those possibilities. Column coupling, online switching, pressure or density tuning, and derivatization are discussed. Temperature effects are covered in a later chapter. Chapter 7 involves subcritical fluid chromatography (SubFC). SubFC is useful for high-molecular-weight organics that are not amenable to high-temperature GC (HTGC). Temperatures near -50 °C are possible using C02. The authors highlight the importance of understanding the phase behavior of mixed mobile phases. They also discuss methods; explain retention, selectivity, and selectivity tuning; and offer a useful classification system of ODS stationary phases sor rhis sort of work. The separation of chiral solutes, probably the most successful analysis application of SFC-like techniques, is very thoroughly covered. Chapter 8 reviews the commonly used chiral stationary phases, gives insight into selectivity and speed, and provides numerous examples and references. Chapter 9 explains rationally designed chiral stationary phases and provides much additional insight into chiral selectivity and its control. Chapter 10 gives an excellent summary of the opportunities for packed-column SFC in the pharmaceutical industry—with real analyses of basic, acidic, and neutral polar analytes; diastereomers; and enantiomers. New and reliable instrumentation has brought out the advantages of SFC over LC—short analysis times, efficient separations, the ability to make rapid changes in the system, and low-pressure drops. Chapters 11 and 12 deal with polymers. From the analysis of polymer additives to the separation of homologs for both analysis and fractionation, these chapters provide an excellent history of SFC in polymer analysis and give numerous examples, including the fractionation of monodisperse homologs up to 100 mers. Chapter 13 focuses on environmental analyses and the coupling of several samplepreparation techniques with SFC analyses.
Chapters 14 and 15 discuss scallng up SFC processes and the huge production cost savings possible compared with prep HPLC. Two examples are described in detail—preparing product at greater than 99% purity at two different scales and isolating omega-3 fatty acid ethyl esters from fish oil. Reviewed Thomas L. Chester, Procter & Gamble
GC/MS Guide
GC/MS: A Practical User's Guide Marvin McMaster and Christopher McMaster Wiley-VCH 605 Third Ave. New York, NY 10158-0012 1998, 167pp, $59.95
Have you ever read a book and wished that you had the foresight to have written it? This is an excellent GC/MS summary and review for anyone who has been away from MS for a while. With passages such as, "Oven temperature turns like an 18 wheeler, not a sports car", this book reads like an interesting story. It begins with a clear and simple description of the basic GC/MS processes (theoretical background is provided but is not emphasized) and quickly leads the reader through its operations in straightforward, plain language. The basics of chromatography and MS are provided in their respective systems. Ample consideration is given to chromatography, which reflects the current de-
mands placed on GC/MS in analyzing complex matrixes for target analytes. When first introduced to the market, manufacturers invested little in GC systems associated with MS. However, as the importance of quantitation has increased so has the attention to separation. In this regard, the text covers all aspects of GC operations, from injection techniques and inlet design to column selection and flow considerations. The helpful hints are both helpful and practical (e.g., using the GC column manufacturer's catalogs to help verify the elution order of target compounds). In addition, a short introductory chapter on LC/MS is provided. Brief reviews of gas-jet (GC) and particle-beam (LC) separator systems, fast atom bombardment, electron impact modes of ionization, and magnetic-sector and quadrupole mass analyzer systems also are provided. As with most analytical techniques, knowledge and experience are needed to find solutions and solve eroblems. What more important topic could there be for a "User's Guide"? Plenty of troubleshooting insights are provided, such as distinguishing hardware problems from software problems, and probable causes for background peaks and other contamination. Also, the pitfalls to the effective use of a GC/MS system are detailed. For example, sample cleanup (often avoided or deemphasized) and mass abundance tuning on calibration (instrument response to a given amount of target analyte) This text also will lead you through the numerous considerations involved in purchasing a used GC/MS. Such a decision involves the compatibility of software. The book suggests that you might want to purchase software similar to that already used in your laboratory, so that if an analyst is away, ,hen another analyst could operate the instrument. Many of the examples in the book involve environmental analyses and the associated EPA procedures. The EPA protocols are simplified for easy reading.
