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Modern methods for trace element analysis
BOOK REVIEWS
391
lem are so clearly described that the laboratory worker can easily adapt them to any particular situation. After a short introduction, 3 1 chapters cover every aspect of microscopy from the care of the instrument to phase, interference, reflecting, and electron microscopy plus the proton microscope. The chapter on methods for handling small amounts of material is a veritable course in microchemical techniques. This reviewer read the book straight through (it is better than many modern novels) making copious notes for the improvement of his own personal techniques. It is amply illustrated and includes a glossary of terms as well as a comprehensive index. “Microscope Technique” is highly recommended to everyone who ever has any use under any circumstances for a microscope, either infrequently or all the time. It will serve as a refresher for the veteran and an instructor for the novice. It should be in every librarypersonal, industrial, academic, and even public-and the modest price makes this possible. DAVID B. SABINE, 185 Old Broadwwy. HasrinRs-on-Hudson,
Nm, York I0706
Ion Chromatographic Analysis of Environmental Pollutants. By E. SAWICKI, J. MULIK, AND E. WITTGENSTEIN.Ann Arbor Science, Ann Arbor, 1978,2lOpp., $28.00 Ion chromatography is a brand new technique for measuring water-soluble anions and cations. The technique involves the use of ion exchange principles modified so as to allow the use of electrical conductance as a means for quantifying the eluted ionic species. The purpose of this book is to describe this new method and discuss its application in the analysis of many environment pollutants. The articles making up the contents of this book were originally presented at a Symposium on Ion Chromatographic Analysis of Environmental Pollutants. The book consists of 15articles and a detailed subject index. The first two articles discuss the technique of ion chromatography and its potential usefulness as an analytical procedure. The next 10 articles present the application of ion chromatography to the analysis of atmospheric pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, ammonium ion, and alkyl amines, and for the analysis of stationary source and mobile source emissions. Article thirteen examines the use of ion chromatography for organic elemental microanalysis and article fourteen looks at its application to the quantitative determination of inorganic salts in certifiable color additives. The last paper is an evaluation of the analytical perspective of ion chromatography. Following many of the papers is the discussion which followed at the symposium, which adds additional information about the subject presented in the paper. This book performs its function of discussing this new technique and its applications to the analysis of environmental pollutants. The book and the technique described should be of interest to a variety of scientists faced with a need to analyze water-soluble cations and anions. DONALD F. LOGSDON,JR., USAF Occupational
and Environmental Health Laboratory, McClellan AFB, Calijknia 95652
Modem Methods for Trace Element Analysis. By M. PINTA. Ann Arbor Science, Ann Arbor, 1978. 492 pp., $29.50. The level of concentration which is considered “trace” must constantly be redefined because of the continuous improvement in the sensitivity of analytical instruments and the development of new instruments and procedures. The availability of these instruments and
BOOK REVIEWS
392
improved procedures have enabled investigators to complete studies previously impossible and to discover correlations unrecognized due to lack of means to detect small differences in concentration. The purpose of this text is to examine these new and improved instruments and techniques and describe how they are used. The text is divided into 10 chapters, 11 appendices, an author index, and a subject index. The first chapter examines trace analysis by fluorometric means and presents methods for a large number of elements. Chapters two and three examine emission spectroscopy and its application to the analysis of a variety of natural and industrial materials. Flame and flameless atomic absorption spectrometry are discussed in chapters four and five, including the advantages and disadvantages of these two methods for trace elemental analysis. The use of atomic absorption spectrometry for trace analysis is covered in chapter six, with specific sections on analysis of minerals, water, biological materials, atmospheric samples, and industrial materials. Chapters seven and eight focus on atomic and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry methods and instrumentation. Activation analysis, using thermal or fast neutrons, high-energy charged particles, or high-energy y-rays is carefully evaluated in chapter nine. Chapter ten is a short review of the application of trace analysis to environmental studies. The 11appendices present tables of data and graphs keyed to the different analytical methods presented in the text. The presentation of material is clear and straightforward, and the information is well documented. The author has prepared a highly useful review of the state-of-the-art in trace analysis. DONALD F. USAF Occupational
LOGSDON,
JR.,
and Environmental Health Laboratory, McClellan AFB, California 95652
Ion-Selective Electrodes in Organic Elemental and Functional Group Analysis: A Review. By W. SELIG. Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, University of California,
Livermore, California, 1978. iv + 127 pp. This excellent, timely review is a “wind-fall” for those wishing to begin work with ionselective electrodes. It reviews the literature on anions, cations, sufactants, and detergents. The functional groups reviewed include thiols, disultides, and several others classified as divalent sulfur functions. The sections on compounds containing hydroxyl groups treat not only types but individual compounds, such as chymotrypsin, cyanocobalamine, saccharin, ephedrine, etc. Finally treated is the subject of ion-selective electrodes as detectors in gas and liquid chromatography. The survey is complete through Chemical Abstracts, Vol. 83 (1975). Ar SI.EYERMARK,Department
oJ’C.hemistry. Nrx~arii College of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University, Ne~,arX, Ne,l, Jcrsoy 07102 Electrodes in Organic Analysis. By COSOFRET.(Translation Editors: R. A. CHALMERSAND MARY R. MASSON). Halstead Press (Wiley), New York, 1977. 235 pp., $37.50. Applications
of Ion-Selective
GEORGE E. BAILJLESCU
AND VASILE
Membrane V.
This review of applications of ion-selective membrane potentiometry may be most appropriately described in a word as useful. Behind the modest format and the moderate length lies a very readable compendium of considerable scope. The readability is undoubtedly enhanced by both a lucid translation and the liberal inclusion of figures and tables, so that it is rare to find two contiguous pages of text without a helpful graph or table of some kind.
