Ultrasound is an energy source that has the potential for enhancing many stages of experimental analysis, but analytical chemists generally have limited knowledge of this technique. Analytical Applications of Ultrasound lays the foundations for practicing analytical chemists to consider ways of exploiting ultrasound energy in their research. This timely and unique book covers a broad range of information about ultrasound, providing advances in ultrasound equipment and demonstrations of how this energy has been used to enhance various steps of analysis. Given the limited literature on analytical applications of ultrasound, the authors provide information from other sources that suggest ways in which we can use it in the analytical laboratory. The authors discuss the principles of ultrasound and the variables we must consider in adapting ultrasound to different problems.
* Presents an up-to-date, balanced description of the potential of Ultrasound within Analytical Chemistry
* Discusses ultrasound-based detection techniques in a systematic manner
* Provides an overview of potential applications of ultrasound in a variety of different fields

This book aims to provide scientists with information about a series of techniques that can be used with a view to facilitating the transformation of the sample to an appropriate state for subsequent detection or quantitation of its components of interest. The techniques dealt with range from the very simple ones (e.g. freeze-drying) to other more complex ones (e.g. glow discharge and laser-induced breakdown sampling).

This is the first compilation ever on the subjects of acceleration of solid sample pretreatment; automation of solid sample pretreatment; and integration of solid sample pretreatment and detection. Readers will find here the information required to compare and select the best choice for each sample treatment need and ways to facilitate or automate the most complex and time-consuming step of the analytical process when solid samples are involved.