Books
The "Eyes" of Chromatography
Detectors for Capillary Chromatography Herbert H. Hill and Dennis G. McMinn, Eds. John Wiley & Sons 605 Third Ave. New York, NY 10158 1992, 444 pp., $95
This book is a well-written, readable, and comprehensive collection of 14 reviews that cover a wide range of chromatographic detectors currently used in modern analytical laboratories. The editors aptly summarize the need for a review of this type: fused-silica column technology has advanced to the point where tremendous separation power is available. However, without the ability to "see" the separated components high resolution is wasted The column is the heart of the chromatographic process, but the detectors are the "eyes".. .[and] one must be able to correctly interpret the view provided by the detector. The advent of modern capillary chromatography technology (reviewed in other references) sets the stage for this focused review of the detectors coupled with these columns to produce modern chromatographic systems. The strength of the book comes from the fact that, in most chapters, the author is either the inventor or developer of the detector discussed or a scientist who provided critical input into the design, use, or application of the detector. 302 A
The chapters focus on specific detectors, including the versatile, widely used flame ionization and MS detectors as well as element-specific detectors such as electron capture, electrolytic conductivity, nitrogen-phosphorus, and flame photometric detectors. Also described are less commonly used detectors such as helium ionization, far-UV ionization and absorbance, surface ionization, FT-IR, and ion mobility detectors. Principles of operation, specific applications, and thoughts on future developments or improvements are provided. General schematics of the detector design, reaction sequences, chromatograms and, in some cases, trouble-
The strength of the book comes from the fact that many of the chapter authors are the inventors and developers of the detectors being discussed. shooting information are provided. The last two chapters focus on detectors currently used with microcolumn liquid and supercritical fluid chromatography. References generally are adequate and up to date Gate 1980s) and usually include the original invention citations. The index makes it easy to find specific topics (e.g., chromatograms, applications, and reac-
Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 66, No. 5, March 1, 1994
tions) as well as broader topics appropriate to the detector. A large amount of important information is provided for most of the commercially available chromatographic detectors that are in routine use. This book would be an excellent reference for the novice and the experienced chromatographer. Reviewed by Mahlon C. Kennicutt II and Thomas J. McDonald, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
GC On Line
Process Gas Chromatography: Fundamentals and Applications Raymond Annino and Richard Villalobos Instrument Society of America P.O. Box 12277 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 1992, 456 pp., $95
The title of this book reminds us that not only is GC a laboratory tool for chemical analysis, it is also very important for online analysis in process monitoring and control. The number of differences between the practice of laboratory and process GC warrants consideration of this book for your library. This is a well-organized and comprehensive text on process GC. It contains 16 chapters, a comprehensive subject index, 224 references, and exercises following each chapter. The exercises, which consist of about five questions per chapter,
