BOOK REVIEWS
Cellulose Acetate Electrophoresis: Techniques and Applications: H. P. Chin. vii 139 pages. Ann ArborHumphrey Science Publishers, Inc., Drawer No. 1425, 600 S . Wagner Rd., Ann Arbor, Mich. 48106. 1970. $15.75
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Reviewed by Hugh J. McDonald, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Loyola University, Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, 111. 60153
The stated objective of this volume is to fill a need for a source book which describes the principles, equipment, and established techniques of electrophoresis, utilizing cellulose acetat,e exclusively as the st,abiliaing media. The aut,hor points out, the advantages that cellulose acetate offers to the analyst, including more rapid and accurate electrophoresis, reproducibility of results, and ease of handling the strips and evaluat,ion of the electrophoretic pat'terns. Chapters of the book, v-hich are oriented specifically to the biomedical analyst, deal wit'h proteins, lipoproteins, hemoglobins, haptoglobins, glycoproteins, and isoenzymes. There is also a chapter on immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis and a brief chapter dealing with miscellaneous applications such as st,udies of plasma proteins-both normal and abnormalin combination with carbohydrates, lipids, and hormones. The author assumes little in the way of scient'ific background other than that' of the average medical technologist or biochemical technician. Only a, brief treatment of the principles of elect,rophoresis is presented but it is sufficient to equip the reader with the minimum knowledge needed to carry out the techniques described later in t'he book. Reference to the use of electroosmotic indicators, such as dextran, xylose, and creatine, without ment,ioning, or giving a reference to the controversy over how the results so obtained ought, to be interpreted in calculating so-called free-solution mobilities, is unfortunate, Within the chapters, the topics select,ed for specific illust,rative treatment are well chosen. A valuable feature is t'hat each chapter begins with a simple review of the chemistry and/or biochemistry of the class of compounds under c'onsideration and a brief presentation
of the relationship of their levels with iarious states of disease and of physiological and nutritional deficient) . This is folloxed by detailed instructions for the isolation, separation, visualization, and identificatioii of the individual compounds Although the coverage of the literature is certainl) not comprehensive, sufficient selected reference? are appended to each chapter, a total of 536, so that an interested reader ina) readily be led to the pertinent literature in the field The subdect index, n ith approximately 340 entries, is quite adequate for the size of the monograph There are 8 tables and 21 illustrations The book is not geared to the experienced analyst The detailed, practical aspects of the technique presented by the author and the fact that the n ritiiig is uncomplicated aiid concise should, hon erer, make this book useful to medical techiiologists and bioanalysts 11 hose main objective is to learn how to use cellulose acetate electrophoresis It should also be useful to graduate students who need to acquire a working knowledge of the technique in as short a time as possible, because of its use as a tool in some aspect of their research Practical Manual of Gas Chromatography. J . Tranchant, Ed. xix 378 pages. American Elsevier Publishing Co., Inc., 52 Vanderbilt Ave., New York, N. Y. 10017. 1969. $30
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Reviewed by J . H. Purnell, Department Chemistry, University College of Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea, Wales, Great Britain of
The appearance of a new book on gas chromatography is no longer an event. Indeed, so many books have appeared in recent years that it is becoming increasingly difficult to find anything new or stimulating in recent writing. Justification must thus generally be sought in the choice of material and the presentation. On these grounds this book comes out well. K h a t we may call the "pure practice" of gas chromatography has rarelv been a theme developed to textbook length. The present volume is, as the title indicates. strictly dedicated to technique and method. Theory is introduced only insofar as it is needed t o buttress technical recom-
mendations and it is, commendably, very neatly handled. The volume is the work of sly authors. each responsible for one or more chapters. Only one chapter has multiple authorship. Even the best of editors would find it difficult to produce totally coherent prose in these circumstances and so the generally easy flow and small amount of repetition reflects me11 on Dr. Tranchant's efforts. On the credit side, of course, a large team can be expected to bring high expertise to every section and, within the natural limitations of subjectii-e choice, this too results. The book, m-hich first appeared more than two years ago in French, has been T-ery well translated. I t s coverage is essentially complete and the level is advanced. This book has something for everyone. If they have $30, that is. Microanalysis by the RingOven Technique. Herbert Weisz. ix 169 pages. Pergarnon Press, Inc., Max. well House, Fairview Park, Elrnsford, N.Y. 10523. 1970. $8
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Reviewed by Philip W. West, Coates Chemical Laboratories, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, La. 70802
The ring-oven is a simple apparatus that pro\ ides for the separation and concentration of small amounts of material. It makes possible increased flexibility, sensitix i t j , and yuantificatioii of spot tests reactions Chemical reactions and physical and chemical separations are accomplished on filter paper placed on the heated surface of a ringO T en Solutions are transported through the pores of the paper to a heated ring zone where solvents are evaporated leaving dissolved solutes deposited in a sharply defined ring A nide varietv of separations can be performed on the ring-ox en through precipitation, solubilization, and extraction processes Likewise, a wide varietv of qualitative and quantitative tests mav he run on sectors of isolated rings of the sample solutes Complete systems of separation and analysis can be run oil as little as 1 or 2 ,d of sample solution The equipment can be purchased for less than $200 and the technique can be learned in a matter of a \. ery few hours.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL. 42, NO. 14, DECEMBER 1970
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ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL. 42, NO. 14, DECEMBER 1970
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