During the past decade, monolithic materials in the shape of discs, stacked layers, rolled sheets, sponges, irregular chunks, tubes, and cylinders have all been successfully demonstrated. These formats were prepared from a wide variety of materials including natural polymers such as cellulose, synthetic polymers that involved porous styrene-, methacrylate-, and acrylamide-based polymers, and inorganic materials, mainly silica. Each approach is interesting from the point of view of both preparation and application.
Although the current papers and patents concerned with monolithic separation media are quite numerous, the information is scattered throughout a vast number of journals. This book therefore fills the gap in the market for a comprehensive reference book on this subject.
Monolithic materials concerns all of the current formats of monolithic materials and provides an integrated view of this novel format of separation media. Since the flow pattern in monolithic devices is different from that in packed beds, the hydrodynamics of the system and mass transport differ considerably from those derived for packed columns. Therefore, this book presents contributions concerned with both flow and mass transfer in the monolithic materials. A significant proportion of the book is devoted to the applications of monolithic materials. It also provides the reader with valuable information about the sources of the specific materials, their properties, and potential applications.
.Monolithic materials are currently very popular within several scientific areas such as chromatography, optics, catalysis, diagnostics, genomics, proteomics, and microfluidics.
.Provides valuable information about the sources of the specific materials, their properties, and potential applications.
.Chapters written by leading experts in the area."

This book deals with chromatographic and electrophoretic methods applied for the separation (quantitation and identification) of biologically relevant compounds. It is assumed that the potential reader is familiar with the basics of chromatographic and electromigration methods. Individual separation modes are dealt with to an extent which follows their applicability for biomedical purposes: liquid chromatography and electromigration methods are therefore highlighted.

Each chapter is completed with a list of recent literature covering the 1987-1997 period, which can be used for further guidance of the reader in his/her own field. The chapters have been written by specialists in a particular area and with an emphasis on applications to the biomedical field. This implies that theoretical and instrumental aspects are kept to a minimum which allows the reader to understand the text. Considerable attention is paid to method selection, detection and derivatization procedures and troubleshooting. The majority of examples given represent the analyses of typical naturally-occurring mixtures. Adequate attention is paid to the role of the biological matrix and sample pretreatment, and special attention is given to forensic, toxicological and clinical applications. The book is completed with an extensive Index of Compounds Separated.