books: for every chromatographer
TRANSCRIPT
Books
For every chromatographer
Practical HPLC Method Development, 2nd ed. L. R. Snyder, J. J. Kirkland, and
J. L. Glajch John Wiley & Sons 605 Third Ave. New York, NY 10158 1997, 765 pp., $84.95
In the history of HPLC, certain texts, such as Introduction to Modern Liquiq Chromatography yb ynyder rnd Kirkland, have become classics. The second edition of this book appeared in 1979, and it was never updated. However, a variation on that theme, in the form of a much smaller book by Snyder, Kirkland, and Glajch entitled, Practical HPLC Method Development, appeared in 1988. The text was extremely well received However certain key sections were omitted such as method validation, MS interfacing, and process development.
In view of the numerous modern HPLC practitioners, the second edition of Practical HPLC Method Development is a welcome publication. One of us (Krull) has already used it in a graduate course in analytical separations with great success and acceptance by the students. Although this edition is considered the third edition of Introduction to Modern Liquiq Chromatography, greater emphasisis placed do the practical aspects of developing and optimizing an HPLC method, including a good chapter on method validation.
This text is long, but the book is mod
estly priced and a good value. It is easy to follow but requires much time and effort to read in its entirety. Practicing chro-matographers, graduate students involved in analytical separations, and analysts using HPLC for chemical, biochemical, or biotech separations will find it a valuable addition to their libraries. Virtually all aspects of HPLC method development and optimization have been incorporated in this second edition, including how to get started in method development; the fundamentals of separations; sample preparation; and information on the various HPLC modes including reversed-phase normal phase ion-pair and ion-exchange HPLC. A separate chapter on gradient elution methods development versus isocratic separations is included
Some areas that were omitted from the first edition are now addressed extensively. One extremely useful addition is Chapter 10, which covers computer-assisted experimental design software for method development. Chapter 11 deals wiih biochemical/ biotechnology samples and the separation of proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and related compounds. Another welcome addition is Chapter 12, which focuses on chiral separations and virtually all aspects of HPLC for pharmaceutical and environmental enantiomers. Chapter 13 presents preparative separations for industrial applications and Chapter 14 deals with quantitation and trace analysis The only omissions are a discussion of affinity or immunoaffin-ity chromatography—which is really a form of HPLC and is especially aDDlicable to bio-active materials
Nearly every major area of HPLC methods development has been covered in this new text. Individual chapters can be read and studied independentiy of other sections and with complete understanding. This text can serve as a reference and tutorial, or it can be read cover-to-cover. Although the title contains the
word "practical", the book also contains theory. It is perhaps the most up-to-date, comprehensive, thorough, and understandable book in the area of HPLC methods development. It is also written by perhaps the three leading authorities in HPLC living today, two of its founders (Snyder and Kirkland) and one of its greatest proponents (Glajch).
It should be welcomed on just about every practicing chromatographer's bookshelf, and on the shelves of any academic or industrial library. This book has no rival for its exhaustive contents, thorough coverage of all vital subjects, and extensive up-to-date references. Given its reasonable price, it may be the greatest literary bargain of 1997, and it is certainly destined for the separation science bestsellers list.
Reviewee by Ira S. Krull of Northeastern University and Michael E. Swartz of Waters.
BOOKS RECEIVED
Pulsed Electrochemical Detection in High-Performance Liquid Chromatography William R. LaCourse John Wiley & Sons 605 Third Ave. New York, NY 10158 1997, 324 pp., $59.95
HPLC-PED is a technique commonly used in the analysis of biological compounds that cannot be detected by optical means. In the first part of the book, the electrochemical principles underlying PED are discussed. The next section is devoted to practical aspects, including several applications as well as a look at the future direction of the method. A comprehensive listing of publications on HPLC-PED to date is included in an appendix.
740 A Analytical Chemistry News & Features, December 1, 1997 S0003-2700(97)09042-2 CCC: $14.00 © 1997 American Chemical Society