ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY Advances in Chromatography.
Vol.
Q. J . Calvin Giddings, Roy A . Kel-
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ler, Editors. xiv 380 pages. Marcel Dekker, Inc., 95 Madison Acem e , Kew York, N . Y . 10016. 1967. 816.50.
Reviewed b y Harold H . Strain, Chemistry Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, I l l . 60439. This volume follows the plan and the format already established for the Advances. Owing to the various, remotely-related aspects of chromatography, there has been no special correlative objective in the selection of the subject matter. Seven essays, which comprise the volume, summarize the "hard core,' advances in their respective areas. They reflect the viewpoint and the experience of research specialists. They do not include extensive reviews or citations of all the related but diverse literature. The authors have examined their respective areas thoroughly but usually without extensive attempts to correlate their contributions with work in other areas. They have directed their presentations primarily to those n-ho already have an interest in the subject matter and who may also have considerable experience in chromatography. A e a consequence, the essays will be of greatest value to students and workers attempting to orient themselves in the areas that are considered. Because the several chapters represent diverse aspects of a complex subject, prospective readers must search out the areas that are of special or potential interest to them. The first three contributions are devoted to solution-sorption chromatography. In these treatments, efforts have been made to systematize the theory of chromatography (as in the separation of organic substances in layers of alumina and silica). Schemes for the separation of many closely related steroids have been presented, and the structure and properties of ion-exchanger cellulose have been described. The remaining chapters are devoted to various aspects of gas chromatography. These include the classification of adsorbents, the preparation and properties of packed capillary columns, mass spectrometry as a very sensitive technique for the detection and identification of the separated substances, and the properties or polarity of stationary or fixed, liquid phases. This volume of the -Advances illustrates new origins of research results.
The universities, long regarded as the primary source of research information, have provided only two of the seven articles. Four are from industrial research laboratories, and one is from a federally-supported, research laboratory. Because the isolation of substances in a state of high purity is prerequisite to many studies of their properties and because chromatography is the most widely-applicable method for the purification and isolation of various substances, it is obvious that technologically-supported research reported in the Advances is making an important contribution to basic scientific progress. Chromatography in Geology.
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A. 8.
Ritchie, vzzi 185 pages, American Elsevzer Publishiiig Co., 5% T.'a~?erbdt Avenue, Seu! Y o r k , S.Y . 10017. 1984. $10.
Reaiewed b y S i k e Kallmann, Ledoux G Co., 359 Alfred Ave., Teaneck, N. j . 07666. Though mostly intended for the practicing geochemist, this book is of considerable value to the analytical chemist with experience in other areas of analytical chemistry who wants to add chromatography to his repertoire. As a matter of fact, more than one third of the book is devoted to a general discussion of various phenomena and techniques covering all forms of chromatography, except gas chromatography. Approximately half of the book deals with applications of chromatographic methods to geology. Very detailed procedures are provided in the section on paper chromatography, while such detail is lacking in the section on ion exchange. Topics covered are: analysis of natural waters (7 p p ) , soil, rock, and ore analysis (22 p p ) , prospecting for fine gold (2 p p ) , analysis of coal ash (2 p p ) , identification of metal ions in minerals (20 pp) , mineral identification (12 pp), analysis of magnesium limestones (1 p ) , and precipitation chromatographie methods for the determination of copper, gold, and silver (4 p p ) . The text is amply augmented b y tables which summarize the color of spot., type of fluoreecence and the R f values of many metal ions. One detailed table gives the names, chemical formulae, and approximate metal proportions of important minerals and of the metal ions which can be determined by chromatographic methods.
A short section deals with the roles of such chromatographic processes as diffusion, adsorption, and ion exchange in the important geological procesees of mineral genesis. The author stresses that theories involving the roles of gels and colloids in diagenesis are largely conjectural. The book contains an appendix with brief comments on some papers which are not included in the main telrt. This section is highly fragmentary and covers papers only u p to 1962. This is not surprising, since the book apparently was finished in 1963. One topic which would be of considerable interest to every practicing geochemist is not corered in the hook: viz., the impact of atomic absorption methods on geochemical teeting. A A methods are being highly acclaimed for geological testing purposes, and a comparison of the salient features of -4-4 and chromatographic techniques would have been most desirable. Hov-ever, a short and moderately priced book like this cannot possibly be all things to all men. Within the framework of its title, it represents a valuable contribution to geochemical analysis. Paper Chromatography and Electrophoresis. Vol. 1 : Electrophoresis in Stabilizing Media. Guiiter
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420 Ziceig, John R.Whitaker. zii paqes. Academic Press, Inc., 111 Fifth Ave., Seu! York. 'z'.Y . 10003. 1961. 816.50.
Reviewed b y R . D . Strickland, Research Division, Veterans Adininistration Hospital, Albuquerque, New iMexico 871 08. This book is devoted to the practical aspects of electrophoresis in supporting media. The descriptions given of the apparatus, solutions, media, and techniques used for separating, detecting, and measuring amines, amino acids, peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and related compounds, organic acids, organic phosphates, and phenols are usually detailed enough to permit electrophoresis of these substances without recourse to the 638 references that h a r e been cited. Less complete hut useful directions are given for separating aldehydes and ketones, alkaloids, antibiotics, choline esters and phospholipid derivatives, coenzymes and vitamins, dyes, natural pigments, steroids, and inorganic ions. The 122 supporting litcrature citations for these eections are well selected. VOL. 39, NO. 14, DECEMBER 1967
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