trends in analytical chemistry vol. 15, 1~0.
7, 1996
Trends in thermal analysis
Special Trends in Thermal Analysis,
by J. Ferenc and J. Paulik, Wiley,
Chichester, 1995, f 90.00, xvii + 459
pages, ISBN O-471-95769-0
It is rare when one can base a success-
ful scientific book essentially on the
career of a single individual. This vir-
tually autobiographical account
thermal analysis and its progress,
however, accomplishes the task very
well. The long and rich careers of Drs.
Ferenc and Jeno Paulik along with
their many collaborators have made
this possible. The extensive thermoa-
nalytical instrumentation developed
by the Pauliks found instant and wide
acceptance in the Eastern European
scientific community. In his effort to
provide a unique format for yet an-
other book on thermal analysis, Dr.
Paulik has chosen to limit this book to
the accomplishments of this specific
segment of the overall thermoanalyti-
cal community.
In spite of these deliberate con-
straints, the work is very close to a
suitable textbook for the general in-
troduction of thermal analysis. It has
many very strong points. Although
English is not the first language of the
author, the descriptions and dis-
cussions of basic physiochemical phe-
nomena important to the field are
outstanding. Particularly deserving of
acclaim arc the sections on (1) atmos-
pheric effects on the relevant chemi-
Quality Assurance and TQM
Quality Assurance and TQM forAna-
lytical Laboratories, edited by M.
Parknay, The Royal Society of
Chemistry, 1995, f47.50,288pages,
ISBN o-8504-760-3
Some time ago I participated in ,a
Royal Society of Chemistry meeting
on “Quality Assurance”. Debate
flourished. Speakers championed re-
duction of variability, increased ana-
lytical sensitivity, customer-based
services. A Forensic scientist was con-
cerned with the finite probability
wrongful evidence. A dye producer
defined the quality of his dyes in terms
IX
sional outbreak of evangelical jargon.
There are few better arenas for ob-
serving the two major aspects of
cal equilibria, (2) the use of thermal
quality than the analytical laboratory.
methods to study heterogeneous
The factual aspect concerns itself with
kinetics and the applicability of the
the accuracy, precision and reprodu-
Arrhenius equation, (3) the use of
cibility of individual results. The ser-
simultaneous thermal techniques, and
vice aspect deals with how these facts
(4) rate controlled or feedback pro-
are assembled, used and communi-
cessing. These strengths naturally
cated to provide a service. Both re-
arise from the significant insight and
ceive due attention in this
contributions of the author in these
wide-ranging collection of papers.
of areas.
Inevitably, in any publication which
Another valuable aspect of this
. covers such a range of material (with
book is the very extensive list of refer-
ample scope for personal opinions)
ences pertaining to the use of the
there are highlights and lowlights.
authors instrumentation. This nicely
Those who wish to be introduced to
summarizes much of the extensive
TQM will benefit from Gibson’s ar-
thermoanalytical work performed by
ticle which describes its implementa-
our East European colleagues and
tion in a government laboratory as
presents it to the wider scientific com-
“Salvation and Nightmare”. I cannot
munity.
disagree with that common descrip-
The only shortcoming to the use of
tion of the process or its success
this as a general textbook on thermal
(250% increase in productivity, 300%
analysis is its lack of a comprehensive
improvement in turnround times,
coverage of the subject. For example,
more grants, more credibility). The
the modern methods involving dy-
pain can be worthwhile. Readers will
namic mechanical analysis and elec-
probably gain less from the paper on
trical measurements are not treated.
“The Promise of Quality, the Promise
Nevertheless, this is an excellent book
of Change” which delivers some emi-
that should be available to all ther-
nently quotable soundbites (“People
moanalysts or people seeking a read-
calibrate to their leader’s tolerance of
ily readable introduction to the field.
errors”) but little solid guidance.
IS0 9000 features prominently, but
PATRICK K. GALLAGHER
not always favourably. It is wrongly
criticised for not setting out precise
Drz RK. Gallagher is at the Depart-
performance standards. Nor should
ments of Chemistry and Materials
it; only scientists can define scientific
Science & Engineering, The Ohio State
quality. The same criticism can be le-
University, Columbus, OH 43210-
velled against GLP (Good Labora-
1173, USA.
tory Practice), which receives
surprisingly little attention. I would
rather that there was more emphasis
on the freedom to perform excellent
science within the management
of improved purity. His customer framework of these standards. Critics
defined quality in terms of the appear- of IS0 9000 will benefit from Wright’s
ance of the colour. The only point of paper based on direct experience of
agreement was that there was no its benefits.
agreement on the meaning of Research features erratically in the
“quality”. papers. Sampling and statistical
“Quality Assurance and TQM for methods receive detailed and rigo-
Analytical Laboratories” amply illus- rous investigation as do quality con-
trates this. Chapters cover reference trol and validation (see, for example,
materials, valid analytical methodo- Christensen et al on “Method Valida-
logy, quality control schemes, samp- tion”). The same empirical approach
ling, customer service and all the is not as prevalent in evaluation of
other topics one would expect to meet quality improvement programmes. It
in any book on laboratory quality. All is, therefore, refreshing to see some
of the favourite acronyms - IS0 9000, clear and simple research. Burnett
TQM, CFQ, FMEA, GLP - make and Banning (“Reduction of Errors in
appearances, and there is the occa- Laboratory Test Reports”) compare
X trends in analytical
the effects of a Continuous Quality
Improvement Programme with intro-
duction of a Laboratory Information
Management System. There is a salu-
tary lesson for those who equate auto-
mation with improvement!
