Books
Plasma Sources for MS Optically measuring thermal phenomena
Inductively Coupled and Microwave Induced Plasma Sources for Mass Spectrometry E. Hywel Evans, Jeffrey J. Giglio, Theresa M. Castillano, and Joseph A. Caruso Royal Society of Chemistry Blackhorse Road, Letchworth Herts SG6 1HN, United Kingdom 1995, 108 pp., £32.50
Evans and his colleagues have developed a very readable, concise monograph on ICP and MIP sources for MS. This book reads in a uniform voice—a feature that is frequently absent in collaborative efforts of several authors. By and large, the goal presented in the preface, of "being a useful source of information for those seeking to interface chromatographic and other sample introduction techniques with plasmas," is well met. Excellent overviews of atmosphericpressure and reduced-pressure ICPs and MIPs are presented; a balanced treatment is given of the theoretical and practical aspects of using argon, helium, nitrogen, and other plasmas. This book, of course, is not intended to present a large body of hitherto unreported findings; nearly all the information is in the original literature. The topics are arranged logically, and each section presents a fair amount of rationale for the reader to consider the device discussed as being a better mousetrap. Although the treatment repeats ideas presented elsewhere, a particularly note486 A
worthy discussion is provided on the gas dynamics of ion-sampling interfaces commonly used in the field. This short section does a great job of briefing the applications-oriented user of ICPMS on the subtleties and complexities of what is taking place at the ion-sampling interface. One of the book's strengths is the inclusion of numerous figures that depict actual construction of torch and interface devices; the detail in these figures is certainly adequate for the interested scientist to fabricate similar devices in-house. Although the authors' contributions to this research area are noteworthy, one is left with the impression that the book is mainly a review of the accomplishments of the authors and collaborators. The refPhotothermal Spectroscopy erences could be viewed as a bit self-serv- Methods for Chemical ing. References from other sources would Analysis lend better balance to the approaches and Stephen E. Bialkowski applications attempted to date. Also, the John Wiley & Sons book ends abruptly without a comparative 605 Third Ave. summary. It illustrates that many tools New York, NY 10158 exist but gives no overview of which is 1996, 584 pp., $89.95 best for a specific purpose. Although the figures are legible, improvements could This book is a unique guide to the applicahave been made in their print quality. tion and theory of optical measurement of laser light-induced photothermal phenomI believe that this book will be a great ena in homogeneous media. It provides source for applications-oriented plasma well-arranged and summarized informaspectrochemists who are presently using tion on the mathematical basis, methodolICP-AES and/or ICPMS and are contemogies, and reported applications of the plating the benefits of using unconvenvarious types of photothermal methods, tional plasmas for special situations such with an emphasis on thermal lensing meaas GC detection and the determination of surement of gases and liquids. The book nonmetals. The book can also serve as a covers theoretical treatments through tutorial for a general audience of atomic 1992 and analytical applications as recent spectroscopists and a broad spectrum of analytical chemists. One could easily envi- as 1994; work of the 1960s and early 1970s is not covered. sion its inclusion in reading lists for graduate-level courses in analytical spectrosThis book is useful for all researchers copy or chromatography. In short, Evans, who are optically measuring laser-induced Giglio, Castillano, and Caruso have done a heat, especially those who apply it to fine job of presenting what is out there trace-level chemical species. It should be besides the well-known argon ICP. read by analytical and physical chemists Reviewed by Michael E. Ketterer, John who think that the various photothermal measurements are indistinguishable and Carroll University, Cleveland, OH
Analytical Chemistry News & Features, August 1, 1996
too complicated to be applied to tracelevel chemical analysis. The book is a good guide to understanding the capability of the method, especially for extremely sensitive optical absorption measurements. Tables showing analytical applications, flow injection and chromatographic applications, and kinetic studies are helpful for researchers in these fields. This book is an unmatched resource in its overview of the mathematical basis for signal description, including hydrodynamic, optical, physical, and chemical phenomena relating to photothermal phenomena. These somewhat complex features, which sometimes mislead users of the methods, are described in a consistent fashion. For researchers who use photothermal measurement for ultratrace analysis in homogeneous samples, descriptions of the construction of the photothermal apparatus for successful signal detection are helpful, as commercial equipment is not readily available. Photothermal measurement is suitable for samples in many fields of application. Relatively little sample preparation is required, and measurements can be made of strongly light-scattering samples. Chemical modification, which sometimes hampers in situ or in vivo observations, is generally unnecessary, even in trace-level analyses. Eventually, heterogeneous samples will receive more attention than homogeneous samples. Examples are presented in this book with important references up to 1993, but unfortunately they represent only a small fraction of the work. Little attention is paid to the development of novel methods of physical and chemical measurements that are based on or combined with photothermal methods. For information on developing new fields such as ultrafast reaction analysis, surface and interface analysis, and microarea analysis, one is better off referring to other articles.
One of the serious deficiencies of photo- commonly used NMR experiments. It asthermal measurement is the expense of sumes no prior knowledge of NMR and laser-based apparatus, but with the rapid provides a level of detail that even experidevelopment of diode-laser technology and enced researchers should find useful. nonlinear optical wavelength conversion technology, photothermal methods will Ion Traps increase in importance. It seems valuable to Pradip K. Ghosh follow previous works and to read suggesOxford University Press tions in this book for a new, inexpensive 198 Madison Ave. apparatus with improved precision. New York, NY 10016 Reviewed by Tsuguo Sawada, University 1996, 326 pp., $95 of Tokyo (Japan) This book is intended to provide a generalpurpose text covering the range of rf (Paul) and dc (Penning) ion-trap applicaBOOKS RECEIVED tions, from single-particle physics to analytical MS. The book begins with the Handbook of Thin-Layer physical principles and experimental techChromatography niques of ion trapping and moves to appli2nd ed., Revised and Expanded cations such as atomic frequency stanJoseph Sherma and Bernard Fried, Eds. dards, collision studies, and MS. The refMarcel Dekker erence list is arranged chronologically Cimarron Road and provides a view of the origin and Monticello, NY 12701 growth of ideas and technology in the 1996, 1104 pp., $225 field. This book collects 31 chapters from 45 contributors who cover a variety of topics Circular Dichroism and the on the principles, practices, and applicaConformational Analysis of tions of TLC. The volume retains the orga- Biomolecules nization of the first edition, but some Gerald D. Fasman, Ed. chapters are written by new contributors, Plenum Press and some topics have been combined into 233 Spring St. new chapters. Each chapter provides an New York, NY 10013-1578 extensive review of the literature. 1996, 738 pp., $125 NMR Spectroscopy Techniques 2nd ed., Revised and Expanded Martha D. Bruch, Ed. Marcel Dekker Cimarron Road Monticello, NY 12701 1996, 616 pp., $195
This book is intended to provide practical, rather than theoretical, guidance on the performance and interpretation of the most
This book describes the use of electronic and vibrational circular dichroism to elucidate the structure of peptides, proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates. Proteins represent the most extensively detailed class of biomolecules; nine chapters describe various aspects of protein conformation. One chapter deals with synchrotron radiation for circular dichroism in the vacuum-UV and X-ray regions. Each chapter contains an extensive list of references.
Analytical Chemistry News & Features, August 1, 1996 4 8 7 A
