Techniques and Instrumentation in Analytical Chemistry Series

Handbook of Laboratory Distillation

Evaluation and Optimization of Laboratory Methods and Analytical Procedures

This is the third volume of a sub-series entitled Evaluation of Analytical Methods in Biological Systems. (The first two were Analysis of Biogenic Amines edited by G.B. Baker and R.T. Coutts, and Hazardous Metals in Human Toxicology edited by A. Vercruysse). This latest volume addresses beta-blockers - an area of research for which a Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded in 1988. It provides an up-to-date and comprehensive coverage of the theory and practice of the determination of beta-blockers in biological material. Two main fields of research are dealt with in this book: analytical chemistry and pharmacology, and, as it deals with drugs used in clinical practice, it is also related to a third area: therapy. Thus, it offers relevant information to workers in all three fields. Some 50 beta-blockers are discussed, and nine methods of analysis. The methods are divided into three groups: optical, chromatographic, and saturation methods. In addition to the analytical methods themselves, sample handling problems are also discussed in detail, as is the information content of the analytical results obtained. Special chapters are directed towards those working in pharmacology and pharmacokinetics. Finally, as recent evidence points to the increased importance of distinguishing optical isomers of drugs, a chapter on the determination of optical isomers of beta-blockers in biological material is also included. An extensive subject index and two supplements giving retention indices and structures of beta-blockers complete the book. This is the first book to treat beta-blockers from the point of view of their determination and to discuss in detail the use of analytical methods for beta-blockers. It will thus appeal to a wide-ranging readership.

Electroanalysis as a representative of the wet-chemical methods has many advantages, such as: selectivity and sensitivity, nothwithstanding its inexpensive equipment; ample choice of possibilities and direct accessibility, especially to electronic and hence automatic control even at distance; automated data treatment; and simple insertion, if desirable, into a process-regulation loop. There may be circumstances in which an electroanalytical method, as a consequence of the additional chemicals required, has disadvantages in comparison with instrumental techniques of analysis; however the above-mentioned advantages often make electroanalysis the preferred approach for chemical control in industrial and environmental studies. This book provides the reader with a full understanding of what electroanalysis can do in these fields. It presents on the one hand a systematic treatment of the subject and its commonly used techniques on a more explanatory basis, and on the other it illustrates the practical applications of these techniques in chemical control in industry, health and environment. As such control today requires the increasing introduction of automation and computerization, electroanalysis with its direct input and/or output of electrical signals often has advantages over other techniques especially because recent progress in electronics and computerization have greatly stimulated new developments in the electroanalysis techniques themselves. Part A looks systematically at electroanalysis while more attention is paid in Part B to electroanalysis in non-aqueous media in view of its growing importance. The subject is rounded off in Part C by some insight into and examples of applications to automated chemical control.

This new monograph provides a comprehensive overview of the state of the art of the automation of laboratory processes in analytical chemistry. The topics have been chosen according to such criteria as the degree of consolidation, scope of application and most promising trends. The first part of the book begins with the basic principles behind the automation of laboratory processes, then describes automatic systems for sampling and sample treatment. In the second part the principal types of analysers are discussed: continuous, batch and robotic. The third part is devoted to the automation of analytical instrumentation: spectroscopic, electroanalytical and chromatographic techniques and titrators. The last part presents some examples of the application of automation to clinical chemistry, environmental pollution monitoring and industrial process control. The text is supplemented by 290 figures and 800 literature references. It is written primarily for scientists directly involved in laboratory work and those responsible for industrial planning and control, research centres, etc. It will also be of interest to analytical chemists wishing to update their knowledge in this area, and will be of especial interest to scientists directly related to environmental sciences or clinical chemistry.

The topic is treated here in a very practical manner. The bulk of the book is concerned with real-life analyses for practising instrumentalists and differs from the literature supplied by manufacturers of atomic absorption instruments in that the methods described can be interpreted using all sorts of hardware, and in that far more chemistry and sample preparation are included.

This is a practical guide for first-time and experienced users of Flow Injection Analysis (FIA). It gives, not a detailed theoretical analysis, but a ``nuts and bolts'' approach to the description of the technique and how it can be utilized to solve analytical chemical problems. The advantages of flow injection, how, when, why and where it works are all fully explained. Criteria for the choice of hardware and useful hints for maintenance are provided. The large variety of detectors suitable to combine with FIA are discussed, as are special modes of operation, their advantages and their limitations, and also conversion of batch methods to FIA methods. Numerous in-depth descriptions of applications of FIA techniques in water, soil, pharmaceutical and industrial analysis are featured, and a complete bibliography is included. The authors have spent several years demonstrating, lecturing and using FIA and the basic outline of their book closely follows the schedule of the FIA workshops they have taught. It will be an invaluable tool for all chemists who perform analyses on a routine basis.

Circular dichroism is a special technique which provides unique information on dissymmetric molecules. Such compounds are becoming increasingly important in a wide variety of fields, such as natural products chemistry, pharmaceutics, molecular biology, etc. The content of this book has been selected in order to feature the unique aspects of circular dichroism, and how these strengths can be of assistance to workers in the field. Substantial discussions have been provided regarding the particular phenomena associated with dissymmetric compounds which give rise to the circular dichroism effect. Reviews are also given of the type of instrumentation available for the measurement of these effects. A number of chapters cover the wide range of applications illustrating the power of the method. Owing to its broad appeal, the book will be of interest to workers in all areas of chemistry and pharmaceutical science.

