56 JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY. D. Chapman and P. D. Magnus. Pp. ix + 112 + Ill. (1966). Academic Press, London/New York. 25s. The first of these books is another volume prepared by Professor Mathieson from lectures and coursework given at an RIC special summer school held at the London School of Pharmacy. In 1965 he edited 'The interpretation of organic spectra' [re- viewed J. 17 236 (1966)] in which distinct empirical diagnostic treatments were given for the application of it, nmr and mass spectrometry. As a natural extension--and reflecting the advance in the availability of nmr spectrometers--the 1966 RIC sum- ruer school (designated as a "NATO Advanced Study Institute") was exclusively con- cerned with the interpretation of nmr spectra of organic structures. Although based on the series of lectures given by contributors, the chapters are self-contained and quite readable. Being able to devote a whole book and several authors to the subject has given Professor Mathieson much more scope than the 12 worked examples and 6 unknowns used by J. A. Elvidge as an essentially pragmatic approach to nmr inter- pretation in the previous volume. In the new text Elvidge supplies a relatively detailed general discussion of first order and complex spin-spin coupling this includes a logical exposition of the signi- ficance of negative coupling constants [the lack of which I criticised in Roy Bible's book: J. 17 432 (1966)] even if there is no observable difference in first order spectra. E. O. Bishop offers a general wave mechanical treatment, initially of first order spectra, and proceeding to 3-proton systems showing various stages of transition in the relative magnitude of coupling constants and chemical shifts. C. N. Banwell considers the degraded case of ABX spectra and Bishop resumes with a simplified treatment for 4 or more nuclei. R. J. Abraham examines the stereochemical implications of the observed types of proton-proton coupling (geminal, vicihal and longrange with 3 or more atoms intervening) and provides several very useful tables. J. Feehey contributes a relatively short chapter on the generally more complex subject of magnetic resonance spectra of nuclei other than hydrogen. of which perhaps t9F has the greatest practical importance. The Appendix comprises a valuable and extensive series of proton correlation tables, a set of arithmetical conversions for all integral chemical shift values from 1 to 600 c/s into their decimal tau equivalents, and convenient summary of pragmatic observations including the characteristic complex patterns shown by AB, AX, AMX, ABX, AiX and AIB coupling, and a series of 22 problems that were given in the original seminar sessions together with completely detailed worked solutions. It must be confessed that as a whole, this is not an easy book to read at one session but it undoubtedly repays careful study. For any chemist seeking more than a superficial acquaintance with complex nmr spectra this is the best interpretative manual I have yet seen. Chapman and Magnus, the authors of the second book under review, have a more modest ambition: they supply a simple introductory text with lots of practical hints on technique and commercially available instrumentation (operating at 60 and 100 Mc/s) and back this with a number of examples illustrating some of the principles enunciated. Only the bare essentials of theory are supplied and a substantially empirical treatment is given for the multiplicity found in the high resolution spectra of coupled protons. A limited bibliography is indicated for readers seeking more theoretical detail: this mainly cites the better known textbooks written five or more

BOOK REVIEWS 57 years ago, and, of course, antedates Professor Mathieson's new volrune, although both are from the same publishing stable. Practical advice notably includes preparation of samples, hints when working with different solvents, notes on the effects attributable to hydrogen bonding, sources of error and factors determining the quality of a spectrum, scale expansion, and some brief notes on quantitative analysis. The second --and perhaps the more exciting--part of the book consists of a remarkable series of 33 correlation tables for protons in specialised environments taken from recent scientific publications, together with a conventional list of proton coupling constants, and some more tentative correlations for the nuclei '9F, '3C and P. The authors have certainly succeeded in presenting a practical alternative to the superficial diagnosticism of introductory texts of comparable length. G.F. PHILLIPS BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE, Vol. 1. Editor: N. Blakebrough. Pp. xv q- 402 q- Ill. (1967). Academic Press, London/New York. 100s. $18.50 Biochemical engineering as a recognised subject is about ten years old and text- books covering this new discipline have appeared from time to time. This volume is the latest of the series and in many ways reflects the development of the subject: no longer can a single author be expected to master and present all aspects of biochemical engineering. Chapters by specialists dealing with defined areas contribute much to the standing of this volume. The authors have carefully worked within the framework of the title: emphasis is clearly on science involved in the various operations, but its place in industrial practice is stated. The first volume is strongly orientated towards fer- mentation technology, but the chapter titles of the second volume suggest other areas of the subject will be covered. In the first chapter, the late K. R. Butlin has given an introduction to industrial microbiology largely intended for engineers and pure scientists. This approach probably reflects the general need, and few practising biochemical engineers would wish to keep pace with complex and changing treatises on microbial classifications. A simple general appraisal of industrially important microorganisms is given. In the following chapter the editor has reviewed fermentation technology and in- dicates areas to be covered in detail in later chapters. S. K. Friedlander has presented a balanced chapter on aerosol filtration by fibrous filters. Mathematical descriptions are presented and their limitations are well indicated. The approach is one of chemical engineering, and well chosen illustrative calculations are included. R. K. Finn has covered the background of agitation and aeration in fermentation. The point that oxygen involvement in fermentations is not usually sufficiently studied is well made and he has pointed out lines of investigation. Possibly a better under- standing would improve yields and other features of many fermentations. P. H. Calderbank has tackled the important field of mass transfer in fermentation processes, and produced probably the best review yet to have appeared. Theory and practical relevance are well presented, and he has correlated data from other unit operations' studies and shown how these contribute valuable information. R. Leudeking has covered fermentation process kinetics and given background to current studies. A section on economic appraisal is included, and perhaps this could have been extended profitably. Application of thermodynamic principles is intro-