Books
Forensics guide to drug testing chemical methods for drug testing. In addition, it points out cross-reactivity difficulties, cites manufacturing warnings, and calls attention to matrix problems with commercially available immunochemical testing kits. Moreover, numerous tables contain information on column packings for GC, derivatizing reagents, and solvents for HPLC methods of drug testing. The appendices list many drug metabolites, show Handbook of Drug Analysis: drug chemical structures, and present inApplications in Forensic and formation on drug functional groups that Clinical Laboratories should be useful to bench analysts. The Ray H. Liu and Daniel E. Gadzala book was carefully prepared, and the proofAmerican Chemical Society reading seems well done. The structural 1155 16th St.. NW formula for caffeine on page 187 is an obviWashington, DC 20036 ous error; but in general, the book shows 1997, 367 pp., $129.95 careful attention to details in its preparaThis handbook is directed at bench analysts tion. However, several of the figures used in the MS section the NMR chapter, and in forensic laboratories who are involved in the chromatography section appear to be drug analysis. Clinical and pharmaceutical dot-matrix printer quality and the reproresearch laboratories usually use analytical methods that are different from forensic lab- duction is poor oratories; therefore this book will not be of This handbook has an enormous wide interest to workers in those laboratoamount of practical information for bench ries, contrary to what the title suggests. technicians and for undergraduate students interested in forensic science. This Handbooks are difficult to write and handbook cites more than 1400 references. troublesome to review. For a subject as Many chemists would not be very familiar broad as drug analysis in forensic science, with the journals or sources of many of the writing a handbook that is concise and decited publications because the majority are tailed is a nearly impossible task. Historifrom the field of forensic science. Many cally, crime and forensic laboratories have references are from technical bulletins of received their directions from the law and medical professions and, to a lesser extent, federal government agencies and news from analytical chemistry. The two authors magazines that report illicit drug use of this handbook, Liu and Gadzala, likewise Hence, the bibliography uses a wide ran$?e of publications in manyfields,many of had their original formal education in law which suffer from not having had rigorous and medicine, respectively. Their education scientific peer review before publication. in chemistry came later in their careers. Positive features of this handbook inThis handbook does not teach the clude a large amount of information on reader about the details of the analytical drug testing, sampling, and sample prepaprocedures but reports the references for ration. The book has several up-to-date cita- obtaining a more fundamental understandtions, covering a broad range of literature ing of the chemistry or the instrumental over the past 25 years, and includes a distechnique under discussion. For clinical cussion of the inaccuracies of immunochemists, this handbook lacks focus to608 A
Analytical Chemistry News & Features, September 1, 1998
ward rapid emergency-type analyses. For analytical chemists, this handbook is not focused on the chemistry or the fundamental principles of instrumental analyses. This book is a useful addition to the literature for forensic chemists because it will alert them to the need for more solid high-quality analytical chemistry in forensic science laboratories. In summary, the quality of the analytical chemistry is not equivalent to that expected in classical academic chemistry department literature, but the handbook will be useful to analysts in forensic science laboratories. Reviewed by Merle Evensons University of Wisconsin-Madison
Three decades of separations
HPLC and CE: Principles and Practice Andrea Weston and Phyllis R. Brown Academic Press 525 B St., Suite 1900 San Diego, CA 92101-4495 1997, 280 pp., $69.95
The first edition of this work, entitled High Pressure eiquid Chromatography, appeared in 1970. Since that time, HPLC has grown at a phenomenal rate and is now used routinely throughout the world. The development of CE is another area that has significantly contributed to the field of separa-
tions since the appearance of the first edition. Although initially it was thought that CE might replace HPLC, this belief has proven not to be the case. HPLC and CE are complementary, each filling a different niche in separations. This book provides an overview of the basic theory of various separation techniques, allowing scientists to choose the appropriate method. The book is organized into eight chapters; each includes an introduction, an overview of fundamentals, a summary of major concepts, and a list of references. Chapters 1 and 2 offer an excellent overview of HPLC basic principles and various chromatographic modes, including discussions on normal phase, reversed phase, hydrophobic-interaction, ion-exchange, affinity chromatography, and chiral separations. Chapters 4 and 5, which focus on CE, present basic concepts and numerous techniques including capillary zone electrophoresis micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography capillary gel electrophoresis capillary isoelectric focusing and capillary,isotachophoresis Chapter 7 "Data Manipulation" explains peak identification and quantitation in HPLC and CE The final chapter introduces the miniaturization of HPLC and CE techniques This chanter is narticularly useful in that it com parps and rnntrasts varinirs hmp
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per-level undergraduate or graduate text. The only drawback is the lack of discussion questions or problems. Although it is not plausible for a text of this nature to provide exhaustive discussions, this book is certainly a worthwhile addition to the bookshelf, providing an excellent overview of the various HPLC and CE techniques. Reviewed by Timothy J. Ward, Millsaps College BOOKS RECEIVED Lasers in Chemistry, 3rd e d . David L. Andrews Springer-Verlag 333 Meadowlands Parkway Secaucus, NJ 07094 1997,232 pp., $57.95
Laser applications are growing at a phenomenal rate. This revised and updated edition describes many of the new developments in laser technology that have occurred since the first edition was written 10 years ago. Written for general chemists, novices, and specialists alike, this book demonstrates a wide range of laser applications with emphasis on analytical and research applications.
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tunzation and the requirements they impose on instrumental design. Detailed accounts of miniaturization are provided in the text by Ishn along with numerous references at the end of the chapter. Overall, the book is well-referenced and provides excellent summaries. The authors make good use of tables throughout the text to summarize methods and operating conditions for each technique. Although the tables are not meant to be comprehensive, they provide quick references at a glance. I found the summary of major concepts at the end of each chapter extremely useful. The book is appropriate as an up-
Manual of Plastics Analysis T. R. Crompton Plenum Press 233 Spring St. New York, NY 10013-1578 1998, 490 pp.. $135
In-depth coverage of the analysis of polymers, as well as non-polymeric additives, impurities, and unreacted monomers, is provided in this book to give the reader more of a complete picture of plastics analysis. Detailed chemical and physical methods, including many chromatography methods with IR, UV, or MS detectton, are proviied.
Natural Products Isolation Richard J. P. Cannell, Ed. Humana Press 999 Riverview Dr., Suite 208 Totowa, NJ 07512 1998, 473 pp., $89.50
Techniques for extracting and purifying natural products from biological sources are provided in this book. Methods for isolation of known and unknown natural products, including open-column chromatography, HPLC, countercurrent and planar chromatography, SFE, and crystallization are described. The book is geared to students and beginners with little experience in natural products extraction. Enzyme and Microbial Biosensors: Techniques and Protocols Ashok Mulchandani and Kim R. Rogers, Eds. Humana Press 999 Riverview Dr., Suite 208 Totowa, NJ 07512 1998, 264 pp., $69.50
Detailed step-by-step protocols for constructing and evaluating enzyme- and microbial-based sensors make up the bulk of this book. The enzyme sensors rely on potentiometic, amperometric, conductometric, optical, and thermal transducers, whereas the microbial sensors are based on optical techniques and coupling of microorganisms to the signal transducer. Affinity Biosensors: Techniques and Protocols Kim R. Rogers and Ashok Mulchandani, Eds. Humana Press 999 Riverview Dr., Suite 208 Totowa, NJ 07512 1998, 249 pp.. $69.50
A companion to the book EnzymeandMicrobial Biosensors, this volume provides proto-
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