book reviews and introductory mnterial toease the reader into the body ofthechapter. Eachchapter is organized n l o n ~armilar lines and includes an even-handed presentation of theory, experimental methods, equipment, applications and conclusionslsnmmary. In the conelusionslsummarv sections. the authors have provided a anior two-paragraph description of the strengths, and maturity of these techniques. Although not treated in detail, eomparisons among the spectroscopies are made In the intruductorychaptrr. This book is rerotnnwnded heartily toserioux ~tudent*of heten*c.neous catalysis. J. M. White Univem* or rsxas Austin, TX 78712
An Introduction to Coal Technology
N. Berkowitz, University of Alberta, Academic Press, New York, 1979. xiv 345 pp. Figs. & tables: 16 X 23.5 em. $32.50.
+
The projected expanding importance of coal as an available and reliable energy resource makes this a much needed, authoritative (over 700 references) and interesting introduction and review of coal technology. I t is written for the scientifically literate person with little or no background in coal technology and will be useful to the neophyte as well as to those hiehlv - oualified in closelv related or overlapping fields. The text is divided into "Part I: Origins, Formations, and Properties of Coal" (chapters 1-7) and "Part 11: Upgrading, Handling, and Processing of Coal" (chapters M 5 ) . The first five chapters provide basic definitions and fundamintal concepts regarding the composition, classification, and physical and chemical erooerties of coal and are essential for an understanding of the remainder of the book. Chanters 2.3.'4. and lnterchautem in-
-.
smooth flow of the text and might be better handled in an appendix. The chemical properties of coal, including oxidation, halogenation, hydrogenation, depolymerization, alkylation, and theories about the structure of the "averaee ,. coal mulcrulc?"nre dewrihed in chapter 5, which is perhaps the must interesting iection ofthr hook from a chemist's point of view. The thermal decomposition (kinetics and products) and plastic properties of coal presented in chapter 6 are important aspects of coal behavior directly related to the processing of coal for modern combustion techniques, gasification, and liquefaction. Chapters 7 (6 PP.) and 14 (8 pp.) pertain t o the action of solvents on coal and solvent extraction which has potential practical commercial value. These two short chapters could be combined into one to provide more continuity for readers particularly interested in these aspects of cod technology. Part I1 is concerned with modern commercial coal technology and contemporary miseion-oriented coal research. Four of the most relevant chapters for those concerned ~
A244 / Journal of Chemical Education
about the future promise of coal as a solution to the energy shortage are chapters 10, "Comhustion;" 11, "Carbonization;" 12, "Gasification;"and 13, "Liquefaction."The combustion techniques discussed include suspension firing for producing high steam rates, fluidized-bed systems t o increase heat and mass transfer, and the experimental magnetohydrodynamic process as a "topping cycle" for conventional power plants. Lurgitype retorts for carbonization and processing of gases and coal tar by-products discussed in chapter 11 lead logically to coal gasification by the Lurgi process and more modern approaches t o gasification of coal in chapter 12. The author noints out that successful easifirarion prweseaarr incommercial uperotam in South Africa and West (;eman\ mday. Chapter 13 traces the story of liquefaction from the classic Bergius hydrogenation process to its modified versions of the present. Readers primarily concerned with pollution abatement associated with the coal industry will he disappointed with the meager treatment of this topic in chapter 15. It should be recognized, however, that an introductory presentation of coal technology must include the present and developing status of the industry, and pollution abatement, albeit important, is only a small part of the total technology. If fault is to he found with this work, it is in the organization and format, not the writing style or content. It seems superfluous t o use both footnotes and end-of-chapter notes. End-of-chapter notes could be included in the body of the text or added to the faotnotes. The book is replete with diagrams and tables and would he enhanced by the addition of appendicesto clarify the many abbreviations and units employed as well as the frequent descriptions of ASTM procedures. This book is well written and conseauentlv. a very readable intnrluctivn r u a nmlrliwrnl rechno1w.v i t will serve equally wdl as a ret'erence fur rhemrrtry, gechgy. and engineering courses seeking to include coal technology in the curriculum. ~
~
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lwing T . Glover Rome Slate Community College Hsmimn. TN 37748
A Treatise on Dlnnrogen Fixation: Sectlons I and It: lnorganlc and Physlcal Chemlstry and Biochemistry
~~
(Editors: R. W F. Hardy.
F Rottomley,
Russian literature, so this tabulation is erceedingly useful. Chapter 3 tabulates dinitrogen compounds known up to about 1074
Section I1 concerns the biochemistry of dinitrogen fixation. Chapter 1 by R. H. Burris, one of the pioneers in the hiochemistryof nitrogen fixation, provides s brief overview uf the subject and tabulates some of the early experiments with 15N labeled compounds. Chapter 2 by Eady andsmithon the "Physico-Chemical Properties of Nitrogenase and Its Components" isone of the most compre hensive in the book and eontainsa wealth of information on source organisms, physicachemical properties, iron-molybdenum proteins and iron proteins. A reading of this chapter conveys same of the difficulties in doing research in this field. Chapter 4 deals with "Reducible Substrates of Nitragenase." The chapter contains a number of proposed mechanisms for substrate reductions in model systems and in the enzymes. In general the mechanisms are speculative and there are no critical evaluations of the mechanisms presented. It is incorrectly stated on page 545 that bis-isonitrile complexes of electron rich metals have bent coordination. Chapter 8 discusses the leghemoglobin molecule which occurs in certain legumes. There are tabulations of the amino acid compositions, sequenees, and spectral praperties. This interesting and informative chapter tier. the biochemistry of dinitrogen fixation to other active areas of biochemistry such as oxygen transport by hemoglobin in mammals. In summary, this book provides a wealth of information, much of it in tabular form, on divewc nreni 131 nitrogen flxatirm mnginl: Crwn the pnrpertirz c , i the dinitn.gen mole cult- thnueh e r o n w n u d a m m m l n d ~ r t r i hution tothegenetics and enzymology of nitmeenase enzvmes. Althoueh the coovrieht . (11the hwk ir 1979.n appear3 thnr moil (lithe mnrrrial wa* written I I P ~ G ~fhecnd C ut 1'171;. Consequently, many interesting recent results on genetie regulation, the iron-molybdenum cofactor, and EXAFS studies on the enzymes and models of the molybdenum center in nitrogenase are not discussed. Nevertheless, the availability of a large amount of information in a single source, the large number of references to the early primary literature, and the general high quality of the production of this book make it an important reference volume for anyone pursuing research in nitrogen fixation.
.
John H . Enemark
University of ArizoM rocson, AZ 85721
and R. C. Rums), John Wiley & Sans,
1979,812 pp. This treatise covers a wide rangeof topics relating to dinitrogen fixation. Section I: Inorganic and Physical Chemistrv. covers the orooerties of the dinitroeen commercial ammonia synthesis and the economics of ammonia distribution. Specifically, chapter 1 provides much useful information on the physical and chemical pruperties of the dinitrogen molecule. Chapter 2 discusses dinitrogen fixation in solution by transition metal comulexes and contains a tabulation of
Interpretation and Processing of Vibrational Spectra
M. Horcik and A. vitek, John Wiley & Sons, Somerset, 1979. i + 413 pp. Figs. & Tables. 23.5 X 15 cm. $46.50. Most hooks on vibrational spectroscopy attempt to blend the theoretical, chemical, and experimental aspects of the field. Nonetheless, texts on this subject are seldum balanced and could be categorized by which aspect receives major emphasis. The theoretical texts include such classics as Herzherg's "Infrared and Raman Spectra," while Nakamoto's "Infrared Spectra of Inorganic and Coordination Compounds" is a
