Books
Recapping gas chromatography
Analytical Gas Chromatography, 2nd ed. Walter Jennings, Eric Mittlefehldt, and Philip Stremple Academic Press 525 B St., Suite 1900 San Diego, CA 92101 1997, 389 pp., $59.95
This book is a revision of the original 1987 edition. In the preface, the authors stress that they intended to reformat this edition so it could serve as a college-level text, a "brush-up" manual for chromatographers, and a reference. In many ways, they meet or exceed these goals and provide the reader with a fair mix of theoretical and practical information. One preference of the authors is made quite clear in the introductory chapter— they view capillary columns as vastly superior to packed columns. Subsequent chapters are devoted almost exclusively to their use. Discussion of packed columns is limited to examples that show the benefits of capillary columns. The general theoretical treatment of the chromatographic process has been reduced to a simplistic approach, with experimental data being used for method optimization. However, the book provides a rigorous discussion of factors to consider when selecting a capillary column or optimizing its performance. One chapter is devoted to carrier gas flow, column dimensions, and temperature-programming effects. Another is devoted to stationary phases. 270 A
Significant coverage focuses on the practical considerations for column selection, installation, and use. To assist the reader, the authors provide a series of van Deemter plots for a representative set of solute retention factors. These calculated plots were prepared for a range of column lengths, and internal diameters, in which helium and hydrogen are used as carrier gases. Unfortunately, the 78 pages devoted to these plots serve more as a distraction. The authors note that the plots were prepared with previously defined equations and a spreadsheet program. It would have been much useful to outline how the reader could have prepared these plots The common methods for sample introduction are clearly and concisely covered. The relative advantages of each and their optimization and the differences one can expect between traditional versus largebore capillary columns are presented in a manner that imparts a great amount of practical information. In addition, a range of alternative methods is outlined in a chapter devoted to special analytical techniques. The latter portion of the text is devoted to a range of selected applications in the areas of food, flavor, fragrance, petroleum, and environmental and biological samples. The authors go beyond a simple review of the recent literature. In addition to chromatographic results, the reader is provided with the methods used for sample collection, the rationale for doing the analysis, and a comparison with other methods. This section would be quite useful for instructional purposes. Finally, the authors provide general information on troubleshooting; a discussion of test mixtures, column bleed and rejuvenation; and sources of peak distortion retention ionization detector difficulties Although the text is well-written, it lacks coverage of qualitative and quantitative analysis of chromatographic data. Furthermore, no comprehensive discussion of
Analytical Chemistry News & Features, April 1, 1998
GC detectors is provided. Finally, with the importance of GC/MS and GC/FT-IR, it is surprising that these methods and the use of hyphenated methods are essentially ignored. Reviewed by James K. Hardy, University ofAkron
Inside LC Columns
HPLC Columns: Theory, Technology, and Practice Uwe D. Neue John Wiley & Sons 605 Third Ave. New York, NY 10158 1997, 393 pp., $89.95
Although the technique of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is nearly 25 years old, it is surprising that no book devoted to LC column technology has previously been written. HPLC Columns: Theory, Technology, and Practice satisfies this need. This text authoritatively describes the principles of column design and use and emphasizes subjects of interest to practicing chromatographers. This book is intended as a practical guide, but its background theory reinforces concepts. It should also prove useful as supplemental reading in a graduate-level course in separation science. No attempt is made to provide exhaustive literature reviews. Instead the citations illustrate
