Books for the detailed characterization of the organic components of geologic mate rials are not discussed. In the section dealing with carbon determination, the absence of automated elemental analysis is a notable omission. The discussion of high blank values on ρ 285 is confusing. The monograph will be useful as a laboratory procedures reference to those analysts involved in sampling and elemental analysis of geologic ma terials including rocks, minerals, soils, and sediments. Comparisons of Fused Silica and Other Glass Columns in Gas Chromatogra phy. Walter Jennings, vii + 80 pp. Dr. Alfred Huethig GMBH, Postfach, 102869, 6900 Heidelberg I., FRG. 1981. $19
Reviewed by Milton Lee, Department of Chemistry, Brigham Young Uni versity, Provo, Utah 84602 The rapid increase in the use of cap illary columns in gas chromatography can be attributed mainly to the devel opment of flexible fused silica col umns. Until nearly three years ago, glass was the preferred material from
which capillary columns were fabricat ed. Although glass is considered to be fairly inert, much research has been done during the last 20 years to physi cally and chemically modify the sur face for improved chromatographic performance at trace analyte levels. The advent of the fused silica capil lary column stimulated much early re sistance and controversy over the ad vantages and disadvantages of this material. It appears that the purpose of this monograph was to evaluate and compare both glass and fused silica capillary columns for gas chromatog raphy. The subject matter is written at a level and style easily readable by anyone concerned with chemical anal ysis and is useful as a basic introduc tion to column technology in capillary column gas chromatography. This short monograph has a number of desirable features. The chapter on column evaluation is particularly use ful. It is one of the best-condensed treatments of this topic available and provides a clear picture of the impor tant aspects of column testing. The chapters on materials of construction and pretreatment of the capillary col
umn are also good reviews of silica surface chemistry as applied to capil lary column preparation. The deficiencies in the monograph lie in several areas. The major criti cism is that although the book title implies a comparison of fused silica and glass, there is very little specific information about fused silica itself. The book is principally a review of * glass capillary column technology. The introduction and applications chapters are very brief and sketchy and are not particularly informative for those already practicing capillary gas chromatography. I found the chapter on cost comparisons some what inappropriate since many factors are involved in the proper assessment of production costs, and these vari ables can change drastically from sit uation to situation. Furthermore, one feels like one is reading an advertise ment for a product. Although the bib liography is quite extensive, several key references from which much of the material in the book was taken were omitted. In conclusion, the reviewer would recommend this monograph to new-
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