Book Review: Fundamentals of Freeze-Drying

xvii f 386. J. D. Mellor is obviously a leading authority in the field of freeze-drying. He has produced a comprehensive study of the physical processes involved. The emphasis ofthe book is strongly torvards adetailed mathematical analysis of all the processes described. A full understanding of the mathematics requires a working knowledge of differential and integral calculus, especially in Part 1 which deals mainly with theory. The less technical reader could, how- ever, gain a good understanding ofthe basic processes in freeze-drying by reading Chapter 1 and Parts 2 and 3, though even in the descriptive sections a mathemati- ca1 analysis is included wherever possible. For example, in the chapter on biological aspects a theory on the leakage of plasma bottle gaskets is given. Part 1 deals extensively with the theory of sublimation, heat transfer and vapour transfer. Modifications and refinements have been made to take into account the effects of non-equilibrium and the effects of kinetic and diffusive resistance to the vapour ffow. The latest theoretical development described is the author’s own. His model lbr heat and vapour transfer is based on a ‘moving boundary between a dry o