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Book Reviews From Molecules to CrystallizerssAn Introduction to Crystallization. Roger Davey and John Garside. Oxford University Press, New York. 2000. ISBN 0198504896.
In this book, the authors have aimed to summarize and explain the links between the molecular recognition processes that govern crystallization and the practical aspects required to engineer a crystallization process to make a product with desirable properties (e.g. crystals with a defined crystal structure, size, and shape). This is certainly a lofty goal to achieve in less than 80 pages, but the authors have been very successful in summarizing theories and ideas concisely. The book has a novel layout, with the margin area employed both for illustrations and for highlighting a variety of points. This is an effective layout, increasing the “readability” of the book. References are limited to key works, with significant references to the classic works in the area. The book is split into nine chapters linking all aspects of crystallization, including nucleation, crystal growth, morphology, polymorphism, continuous and batch crystallizer characteristics, and crystals in formulated products. The thermodynamic aspects relevant in each chapter are clearly emphasized and the links between
each topic area well-defined. The authors have done an excellent job summarizing a wide variety of topics in a very concise manner. A noteworthy inclusion is a chapter devoted solely to polymorphism. In the pharmaceutical industry, this phenomenon can have a negative impact. It can derail a potential drug candidate and has cost the industry million of dollars in lost revenue and litigation. From the same “molecular fundamentals” vein, this reader hopes that the next edition will be able to report on advances in the applications of molecular modeling in crystallization, for example application of crystal structure prediction from powder diffraction data. Overall, the book does succeed in its aims to link crystallization fundamentals to pertinent issues for the crystallization practitioner. It is an excellent introduction for the novice to the field of crystallization. Moreover, it will allow the more specialized niche practitioners to gain knowledge of other aspects of crystallization and should be required reading for anyone interested in crystallization.
10.1021/cg000012w CCC: $20.00 © 2001 American Chemical Society Published on Web 11/15/2000
Paul Meenan DuPont Pharmaceuticals CG000012W
