CHROMATOGRAPHY THEORY, Jack Cazes, Raymond P. W. Scott, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, Basel, 2002 xvi + 469
Rational use of analytical techniques requires a knowledge of their physicochemical foundations; a new monograph on theory of chromatography was published by Marcel Dekker, Inc. Its authors are well known among chromatographers. Dr. Cazes has participated in the editing of many books and journals published by Marcel Dekker, Inc., such as the Journal of Liquid Chromatography & Related Technologies®, Instrumentation Science & Technology, Preparative Biochemistry & Biotechnology, Journal of lmmunoassay and Immunochemistry and as the editor of the Chromatographic Science Series published, as well, by Marcel Dekker, Inc. Dr. Cazes is also editor of the Encyclopedia of Chromatography.
Coauthor, Dr. R. P. W. Scott, is professor at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., and at Birbeck College, University of London. Prof. Scott, with more than 50 years of industrial and academic experience, is the author of over 200 papers and 12 books in the field of separation science. Prof. Scott was strongly connected with chromatography from nearly her birthday until its present level of development.
This book is addressed to analysts who utilize chromatographic techniques on a routine basis, scientists, graduate students and postgraduate research fellows, and all who wish to understand the processes involved in chromatographic separation. This book provides the basic theory of gas and liquid Chromatography, together with the foundations of thin layer chromatography. The thermodynamic and dynamic principles of chromatographic retention are considered in detail. These issues are discussed in the first part of the book in Chapters 1–6. The second part refers to the kinetic processes that lead to band dispersion and they are quantitatively developed for all three major chromatographic techniques (Chapters 7–11). The factors affecting the efficiency of preparative chromatography are reviewed and discussion on moving bed and simulated moving bed chromatography is included (Chapter 15). In addition, the principles of design of columns and chromatographic equipment are also discussed (Chapters 12–14). The last chapter refers to the fundamentals of thin layer chromatography.
During production of the book, the authors were constantly keeping in mind the statement of Albert Einstein that “First order effects are simple.” In other words, in any physical chemical process, the phenomenon that accounts for the major effect will be elementary in nature and easy to understand. The overall simplicity of the chromatographic process and the factors that control it are continually stressed throughout the book. Only when second order effects are considered and dealt with quantitatively, do the theory and accompanying mathematics become more complex. But, in this case, the authors' effort follow other citations presented in the introduction to the monograph “those who really know speak in words that everyone can understand.”
As was stressed before, Prof. Scott has actively participated in the development of chromatography; hence, it appears that the references selected are mainly limited to his fundamental papers in this particular field and these follow the approach of Prof. Scott in his research. Unfortunately, some other authors (internationally recognized) and their scientific achievements are neglected. For example: J. A. Jonsson, Ed., Chromatographic Theory and Basic Principles, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York 1987; L. R. Snyder, J. J. Kirkland, Introduction to Modern Liquid Chromatography, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1979; C. F. Poole S. K. Poole, Chromatography Today, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1991; L. R. Snyder, J. J. Kirkland, J. Glajch, Practical HPLC Methods Development, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1988.
Nevertheless, the clear presentation of the material and interesting historical perspective of evolution of chromatography recommends the monograph to those who wish to acquire a detailed knowledge about the fundamentals of this modern technique.
Reviewed by Wojciech Markowski
Medical University Lublin
Poland