"The book contains good mathematical treatments for most of the topics discussed in order to understand the arguments presented, therefore a basic knowledge in algebra and calculus is required for the mathematical equations included in the book … a comprehensive and valuable reference to analytical chemists, chromatographers and separation scientists interested in understanding the fundamentals of the processes involved in chromatographic separation. Finally, congratulations to the authors for a job well done."-Hassan Y. Aboul-Enein, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in Biomedical Chromatography, Vol. 17, No. 4

• The mechanics of retention: introduction to chromatography theory; the control of chromatographic retention and selectivity (the Plate theory); the distribution coefficient and its control of solute retention; the theory of mixed phases in chromatography; programming techniques; extensions of the Plate theory. The mechanics of dispersion: the dynamics of peak dispersion; the rate theory equations; extra-column dispersion; exeprimental validation of the Van Deemter equation; the measurement of solute diffusivity and molecular weight; chromatography column design; chromatography column design - the design of open tubular columns for GC.