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Principles and practice of chromatography
Journal of Chromafography, 503 (1990) 411-412 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam CHROM.
Printed
in The Netherlands
22 289
Book Review Principles and practice of chromatography, by B. Ravindranath, Chichester, 1989, 497 pp., price & 58.50, ISBN o-7458-0296-6.
Ellis Horwood,
In contrast to earlier texts involving chromatography in the Ellis Horwood Series in Analytical Chemistry this book provides an overview of the subject and as such should appeal to a wider cross-section of the scientific community than its predecessors. Furthermore, the author’s decision to place a strong emphasis on the chemical principles underlying the various chromatographic methods is to be applauded. For each technique considered the theory is explained simply, yet thoroughly, in an easy-to-follow style, a fact that commends adoption of the book as a standard text for undergraduate analytical chemistry courses. The book also should prove to be equally useful to post-graduate research students and to scientists working in industry. The book consists of four parts devoted to basic principles, gas chromatography, liquid chromatography and analytical applications, respectively. Part 1 (basic principles) consists of two chapters. The first features an overview of classical separation processes, such as distillation, solvent extraction and countercurrent distribution, together with contemporary chromatographic techniques. Also included is a review of the historical development of chromatography (essential reading for the Ph.D. student about to write a thesis) and useful sections on the nomenclature and the literature of chromatography. The next chapter deals with the theoretical concepts with a strong bias towards zone dispersion processes. Here it is worth noting the derivations of the various plate height equations. Gas chromatography is considered in Part 2, which consists of three chapters dealing with sampling, separation systems and detectors, respectively. After a brief introduction to the gas chromatograph the author immediately turns to optimization, which unfortunately is treated in a rather cursory manner. This is then followed by a discussion of sample handling, including derivatization, headspace and pyrolysis techniques, together with a reasonably comprehensive description of injection systems, including devices for use with packed and capillary columns. The next chapter deals with the carrier gas, liquid phases and column packings. Here details are given of the analytical applications of a wide range of materials, including the less familiar phases such as steam-containing carrier gases, organic salts, modified cyclodextrins and liquid crystalline materials. Although the scope of the chapter is difficult to fault, many readers will be disappointed to find little discussion of selectivity and its use in analysis. The third chapter deals essentially with those devices familiar to the majority of analysts. The decision by the author to omit ion-trap devices from the treatment of modern gas chromatography-mass spectrometry is regrettable. Over a third of the book is devoted to Part 3 which consists of three chapters dealing with the principles and methods of liquid chromatography, instrumentation techniques and planar chromatography, respectively. The first chapter starts with
412
BOOK
REVIEWS
a consideration of classical column chromatography and leads to a substantial discussion of size-exclusion chromatography. This is followed by brief accounts of the principles of the various forms of field-flow fractionation and partition systems, including droplet counter-current chromatography. In a similar vein the treatment of adsorption systems is rather weak, on the other hand the accounts of ion-exchange and affinity chromatography are excellent. The second chapter consists of a reasonably comprehensive treatment of the instrumentation and techniques of high-performance liquid chromatography. Also included in this chapter is a useful account of approaches to method development. The final chapter is devoted to contemporary planar chromatography. On reading this part of the book one gains the impression that the author has been too ambitious in trying to cover all aspects of liquid chromatography. The result is a rather cursory treatment without real depth; good for the absolute beginner but not too much use to the established worker. A review of the applications of chromatography is presented in Part 4. Although a very readable and interesting section of the book it is not particularly informative. Much of the material could have been more profitably included with the earlier chapters dealing with specific techniques. The book is well written and nicely presented. Each chapter is logically structured and is supported by appropriate references. Although it may not appeal to the specialist it could serve the needs of analysts who from time to time need to use separation methods. Hatfield ( U.K. )
M. B. EVANS
Printed
in The Netherlands
22 289
Book Review Principles and practice of chromatography, by B. Ravindranath, Chichester, 1989, 497 pp., price & 58.50, ISBN o-7458-0296-6.
Ellis Horwood,
In contrast to earlier texts involving chromatography in the Ellis Horwood Series in Analytical Chemistry this book provides an overview of the subject and as such should appeal to a wider cross-section of the scientific community than its predecessors. Furthermore, the author’s decision to place a strong emphasis on the chemical principles underlying the various chromatographic methods is to be applauded. For each technique considered the theory is explained simply, yet thoroughly, in an easy-to-follow style, a fact that commends adoption of the book as a standard text for undergraduate analytical chemistry courses. The book also should prove to be equally useful to post-graduate research students and to scientists working in industry. The book consists of four parts devoted to basic principles, gas chromatography, liquid chromatography and analytical applications, respectively. Part 1 (basic principles) consists of two chapters. The first features an overview of classical separation processes, such as distillation, solvent extraction and countercurrent distribution, together with contemporary chromatographic techniques. Also included is a review of the historical development of chromatography (essential reading for the Ph.D. student about to write a thesis) and useful sections on the nomenclature and the literature of chromatography. The next chapter deals with the theoretical concepts with a strong bias towards zone dispersion processes. Here it is worth noting the derivations of the various plate height equations. Gas chromatography is considered in Part 2, which consists of three chapters dealing with sampling, separation systems and detectors, respectively. After a brief introduction to the gas chromatograph the author immediately turns to optimization, which unfortunately is treated in a rather cursory manner. This is then followed by a discussion of sample handling, including derivatization, headspace and pyrolysis techniques, together with a reasonably comprehensive description of injection systems, including devices for use with packed and capillary columns. The next chapter deals with the carrier gas, liquid phases and column packings. Here details are given of the analytical applications of a wide range of materials, including the less familiar phases such as steam-containing carrier gases, organic salts, modified cyclodextrins and liquid crystalline materials. Although the scope of the chapter is difficult to fault, many readers will be disappointed to find little discussion of selectivity and its use in analysis. The third chapter deals essentially with those devices familiar to the majority of analysts. The decision by the author to omit ion-trap devices from the treatment of modern gas chromatography-mass spectrometry is regrettable. Over a third of the book is devoted to Part 3 which consists of three chapters dealing with the principles and methods of liquid chromatography, instrumentation techniques and planar chromatography, respectively. The first chapter starts with
412
BOOK
REVIEWS
a consideration of classical column chromatography and leads to a substantial discussion of size-exclusion chromatography. This is followed by brief accounts of the principles of the various forms of field-flow fractionation and partition systems, including droplet counter-current chromatography. In a similar vein the treatment of adsorption systems is rather weak, on the other hand the accounts of ion-exchange and affinity chromatography are excellent. The second chapter consists of a reasonably comprehensive treatment of the instrumentation and techniques of high-performance liquid chromatography. Also included in this chapter is a useful account of approaches to method development. The final chapter is devoted to contemporary planar chromatography. On reading this part of the book one gains the impression that the author has been too ambitious in trying to cover all aspects of liquid chromatography. The result is a rather cursory treatment without real depth; good for the absolute beginner but not too much use to the established worker. A review of the applications of chromatography is presented in Part 4. Although a very readable and interesting section of the book it is not particularly informative. Much of the material could have been more profitably included with the earlier chapters dealing with specific techniques. The book is well written and nicely presented. Each chapter is logically structured and is supported by appropriate references. Although it may not appeal to the specialist it could serve the needs of analysts who from time to time need to use separation methods. Hatfield ( U.K. )
M. B. EVANS