e t a l samples, are n o t discussed. J. G r i m s h a w (Belfast)