As with all conference proceedings,
“Quality Assurance and TQM for
Analytical Laboratories” suffers from
a lack of consistency. This is balanced
by the breadth of opinion. The index
is weak. It is occasionally misleading
and tends to list every occurrence of a
word or phrase rather than direct the
reader to the key references. The va-
rying styles of the typefaces also de-
tracts from the quality of the book.
(This is a personal foible, I admit. I am
no expert on the finances of publish-
ing, but as a customer I know that I
Plasma source mass spectrometry
Inductively Coupled and Microwave
Induced Plasma Sources for Mass
Specrrometry, by E. Hywel Evans,
Jeffrey J. Gig/io, fheresa M. Castit-
lano and Joseph A. Caruso, RSC
Analytical Spectroscopy Mono-
graph, The Royal Society of Chem-
istfy, Cambridge, 7996, f32.50 (viii
+ 708 pages), ISBN 0-85404-560-O.
In the last decade, plasma source
mass spectrometry has grown from
being little more than a research cu-
riosity to become almost an essential
tool in the modern analytical labora-
tory. It is perhaps slightly surprising
that despite this remarkable growth,
virtually all of the work has been car-
ried out using conventional argon gas
Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP)
sources, even although it is clear that
alternative plasma sources can offer
significant advantages for certain ap-
plications. In more recent years how-
ever, there has been an increasing
interest in the benefits which can be
gained from use of these alternative
sources and the authors of the present
book have been leaders in pioneering
these new developments.
After a brief introduction to plasma
source mass spectrometry in Chapter
1, the following chapter discusses the
physical and chemical characteristics
of the various plasma sources avail-
able and how these characteristics
chemistry vol. 15, no. 7, 1996
would prefer a book to be properly ning He ICPs. The latter chapter dis-
typeset when it is costing me nearly cusses the characteristics and merits
SO.) of various types of atmospheric and
Hence this book is likely to be of low pressure MIP sources with par-
greatest value to those who wish to ticular emphasis on their suitability
have broad information on which to for use with gas and supercritical fluid
base their own opinions. It is less valu- chromatography. Of particular note is
able to those who want a DIY guide to the inclusion of some very recent work
introducing quality in analytical la- with low pressure ICP and MIP
boratories. This is no bad thing be- sources in which the degree of frag-
cause, ultimately, quality is relative mentation can be controlled by vari-
rather than absolute and there will ation of power and pressure to
never be full agreement on the produce spectra which vary from
meaning of “quality’. molecular (EI type) to atomic (ele-
ment specific). Paradoxically how-
ANDREW WADDELL ever, inclusion of this state-of -the-art
material in a field which is still rapidly
DE A. Waddell is Head of Qualify and developing could mean that this sec-
Training at Inveresk Research, Tranent tion of the book may date prema-
EH33 2NE, Scotland. turely.
Overall the book is very readable,
making extensive use of figures and is
presented in a tutorial style with the
emphasis very much on practical
issues (reflecting the authors’ exper-
tise in this area). Although not in-
fect the design of the sampling inter- tended to be a comprehensive review
face. Although this chapter is necess- of the literature, sufficient references
arily somewhat theoretical, the are included to allow the interested
authors have presented it in a very reader to quickly gain an under-
readable manner, with the theoretical standing of the most important devel-
and mathematical content restricted opments in the field. The book should
to that necessary to understand the prove useful to new graduates em-
strengths and limitations of the barking on work in the field of plasma
various sources and the changes source mass spectrometry or to those
which must be made to the interfaces familiar with conventional argon gas
in order to obtain maximum benefit ICP-MS who wish to gain a broad un-
from them. The subsequent two chap- derstanding of the possibilities of-
ters deal specifically with ICP and fercd by alternative plasma sources..
Microwave Induced Plasma (MIP)
sources respectively, with the former JIM CRIGHTON
including sections on benefits which
can be easily achieved using mixed gas Dr. J. Crighton is at BP Chemicals, Sun-
plasmas and the practicalities of run- bury-onnames, UK.
TrAC Contributions
Articles for this journal are generally commissioned. Prospective authors
who have not been invited to write should first approach one of the
Contributing Editors, or the Staff Editor in Amsterdam (see below), with
a brief outline of the proposed article including a few references. Authors
should note that all manuscripts are subject to peer review, and com-
missioning does not automatically guarantee publication.
Short items of news, etc. and letters may be sent without prior arrange-
ment to: Mr. D.C. Coleman, Staff Editor TrAC, PO. Box 330, 1000 AH
Amsterdam, Netherlands, Tel.: ( + 3120) 485 2784; Fax: ( + 3120) 485 2304.
af-