Analytical Chemistry News & Features, June 1, 1999 4 1 3 A
Books and Software The diagrams in this book are thorough security, and it incorporates provisions and easy to understand. In addition, there for good laboratory practice and good is a useful glossary of terms and a carefully manufacturing practice compliance, inselected reading list, which will not bury cluding support for electronic signatures the reader alive. All this is packed into one as required by the FDA. Also provided is concise textbook, which I thoroughly ena standard solution to Aspen Technolojoyed as should others interested in the gy's Plantelligencceroducts, which means practical aspects of GC/MS. increased availability of laboratory inforReviewed by Joseph Slayton, U.S. EPA,mation to the production plant without the need for customization. Region III Pirouette 2.6
SOFTWARE RELEASED Sadtler Suite Bio-Rad Laboratories, Sadtler Division 888-5-BIO-RAD +44 (0) 181 328 2555 (England) +81 03 (5811) 6287 (Japan) http://www. sadtlersuite. bio - rad. com/ $2000 list, $1500 for academic or current customers (Inquire about multiple-user discounts.) Requires: CD-ROM drive, Windows 95, 98, or NT
Infometrix P.O. Box 1528 Woodinville, WA 98072 425-402-1450 http://www.infometrix.com/ $4000 list, $800-$2400 upgrades Requires: Windows 95, 98, or NT
The chemometrics package Pirouettt includes tools for prediction, classification, data exploration, and pattern recognition. Version 2.6 provides enhanced security features, which are built into the package rather than coming from a third-party vendor. To facilitate data handling, a simple Both individual and network versions of Sadtler Suite ere eow available. This pack- user interface is provided, and a variety of common instrument and data exchange age is designed for predicting 13C NMR formats are supported. To help users test shifts, MS fragmentation patterns, and IR"what if scenarios, thousands of subsets band correlations from chemical struccan be created from a file, eliminating the tures. In addition to analysis tools, the need to collect additional data. Calculated package contains ChemWindow Suite fof products are saved in a singlefileand can drawing chemical structures and a threebe manipulated via an object dimensional rendering program for viewing molecules. Also included is IR SearchMaster (ver. 6)) which can be used for ACD/ChromManager retrieving spectral data, classifying comAdvanced Chemistry Development pounds in a complex mixture, and archiv133 Richmond St. West, Ste. 605 ing a user's data. A 2500--tem IR-spectral Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H 2L3 database of pure organic compounds is 800-304-3988 provided and others are available. http://www. acdlabs. com/ SampleManager 4.1 Thermo LabSystems 100 Cummings Center, Ste. 407J Beverly, MA 01915 800-719-1853 http://www. labsystems. com/ Call for price information Requires: Windows 95, 98, or NT
SampleManager is s aorporate LIMS Sesigned for comprehensive data management and for full integration with process and enterprise information management systems. Version 4.1 supports UNIX and OVMS server platforms in addition to Windows NT. It is designed to run on intranet and extranet environments with full 414 A
ular weight, and other parameters. ACD/ ChromManager is istegrated dith Waters' Millenium32 software and can read ASCII and HP ChemStation files. AutoNom 4.0 Beilstein Informationssysteme Theodor-Heuss-Allee 108 D-60486 Frankfurt, Germany +49-69-5050 4242 (Germany) 800-275-6094 (U.S.) http://www. beilstein. com/ $1818 list, $909 academic (Inquire about update, LAN, or batch pricing.) Requires: Windows 3.x, 95, 98, or NT; or Macintosh System 7 or higher
AutoNom uses a proprietary algorithm based on IUPAC nomenclature rules to generate names automatically from chemical structures. Version 4.0 determines descriptors for chiral interpretation and double-bond topology. It also supports CAS ring-system naming conventions and has the ability to number atom locants within named structures. Several configurations are available. AutoNom Interactive contains the standard program integrated with Beilstein's Structure Editor or ISIS/Draw, running under Beilstein's interface Commander. AutoNom Gold includes the Naming Engine and AutoNom Batch has the ability to convert a file containing structures into afilecontaining systematic Spectral Server
$4500 list, $2000 academic Requires: Windows 95, 98, or NT
Galactic Industries 395 Main St. Salem, NH 03079-2464 603-898-7600 http://www.galactic.com/ Call for a price quote Requires: math coprocessor, CD-ROM drive, and Windows 95, 98, or NT 4.0 or higher
ACD/ChromManager is a chromatogram processing package and data management system. Processing options include peak picking; noise removal; and baseline correction, smoothing, integration, and deconvolution. Peak tables summarizing the results can be saved, and reports containing structures, peak tables, and annotations can be generated. The package also provides a template for creating a database of chromatograms with user-modifiable fields and associated structures. The database can be searched according to HPLC parameters, retention times, percent peak areas, chemical structure or substructure molec-
Spectral Server is a Windows-NT-based client-server analytical information management system (AIMS) for spectral data. It can be linked with an existing LIMS or chemical registration system to provide access to sample-tracking information and chemical structures. Using databases such as Oracle and SQL Lerver, data from a variety of instruments can be stored. Users can access and search the data from various client applications including Web browsers and Galactic's Spectral ID software. Further processing can be done using packages such as Galactic's GRAMS/32 or Acorn NMR'sNUTS.
Analytical Chemistry News & Features, June 1, 1999
