Review Contents Reviews, Books, and General Interest 137R Solid Adsorbents and Supports 138R Natural Adsorbents 138R Synthetic Adsorbents 138R Liquid Phases 138R Synthetic Organic Phases 138R Chiral Phases and Natural Phases 139R Chromatographic Theory 140R Columns and Column Technology 140R Multidimensional Gas Chromatography 141R Data Processing and Quantitative Aspects 141R Analysis of Peak Shape 141R Pattern Recognition and Artificial Intelligence 141R Quantitative Aspects 141R High-Speed Gas Chromatography 141R Detectors 142R Literature Cited 143R
REVIEWS, BOOKS, AND GENERAL INTERESTReview articles on GC appeared during this review cycle and included a broad discussion of the trends in GC developments and applications (A1). The conclusion from the review, principally with articles from the mid-1990s, was that gas chromatography remains a healthy and growing measurement technique with expanding influence. This is consistent with the findings from this review where the vitality of GC is found in helpful and innovative applications with increasing measure. Still, as in prior reviews, fundamental developments constitute a small component (∼20% or less) of all publications in GC. One review, which should be useful with a growing trend in stationary-phase offerings, was the discussion of methods to characterize the chromatographic properties of stationary phases (A2). This reminder is welcome in view of the growing selection of stationary phases and after a decade where most separations were completed on only a few stationary phases, as available in bonded phase capillary columns. Another review, from past technology, was given (A3) for porous layer open tubular (PLOT) capillary columns. Once seen as means for providing excellent resolution with sample sizes greater than available in thin-film capillary columns, PLOT columns were situated in performance between packed and capillary columns. These properties are balanced against some limitations and the authors suggest that the value of PLOT columns for future users remains unclear; nonetheless, this review may serve as a point of reference for speculation on the future possibilities of PLOT columns.In common GC experiments, the carrier gas is intended only for mass transport. A review (with 145 references) on the role of carrier gases on the separation process (A4) demonstrates that carrier gas interactions are integral to the chromatographic process. This may be regarded as inadvertent by some, yet others intentionally modify the carrier to obtain specialized effects. One such gas, ammonia, was the subject of a review on interactive gases in GC (A5). Examples were presented and discussed where ammonia, blended at low levels in the carrier gas, has improved peak symmetry and detection limits.The subject of pyrolysis GC, long seen as a means of probing the chemical composition of nonvolatile materials using GC, was