468
Book Reviews /Analytica
Chimica Acta 297 (1994) 465-468
Each chapter has a set of problems, useful when considering the book as a course text, although answers are not provided. Also, a list of appropriate sources of further reading is provided at the end of each chapter. Overall, this is a textbook I strongly recommend for students, teachers, researchers and practitioners of analytical spectroscopy techniques. Spectrochemical Analysis conveniently provides information that is normally obtained by looking at three or more separate text books. Furthermore, it is written by authors who really know their subject, is the product of a successful teaching course implemented over many years, and is good value for money.
David Littlejohn
V.R. Meyer, PracticalHPLC, 2nd edn., Wiley, New York, 1993 (ISBN O-471-941-328). Price X24.95.
A wide range of chromatographic techniques (from classic procedures to the most recent liquid chromatographic methods) is described in 23 chapters and 3 indexes. The explanations provide a clear guide to understanding the different kinds of chromatographic techniques, even for non-English speaking people. The instruments, packing materials, detection methods and solving separations are well written for beginners. All mathematical equations for evaluating columns and optimizing separations, are collected and explained, with examples to clarify the meaning of each equation. The details can be further studied using well-selected references. In practice, we may not use all the equations; however an understanding of these equations is very important to optimize a system. Such study methods are not given in other HPLC-related books. A few of the illustrations are less than optimal, however, this does not disqualify the value of this textbook. I recommend that beginners in the field of liquid chromatography should read this book first, then study the details of
complicated matographic
phenomena columns.
taking
place
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Toshihiko
Hanai
VS. Bagotsky, Fundamentals of Electrochemistry, Plenum Press, New York, 1993 (ISBN 0-306-443384). xvii + 589 pp. Price US$115.00. This book, from the renowned Frumkin Institute of Electrochemistry, is a translation of the 1987 Russian edition to which new chapters on photoelectrochemistry, electrokinetic processes and bioelectrochemistry have been added. The 23 chapters are grouped under the headings of Basic Concepts, Properties of Electrolytes and Interfaces, Electrochemical Kinetics and Applied Electrochemistry. Electrochemical Methods of Analysis are summarised in 11 pages in Chapter 20. The expositions, usually presented from a historical perspective, are clear, though overly concise sometimes, and translation is good. However, the diagrams of cell vessels with liquids indicated by horizontal dashes of various lengths, are off-putting and reminiscent of the papers of the pioneers of the last century! The book would be useful for undergraduate and first year postgraduate level courses were it not for the large number of good texts in electrochemistry currently available. A.K. Covington
D. Coleman (Ed.), Directory of Capillary Electrophoresis (TrAC Supplement No. I), Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1994 (ISBN O-444-81798-0), paperback. iii + 150 pp. Price Dfl.l37.00/US$70.00. This directory is published as part of the Library Edition of TrAC (a review of which has been published before) and is also available separately. It lists authors in the field of capillary electrophoresis, with addresses, interests, etc, a classification of authors according to techniques and country, a company index classified according to the nature of their products and services, and lists of authors grouped under techniques and areas of application.