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Modern chlor-alkali technology
337
J. Eiectroand. Gem., 210 (19886)337-338
Elsevier Sequoia S.A., Lausanne - Printed in The Netherlands
Book reviews
Ion- and Molecule-Selective Electrodes in Biological Systems. J. Havas. SpringerVerlag, Berlin, and Akademiai Kiado, Budapest, 1985, 238 pp., DM98.00. The author of this monograph is President of the Hungarian firm of Radelkis Electrochemical Instruments who has contributed a number of papers to this subject area, so he should be well placed to provide an authoritative view of this important field. However, I am not clear about the intended readership. Fundamentals are omitted intentionally according to the preface and therefore the concern is with practicalities and inte~retation, but the distinctions are not clear. Nearly a quarter of the book is devoted to a discussion of acid-base equilibria in body fluids. There are useful algorithms and monographs. The whole treatment is very dependent on the work of Siggaard-Andersen and is presumably based on a previous publication of the author ten years earlier. The second chapter (30 pages) is on potentiometric measurements in biological systems and is followed by another long chapter (75 pages) on ion-selective electrodes and their applications. Gas and enzyme electrodes are described in Chapter 4 and a final short chapter of five pages is an introduction to ion-selective field-effect transistors. Literature review is done in tabular fashion, rather like the topic/reference/short abstract style some workers use on index cards. At least it avoids the irritating narrative style of “X did this, Y did that and 2 did something else”! The biologist/clinical chemist has two distinct interests in this area: (i) usage of ISEs in biology, and (ii) clinical inst~m~tation. The latter gets only brief mention and practical const~~tion aspects of the former are not discussed. This then is intended presumably as either an introduction or a source book. As the former it is too detailed for the uninitiated; as the latter it would be valuable if it covered the literature of the early 198Os, for, of a total of 627 references provided, very few of these are post 1980. A.K. COVINGTON Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Modern Chlor-Alkali Technology, Vol. 3. K. Wall (Editor). Ellis Horwood Ltd., Chichester, 1986, 450 pp., U7.50. This book is the third in a series which records the proceedings of the Intemational Chlorine Symposia, held in London every three years; it contains thirty chapters based on the conference held in June 1985 and these are divided into 6 sections: (a) the world chlor-alkali business scene, (b) aspects of chlorine safety, (c)
338
the development and operation of membrane cells, (d) chlor-alkali electrodes, (e) chlorine plant design and operation, and (f) hypochlorite and chlorate production. While few people will be equally interested in all these sections, each provides good value and, taken together, they present a detailed picture of the modem chlor-alkali industry, its concerns and hopes for the future. This series is, of course, primarily intended for those who work within the chlor-alkali industry. Certainly, it is a good guide to the perceived health of the industry and it is the most reliable and complete chart of the rapid technological changes which have transformed chlor-alkali production during the last twenty years. But for the same reasons, the series should also be most useful to all those who seek to teach or to learn electrochemical engineering and technology. In addition, the chapters describing the commercial cells, although often repetitive and unfortunately marred by the use of inadequate and non-scientific trade names rather than proper chemical terminology, still represent perhaps the best balanced texts in electrochemical technology. The attention to detail and the breadth of disciplines harnessed to seek the performance and economic effectiveness essential to commercial success is particularly well highlighted. In the present volume, these features are illustrated by the several chapters describing competing zero-gap membrane cells (hardly mentioned in Vol. 2) and the associated membrane and catalytic electrode technology. I believe that this book should be read with interest by all those with an involvement in practical electrochemistry. Certainly, I am pleased to add it to my collection and I hope that the series continues. D. PLETCHER Southampton
J. Eiectroand. Gem., 210 (19886)337-338
Elsevier Sequoia S.A., Lausanne - Printed in The Netherlands
Book reviews
Ion- and Molecule-Selective Electrodes in Biological Systems. J. Havas. SpringerVerlag, Berlin, and Akademiai Kiado, Budapest, 1985, 238 pp., DM98.00. The author of this monograph is President of the Hungarian firm of Radelkis Electrochemical Instruments who has contributed a number of papers to this subject area, so he should be well placed to provide an authoritative view of this important field. However, I am not clear about the intended readership. Fundamentals are omitted intentionally according to the preface and therefore the concern is with practicalities and inte~retation, but the distinctions are not clear. Nearly a quarter of the book is devoted to a discussion of acid-base equilibria in body fluids. There are useful algorithms and monographs. The whole treatment is very dependent on the work of Siggaard-Andersen and is presumably based on a previous publication of the author ten years earlier. The second chapter (30 pages) is on potentiometric measurements in biological systems and is followed by another long chapter (75 pages) on ion-selective electrodes and their applications. Gas and enzyme electrodes are described in Chapter 4 and a final short chapter of five pages is an introduction to ion-selective field-effect transistors. Literature review is done in tabular fashion, rather like the topic/reference/short abstract style some workers use on index cards. At least it avoids the irritating narrative style of “X did this, Y did that and 2 did something else”! The biologist/clinical chemist has two distinct interests in this area: (i) usage of ISEs in biology, and (ii) clinical inst~m~tation. The latter gets only brief mention and practical const~~tion aspects of the former are not discussed. This then is intended presumably as either an introduction or a source book. As the former it is too detailed for the uninitiated; as the latter it would be valuable if it covered the literature of the early 198Os, for, of a total of 627 references provided, very few of these are post 1980. A.K. COVINGTON Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Modern Chlor-Alkali Technology, Vol. 3. K. Wall (Editor). Ellis Horwood Ltd., Chichester, 1986, 450 pp., U7.50. This book is the third in a series which records the proceedings of the Intemational Chlorine Symposia, held in London every three years; it contains thirty chapters based on the conference held in June 1985 and these are divided into 6 sections: (a) the world chlor-alkali business scene, (b) aspects of chlorine safety, (c)
338
the development and operation of membrane cells, (d) chlor-alkali electrodes, (e) chlorine plant design and operation, and (f) hypochlorite and chlorate production. While few people will be equally interested in all these sections, each provides good value and, taken together, they present a detailed picture of the modem chlor-alkali industry, its concerns and hopes for the future. This series is, of course, primarily intended for those who work within the chlor-alkali industry. Certainly, it is a good guide to the perceived health of the industry and it is the most reliable and complete chart of the rapid technological changes which have transformed chlor-alkali production during the last twenty years. But for the same reasons, the series should also be most useful to all those who seek to teach or to learn electrochemical engineering and technology. In addition, the chapters describing the commercial cells, although often repetitive and unfortunately marred by the use of inadequate and non-scientific trade names rather than proper chemical terminology, still represent perhaps the best balanced texts in electrochemical technology. The attention to detail and the breadth of disciplines harnessed to seek the performance and economic effectiveness essential to commercial success is particularly well highlighted. In the present volume, these features are illustrated by the several chapters describing competing zero-gap membrane cells (hardly mentioned in Vol. 2) and the associated membrane and catalytic electrode technology. I believe that this book should be read with interest by all those with an involvement in practical electrochemistry. Certainly, I am pleased to add it to my collection and I hope that the series continues. D. PLETCHER Southampton