book reviews (1 D M = 31.5 cents) Subscription price, 110 DM: this reduced nrice exoires after
The appearance of a new edition of this incomparable treasury of chemical information always constitutes a real occasion in the international chemical world. The first editions were compiled singlehsndedly by Rsmpp, prohsbly an unpsmlleled feat in modern chemical writing, and he was responsible for the first 5 editions and in part for the 6th. When he died in 1964, the task was assumed by E. Uhlein who saw the 6th edition through the press and began work on the 7th edition. Unfortunately he too died (1969) and the mantle of Rsmpp then fell on the capable shoulders of Neumiiller, who is now working on the remaining volumes of the 7th edition. I t is planned to issue 2 volumes each y e a and hence the target date for the completion is late 1974. The third, fourth, fifth, and sixth editions of this incomparable work were reviewed in THIS JOURNAL a t &ppropriatetimes, [e.g., 44, A666 (1967)l. This growth does not signify that the number of entries has merely been increased and the new entries merely intercalated. The entire text has been critically examined, many articles have been fittingly shortened; others have been lengthened and some have been practically eliminated while newcomers appear for the first time. References to theliterature are numerous. Several pages are devoted to "Hints regarding the use of the work." Thaugh the volumes are of a much more convenient size, each page actually contains more meterid. Many of the tlrticles have taken on the character of monographs. Biographical paragraphs are plentiful. An interesting feature is the supplying of English translations of many terms. The entire text has been carefully screened and critically examined. RALPH E. OESPER University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio 45H9
Preparlive Gar Chromatography
done a good job of integrsting the various chapters. The last is a pmticularly good chapter, hut all are worth the attention of those with difficult sepmrttion problems. There are many excellent figures and diagrams and much description of actual experiments. Literature references are extensive and the index is satisfactory. I t is interesting to note that there is alnlost no mention of industrial applications, probably because there are none, or their operators are keeping them really secret. No one appears ready to define words such as "large samples" and "preparative chromatography." For instance, headed "Large Samples," in a the example given involves use of a 40 ml sample. In other sections, the word "large" turns out to mean many microliters. The importance of proper inlet design would have justified a more detailed description of the example on page 57. Most of the chapters include mention of theoretical relations where applicable. Possibly there is too great a reliance on the over-simplified general theory that assumes concentrations are always in the same low ranges that apply in analytical gas chromatography. There appears to be hesitstion to face the "real world" situation of non-linear isotherms. Thus, in a number of places it is stated that samples should be introduced as a narrow and concentrated hand, even though there are published data. that show otherwise. A survey of this book indicates that much of preparative gas ehromatography is still very qualitative. Definite column pecking procedures and column evaluation procedures have not yet been developed. Also, the potential of modern computer systems has not been fully taken advantage of to study the effects of nonlinear isotherms, heat and mass transfer effects in collection systems, and solute behavior within the column. Possibly this well-done book will provide the stimulus needed to get preparative gas chromatography up onto more than a. milliliter sample scale. The two omissions the reviewer feels worthy of mention are inadequate treatment of the effectof non-linear isothermeffects, and the absence of evaluation of the limitations of preparative gas chromatography, particulady as related to liquid chromatography, and also in comparison with other separation methods.
Edited by Albe~tZlatkis, University of Houston, and Vidor P~elorius, University of Pretoria, South Africa. Wilev-Interscience. New York. 1971. 402 pp. Figs. and tables. 23.5 viii X 15.5 em. $18.
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This hook has x good chapter on general theory contributed by Pretorius and de Clerk, and nine other practical chapters by Hupe, Pecsar, Busch, Kaiser, Veraele, Merritt, VandenHeuvel and Kuron, and Barker. The subjects dealt with are Preparative Column Technology including Inlet and Oublet systems, Programming and Automatic Control, Temperature and Flow Programming, Applications (Organic Chemistry, Flavor Research, Biochemical and Biomedical Research) and Continuous Techniques. The editors have
A700
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Journal of Chemical Education
Organische Chemie im Probierglas
Hermann Rdmpp (deceased), Franckh'sche Verlrsgshandlung, Stuttgart, West Germany, 11th edition, 1970. 210 pp. 33 line drawings of asemblies. 13 X 19 cm. 12.80 D M (1 DM = 326). Though the author died in 1964, this valuable book, first issued in 1940, has been regularly reprinted with slight modifications up to the present; the total sales are now about 75,000 a. figure that emphasises the popularity and importance of
the work. It is not intended to serve as a conventional textbook but rather, through emphasis on the experimental side, to meet the needs of students m d others who wish to become informed about the aims and methods of organic chemistry without going through the formal program ordinarilv nresented to chemistrv students. ?hk book will also anneal stranelv .. . to tmchcrsoinrganiv r.herni*tryn ho n r r on rhc alert to find ini~ructiveand sor~mimrs spectacular demonstration experiments. The title "Organic Chemistry in the Test Tube" is not precisely correct; besides this simple piece of equipment the t~uthormakes use of other simple devices but never sophisticated assemblies. The author usually describes the parent compound, its preparation and properties, and then does the same for one or more of the oommercially important derivatives. T y p ical compounds that are handled in this manner include motor fuels, dyes, insecticides, aspirin, soaps, perfumes, artificial fibers, etc. The reader is told to try certain compounds to determine whether the reactions are specific or general, and to find the limit of sensitivity of tests. In all ceases enough theoretical background is given to tie observation and theory together. Hsd the book been put out in normal size type it would have been twice as big; i t contains an enormous m o u n t of useful information and a t a very low price. ~~
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R a ~ mE. OESPER Uniuersity of Cincinnati Cincinnati. Ohio
