the Smnosiom on Surface Contamination:
ternational Symposium on Contamination Control. K. L. Mittal, who is the editor of several recent symposia proceedings, is the editor of these volumes. His ability and experience as an editor show in the consistent format, uniform reference citations, and wellLproofed papers. The papers were reviewed by a t least two qualified reviewers. Of the 64 papers, 20 are invited overview papers, and 44 are contributed research papers. There are no written discussions of the papers. The objectives of the symposium were (1) to bring together scientists, technologists, and engineers interested in all aspects of surface contamination, (2) to review and to assess the current state of knowledge, (3) to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas, and (4) to define the areas which need intensified efforts on the problems of surface contamination. The papers cover the problems of surface contamination in broad and general terms in order to acquaint the workers in diverfie areas of their common problems. There are papers on metal, alloy, and metal oxide surfaces, on glass and ceramic surfaces, an p o l p e r surfaces, and on liquid surfaces. Organic film, inorganic film, particulate, microbial, and radioactive surface contaminants are discussed. General papers and papers on the cleaning of surfaces are in Volume 1. Papers on surface contamination detection, identification, characterization, and control, and on the implications of surface contamination are in Volume 2. The subject is timely and important. It is an andied tonic of erest industrial importance.'~henature ofthe topic dictates that a large fraction of many of the papers are devoted to empirical and descriptive material. However, for those interested in the topic the material isnecessary and useful. Many ofthe authors do attempt to develop some useful correlations with theory, which should help guide workers with surface contamination As the problems of the field become better known through publications such as this, the attempts to systematize the approach to the problems will became more successful. Over half of the papers have fewer than a dozen references. About one-third of the papers originate from academic institutions. The chemist is poorly represented among the authors, most of whom appear to be chemical engineers, applied physicists, electrical engineers, metallurgists and materials scientists, food technologists, microbiologists, and radio^ logical health workers. Although the problems of surface contamination have the potential to affect all of us in many ways, the details of the subject will not interest the majority of chemists. The teacher of an elementary surface chemistry course will find useful material to highlight some course topics. Departments which have a strong program in surface chemistry will want the volumes in their library. The vol-
Wastewater Treatment Donald W. Sundstrom and Herbert E. Klei, The University of Connecticut, PrenticeHall, Englewood Cliffs.New Jersey, 1979. xvi 444 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 x 23.5 cm. $23.00.
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This work is primarily a chemical engineering textbook which deals with various aspects of wastewater treatment. It consists of five sections in 16 chapters. The reader is taken through a wide range of topics starting with wastewater characteristics and treatment processes to biological processes, physical processes, chemical processes, followed by solid treatment, and systems analysis. Each chapter has excellent references and many chapters are provided with several interesting problems. The book is filled with useful diagrams and plots of data. It is essentially self-contained and wauld serve as an excellent text for a graduate or upper u n ~ dergraduate level course in the subject. Due to its lack of discernible hiss, I believe that the text wauld be suitable for students not only in chemical engineering and water chemistrv but also in m a w other fields that should have an interest in water supply. This book has its stated aim of introducing the reader t o the principles of wastewater treatment. The authors have done an outstanding job of providing broad perspective and critical analysis. Therefore many of the chapters should prove valuable as material for the classroom. For example, both the biological treatment processes and physical treatment processes are well written in lively fashion and offer scholarly views of their topics. The chemical processes section is
probably the weakest in the book. Discussions of water supply on water quality, c h l o ~ rination, and lime treatment are sketchy. Also absent from the book is any significant treatment of the currently extensive research efforts. Adsorption of organic matter by activated carbon received a proper treatment; however, the recent development of using macroreticular polymeric XAD resins (Amberlites) for separating organic substances such as oestieides has been neglected. The
As pointed out by the authors, to meet current and proposed water pollution standards, it is often necessary to use newer treatment, operations and to improve the efficiency of conventional processes. This book places emphasis of the knowledge of fundamentals permitting the engineer or scientist to adapt more rapidly to new processes. The treatment of wastewater requires a variety of techniques and processes involving unit operations, transfer processes, thermodynamics, and reaction kinetics. Errors are rather abundant. The equation (1-5) (p. 16) is incorrect. The definitions of oxidation and reduction are wrong (p. 368). The SI system is used in the book, but the standard oxidation potentials instead of the reduction potentials recommended by IUPAC are used (Table 1&1, p. 372). Despite minor shortcomings, this book will serve as a useful initial source and reference for all chemists interested in wastewater treatment.
K. L. CHENG University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City. MO 64110
problems of surface c&sminatio9. H. LAWRENCECLEVER Emory University Atlanta. GA 30322 Volume 58, Number 1, January 1981 / A33