Biosensors combine the unique properties of biological systems to selectively recognize and convert molecules with the benefits of physicochemical sensor technology, such as high sensitivity, simplicity of operation and mass production, and modern electronics. Consequently, their development is closely related to progress in two branches of high technology - biotechnology and microelectronics. This book not only presents the state-of-the-art of biosensor research and development to the specialist, but also introduces the layman to the fundamentals of the subject. The relevant features of physicochemical transducer elements as well as biochemical recognition molecules (enzymes, antibodies, receptors) are outlined. Biochemical and biotechnological aspects of biomolecule immobilization and the interplay of biochemical reactions and mass transfer processes are comprehensively treated with regard to their impact on successful sensor design. Examples of immobilization methods are described in detail. The employment of coupled enzyme reactions, higher integrated biocatalytic systems (cell organelles, microbes, tissue sections) and immunocomponents in biosensors is covered extensively. Optical, thermometric, piezoelectric and particularly electrochemical biosensors for more than 100 analytes are presented, including immunosensors. The relative merits and limits of biosensors are discussed using several examples of their application in clinical chemistry, bioprocess control and environmental monitoring. Finally, the application of biosensors in medicine, biotechnology, food industry and environmental control is discussed, including commercialization and problems to be addressed in future research.

The execution of detailed studies on the fate and levels of hazardous elements in the environment, foodstuffs and in human beings has become a major task in environmental research and especially in analytical chemistry. This has led to a demand to develop new methodology and optimize that already in use. The book offers the reader a general introduction to the problem areas that are currently being tackled, followed by chapters on sampling and sample preservation, strategies and applications of the archiving of selected representative specimens for long-term storage in environmental specimen banks. This is supplemented by the example of wine as a preserved - frequently, already historical - specimen which clearly reflects technological changes over time. The following chapters review sample treatment, present an overview on the most frequently and successfully applied trace analytical methods for metals and metal compounds, and introduce the increasingly important methods for identifying and quantifying metal species in sediments and soils (speciation). The chapters in the second part of the book provide data on analytical methods for determining the levels of toxicologically, ecotoxicologically and ecologically important elements in environmental and biological materials, including information on the separation and quantification of chemical and organomatallic species. The elements treated are aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium and thallium. The final chapter treats quality assurance and the importance of the continuous use of appropriate reference materials to avoid erroneous results.

Flow-through sensors are more suitable than classical probe-type sensors for addressing real (non-academic) problems. The external shape and operation of flow-through (bio)chemical sensors are of great practical significance as they facilitate sample transport and conditioning, as well as calibration and sensor preparation, maintenance and regeneration, all of which result in enhanced analytical features and a wider scope of application. This is a systematic presentation of flow-through chemical and biochemical sensors based on the permanent or transient immobilization of any of the ingredients of a (bio)chemical reaction (i.e. the analyte, reagent, catalyst or product) where detection is integrated with the analytical reaction, a separation process (dialysis, gas diffusion, sorption, etc.) or both. The introductory chapter provides an overview of (bio)chemical sensors and their impact on analytical chemistry. Essential concepts of flow-through (bio)chemical sensors including their definition, classification, the types of flow-cells where the sensing microzone can be accommodated, continuous-flow configurations to which they can be coupled, the measurement modes available and the types of transient signals obtained, among others, are the subject of Chapter 2. The remaining chapters classify the most relevant types of flow-through (bio)chemical sensors according to the processes taking place at the sensing (recognition) microzone, as well as their position in space and time. The book deals critically with most types of flow-through sensors, discussing their possibilities and shortcomings to provide a realistic view of the state-of-the-art in the field. The large numbers of figures, the wealth of literature references and the extensive subject index complement the text.

The major theme of this book is analytical approaches to trace metal and speciation analysis in biological specimens. The emphasis is on the reliable determination of a number of toxicologically and environmentally important metals. It is essentially a handbook based on the practical experience of each individual author. The scope ranges from sampling and sample preparation to the application of various modern and well-documented methods, including quality assessment and control and statistical treatment of data. Practical advice on avoiding sample contamination is included. In the first part, the reader is offered an introduction into the basic principles and methods, starting with sampling, sample storage and sample treatment, with the emphasis on sample decomposition. This is followed by a description of the potential of atomic absorption spectrometry, atomic emission spectrometry, voltammetry, neutron activation analysis, isotope dilution analysis, and the possibilities for metal speciation in biological specimens. Quality control and all approaches to achieve reliable data are treated in chapters about interlaboratory and intralaboratory surveys and reference methods, reference materials and statistics and data evaluation. The chapters of the second part provide detailed information on the analysis of thirteen trace metals in the most important biological specimens. The following metals are treated in great detail: Aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, selenium, manganese, nickel, mercury, thallium, vanadium and zinc. The book will serve as a valuable aid for practical analysis in biomedical laboratories and for researchers involved with trace metal and species analysis in clinical, biochemical and environmental research.