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Konstantin N. Mikhelson: Ion-selective electrodes

Erno Lindner

Published online: 8 November 2013# Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013

Book’s topic This book of the series “Lecture Notes inChemistry” covers the basics of ion-selective electrodes (ISEs),one of the biggest success stories in the field of electrochemicalsensors. Although chemists consider ISEs primarily as simple,routine tools for direct potentiometry and as indicator electrodesin potentiometric titrations, ISEs constitute a large share of thein vitro diagnostic sensor market and are used in more than onebillion blood electrolytemeasurements per year. In addition, ISEsare used for the analysis of pharmaceutical samples, thedetermination of physicochemical constants, and environmentaland process monitoring.

Contents The book consists of nine chapters. Each chapterhas its own list of references. The book follows the lecture

notes of Mikhelson from a course on ISEs. Chapter 1describes potentiometry as one of the simplest analyticalmethods, provides a classification of ISEs, surveys ISEapplications, and discusses the history of ISEs. In Chap. 2,the theory of potential generation in ISE membranes andpotentiometric cells is discussed. Chapter 3 is dedicated tothe performance characteristics of ISEs and the methods andprotocols used to determine the most important parameters ofISEs. The 40-page fourth chapter is dedicated in its entirety toionophore-based liquid membrane ISEs. It is 25 % of the 160-page book. The distinguished treatment is justified by thepractical importance of ionophore-based ISEs in bloodelectrolyte analysis, as well as by the discoveries that shiftedthe detection limit of ionophore-based ISEs from micromolarto nanomolar concentrations. The materials of glass electrodemembranes and the theory of pH-sensitive glass electrodes arediscussed in Chap. 5. The membrane materials and analyticalcharacteristics of ISEs with crystalline membranes are treatedin Chap. 6. Chapter 7 covers the latest trends in the theory andapplications of ISEs. Finally, Chaps. 8 and 9 are about thepractical aspects of ISE measurements. In Chap. 8, Mikhelsondiscusses the construction of ISEs with liquid “conventional”and solid internal contacts, and in Chap. 9, he covers the topicsof reference electrodes, pH meters, data acquisition systems,and some of the most important potentiometric methods.

Comparison with the existing literature The theory andapplications of ISEs were summarized in several books in the1970s and early 1980s. However, with new discoveries some ofthese books have become outdated and it is very difficult to obtaincopies of the others. The latest discoveries in the theory andapplications of ISEs have revolutionized the field. Consequently,this book is timely and expected to be very useful for graduatestudents and those who plan to teach a course on ISEs.

Critical assessment Since no comprehensive book has beenpublished on ISEs for a long time and the latest IUPACrecommendations on ISEs are also almost 20 years old, the

BibliographyIon-selective electrodesKonstantin N. MikhelsonSeries: Lecture Notesin Chemistry, Vol. 81SpringerISBN: 978-3-642-36885-1Hardcover, 162 pages2013, €106,99

E. Lindner (*)Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University ofMemphis,330 Engineering Technology, Memphis, TN 38152, USAe-mail: elindner@memphis.edu

Anal Bioanal Chem (2014) 406:373–374DOI 10.1007/s00216-013-7442-8

expectations for a new book that resolves discrepancies,rectifies measurement protocols, and provides widelyacceptable guidelines could not be greater. However,Mikhelson’s book does not aim to address all the importantissues of ISEs; rather, he has written a course book in whichboth the basics of ISEs and the modern trends are introduced.For those who are interested in the details of the theory or wishto use ISEs in their laboratory, Mikhelson provides plenty ofreferences at the end of each chapter; however, the lists ofreferences could have been more balanced.

Summary Ion-Selective Electrodes is a monograph focusingon the theoretical aspects of the different kinds of ISEs.

However, since ISEs are primarily practical analyticaldevices, the author discusses the most important analyticalcharacteristics of ISEs in detail and their correlation to thematerial properties of the sensing membrane and theworking mechanism of the electrode. The author, whohas over 30 years’ experience in the field and has workedin leading laboratories all over the world, used hisexperience in teaching the theory and practicalapplications of ISEs to write this book. The book is clearlywritten and well structured. It is recommended for thosewho wish to use these exciting devices with anunderstanding of their advantages and limitations basedon the theory.

374 E. Lindner