Anal Bioanal Chem (2009) 395:543–544 DOI 10.1007/s00216-009-2973-8

BOOKS AND SOFTWARE IN REVIEW

José-Luis Capelo-Martínez (Ed.): Ultrasound in chemistry. Analytical applications Carlos Bendicho

Published online: 1 August 2009 # Springer-Verlag 2009

Bibliography Ultrasound in chemistry. Analytical applications José-Luis Capelo-Martínez (Ed.) Wiley-VCH ISBN: 978-3-527-31934-3 Hardcover, 171 pages, November 2008, £120.00 / €144.00

Book’s topic This book, edited by J.L. Capelo, is intended to cover several applications of ultrasound that are mainly derived from the field of analytical chemistry. Ultrasound can benefit many steps in the analytical process, including some preliminary operations, but until recently its potential was not fully recognized. In contrast to earlier books that dealt with fundamental issues of sonochemistry and its application to areas of interest such as sonoluminiscence, food technology, nanoparticle synthesis, electrochemistry, environmental protection, chemical synthesis and process-

C. Bendicho (*) Facultad de Química, Dpto. de Química Analítica y Alimentaria, Universidad de Vigo, As Lagoas-Marcosende s/n, 36310 Vigo, Spain e-mail: [email protected]

ing, the present book focuses much more on sample preparation for (bio)chemical analysis, an area in which several of the contributors to this book have proven expertise. It would have been interesting to tackle a wider range of analytical operations where ultrasonic energy can play an important role, such us emulsification, homogenization, nebulization, and so on. Despite this, the book still provides a very up-to-date treatment of ultrasound-assisted extraction in both the inorganic and organic fields, as well as its impact on growing research areas such as proteomics. Contents The book is divided into six chapters where different ultrasound-related topics are addressed from a practical perspective. The first chapter deals with the general features of ultrasound, and as in most monographs concerning ultrasound in chemistry, a short description of the main parameters involved in ultrasound transmission is provided, including the common commercially available devices employed. Specific characteristics as well as the main advantages and shortcomings of the most widespread ultrasonic devices are provided, which are very useful for novel users of ultrasound in labs. Chapter 2 offers an overview of ultrasound treatments, focusing on the extraction of all elements and of particular metal species. Each kind of sample matrix is discussed separately, emphasizing the importance of metal binding, which can influence extractability. A variety of approaches that are published in the literature are described in detail, and good coverage of the main analytical techniques used for detection and the matrices to be tackled is provided. As is mandatory in speciation studies, discussions focus on sonication parameters and reagents required to accomplish the applications of interest.

544

Chapter 3 addresses the ultrasonic extraction of organic compounds. While it is true that the number of publications on UAE for organics has increased over the last few years, this extraction method for organic analytes has been known about for several decades, at least in relation to solid–liquid extraction using ultrasonic baths. Comparisons with other extraction techniques are also provided and are welcome. The final part of this chapter deals with the benefits of ultrasonic irradiation in conjunction with modern extraction techniques such as solid-phase microextraction, stir bar sorptive extraction, etc. Chapter 4 is devoted to electrochemical applications of power ultrasound. Benefits in this field focus mainly on enhanced mass transfer and decreased electrode fouling. The final sections contain discussions of the measurement of zero charge potentials and particle sizes. Chapter 5 provides good insight into the ultrasound-based acceleration of the main stages needed for protein identification through peptide mass fingerprinting using mass spectrometric techniques. Given the current impact of proteomics in the elucidation of the physical organization, identification and quantification of proteomes in living organisms, ultrasound can afford a number of advantages when implemented in classical protocols, including in steps such as protein denaturation, reduction, alkylation and digestion. Comparison with existing literature Some of the topics covered in the book have been addressed in recent reviews published in several journals (e.g., Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, Trends in Analytical Chemistry), encyclopedias (e.g., Encyclopaedia of Separation Science) and books (e.g., Analytical Applications of Ultrasound by M.D. Luque de Castro and F. Priego Capote, Elsevier, 2007). The latter book deals with sample preparation for analytical applications (e.g., digestion, extraction, slurry formation, liquid–liquid extraction, emulsification, filtration, derivatization reactions, etc.) in a comprehensive way, as well as with detection. The volume reviewed here covers recent advances, mainly in sample handling (three of the six chapters are devoted to this issue), with good coverage of the relevant literature. Critical assessment Overall, this monograph provides a practical overview of some analytical applications of

C. Bendicho

ultrasound with an up-to-date treatment of the main subjects. On a more critical note, I would have liked the book to have included more applications, since they would have provided more comprehensive insight into the potential of ultrasound in analytical chemistry. Speciation and fractionation are differentiated appropriately (based on the IUPAC guidelines), which helps the reader to understand a later discussion regarding the fact that the extraction of specific oxidation states or organometals is conceptually different from the extraction of metals from specific solid phases in environmental samples (e.g., soil, sediment, sewage sludge, etc.). Although I agree that online ultrasonic treatments are limited by inefficient ultrasonic power transmission to the sample, a more comprehensive review of these approaches was needed. I also miss a small section devoted to the use of multielemental analytical techniques (e.g., ICP-OES, ICP-MS, etc.). Despite being included in some parts of the chapter, a section dealing with pitfalls when using ultrasound energy for this aim—including examples of readsorption, uncontrolled attacks of nontargeted mineralogical phases in the acceleration of sequential extraction schemes, the interconversion and degradation of elemental species, interference problems during the measurement of extracts, enhanced foaming in flow-injection manifolds, and so on—is needed. Chapter 6 tackles, with a few exceptions, nonanalytical applications that are beyond the scope of the book. Readership recommendation The book can be recommended to practicing analytical chemists who need to develop more efficient strategies for analysis, and in general to those practitioners who need to improve analytical methodological performance. It could also serve as a valuable starting point for researching new avenues in the analytical use of ultrasound. Summary Ultrasound in Chemistry. Analytical Applications is a practical book that emphasizes some of the latest developments in the implementation of ultrasound in the analytical lab, although it is somewhat limited in scope considering the potential use of this energy to enhance many analytical processes.