391
lem are so clearly described that the laboratory worker can easily adapt them to any particular situation. After a short introduction, 3 1 chapters cover every aspect of microscopy from the care of the instrument to phase, interference, reflecting, and electron microscopy plus the proton microscope. The chapter on methods for handling small amounts of material is a veritable course in microchemical techniques. This reviewer read the book straight through (it is better than many modern novels) making copious notes for the improvement of his own personal techniques. It is amply illustrated and includes a glossary of terms as well as a comprehensive index. “Microscope Technique” is highly recommended to everyone who ever has any use under any circumstances for a microscope, either infrequently or all the time. It will serve as a refresher for the veteran and an instructor for the novice. It should be in every librarypersonal, industrial, academic, and even public-and the modest price makes this possible. DAVID B. SABINE, 185 Old Broadwwy. HasrinRs-on-Hudson,
Nm, York I0706
Ion Chromatographic Analysis of Environmental Pollutants. By E. SAWICKI, J. MULIK, AND E. WITTGENSTEIN.Ann Arbor Science, Ann Arbor, 1978,2lOpp., $28.00 Ion chromatography is a brand new technique for measuring water-soluble anions and cations. The technique involves the use of ion exchange principles modified so as to allow the use of electrical conductance as a means for quantifying the eluted ionic species. The purpose of this book is to describe this new method and discuss its application in the analysis of many environment pollutants. The articles making up the contents of this book were originally presented at a Symposium on Ion Chromatographic Analysis of Environmental Pollutants. The book consists of 15articles and a detailed subject index. The first two articles discuss the technique of ion chromatography and its potential usefulness as an analytical procedure. The next 10 articles present the application of ion chromatography to the analysis of atmospheric pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, ammonium ion, and alkyl amines, and for the analysis of stationary source and mobile source emissions. Article thirteen examines the use of ion chromatography for organic elemental microanalysis and article fourteen looks at its application to the quantitative determination of inorganic salts in certifiable color additives. The last paper is an evaluation of the analytical perspective of ion chromatography. Following many of the papers is the discussion which followed at the symposium, which adds additional information about the subject presented in the paper. This book performs its function of discussing this new technique and its applications to the analysis of environmental pollutants. The book and the technique described should be of interest to a variety of scientists faced with a need to analyze water-soluble cations and anions. DONALD F. LOGSDON,JR., USAF Occupational
and Environmental Health Laboratory, McClellan AFB, Calijknia 95652
Modem Methods for Trace Element Analysis. By M. PINTA. Ann Arbor Science, Ann Arbor, 1978. 492 pp., $29.50. The level of concentration which is considered “trace” must constantly be redefined because of the continuous improvement in the sensitivity of analytical instruments and the development of new instruments and procedures. The availability of these instruments and
BOOK REVIEWS
392
improved procedures have enabled investigators to complete studies previously impossible and to discover correlations unrecognized due to lack of means to detect small differences in concentration. The purpose of this text is to examine these new and improved instruments and techniques and describe how they are used. The text is divided into 10 chapters, 11 appendices, an author index, and a subject index. The first chapter examines trace analysis by fluorometric means and presents methods for a large number of elements. Chapters two and three examine emission spectroscopy and its application to the analysis of a variety of natural and industrial materials. Flame and flameless atomic absorption spectrometry are discussed in chapters four and five, including the advantages and disadvantages of these two methods for trace elemental analysis. The use of atomic absorption spectrometry for trace analysis is covered in chapter six, with specific sections on analysis of minerals, water, biological materials, atmospheric samples, and industrial materials. Chapters seven and eight focus on atomic and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry methods and instrumentation. Activation analysis, using thermal or fast neutrons, high-energy charged particles, or high-energy y-rays is carefully evaluated in chapter nine. Chapter ten is a short review of the application of trace analysis to environmental studies. The 11appendices present tables of data and graphs keyed to the different analytical methods presented in the text. The presentation of material is clear and straightforward, and the information is well documented. The author has prepared a highly useful review of the state-of-the-art in trace analysis. DONALD F. USAF Occupational
LOGSDON,
JR.,
and Environmental Health Laboratory, McClellan AFB, California 95652
Ion-Selective Electrodes in Organic Elemental and Functional Group Analysis: A Review. By W. SELIG. Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, University of California,
Livermore, California, 1978. iv + 127 pp. This excellent, timely review is a “wind-fall” for those wishing to begin work with ionselective electrodes. It reviews the literature on anions, cations, sufactants, and detergents. The functional groups reviewed include thiols, disultides, and several others classified as divalent sulfur functions. The sections on compounds containing hydroxyl groups treat not only types but individual compounds, such as chymotrypsin, cyanocobalamine, saccharin, ephedrine, etc. Finally treated is the subject of ion-selective electrodes as detectors in gas and liquid chromatography. The survey is complete through Chemical Abstracts, Vol. 83 (1975). Ar SI.EYERMARK,Department
oJ’C.hemistry. Nrx~arii College of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University, Ne~,arX, Ne,l, Jcrsoy 07102 Electrodes in Organic Analysis. By COSOFRET.(Translation Editors: R. A. CHALMERSAND MARY R. MASSON). Halstead Press (Wiley), New York, 1977. 235 pp., $37.50. Applications
of Ion-Selective
GEORGE E. BAILJLESCU
AND VASILE
Membrane V.
This review of applications of ion-selective membrane potentiometry may be most appropriately described in a word as useful. Behind the modest format and the moderate length lies a very readable compendium of considerable scope. The readability is undoubtedly enhanced by both a lucid translation and the liberal inclusion of figures and tables, so that it is rare to find two contiguous pages of text without a helpful graph or table of some kind.