16th Multidimensional Chromatography Workshop Guidebook

Significance of the Topic

Multidimensional chromatography is a cornerstone of modern analytical chemistry, enabling high-resolution separation of complex mixtures in fields ranging from environmental monitoring to pharmaceutical development. By coupling two or more chromatographic dimensions, researchers achieve enhanced peak capacity, improved selectivity, and deeper insights into sample composition.

Objectives and Workshop Overview

The 16th Multidimensional Chromatography Workshop, held February 3–5, 2025 at Liège University in Belgium, aimed to bring together scientists, instrument vendors, and end users to share advancements in comprehensive chromatographic techniques. Key objectives included:

• Highlighting emerging methodologies in GC×GC, LC×LC, SFC-SFC and related hyphenated systems
• Fostering discussions on data processing, automation, and AI integration
• Promoting best practices in training, green chemistry, and quality control workflows
• Facilitating networking through posters, guided discussions, and social events

Methodologies and Instrumentation Used

This workshop showcased a broad spectrum of multidimensional platforms and detectors, among them:

• Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight and high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOFMS, GC×GC-HRMS)
• Two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC) with UV, FID, QMS and QTOF detection
• Supercritical fluid chromatography–supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC-SFC) with heart-cut modulation
• Spatial three-dimensional liquid-phase separation for proteomics applications
• Sample introduction techniques such as headspace SPME, vacuum-assisted SPME, and thermal desorption

Main Highlights and Discussions

Keynote lectures illustrated the state of the art in fragrance allergen analysis, pharmaceutical peptide profiling, and microcolumn design. Selected oral presentations addressed:

• Innovations in chiral screening via aqueous achiral × chiral LC×LC
• Microwave-assisted extraction and derivatization for fatty acid methyl ester analysis
• Non-targeted PFAS screening by GC×GC
• Automation challenges in one- and two-dimensional method development
• Forensic olfactronics and human scent signature discrimination

Poster sessions and guided discussions emphasized data processing workflows, teaching strategies for GC×GC, and the transition to greener chromatographic practices.

Benefits and Practical Applications

Multidimensional chromatography delivers tangible advantages in:

• Environmental analysis of volatile organics, particulate-bound PAHs, and indoor air quality assessment
• Food safety testing, including detection of MOSH/MOAH and flavor compound profiling
• Pharmaceutical and biotechnological quality control for peptides, antibodies, and viral vectors
• Forensics, such as scent-based human identification and accelerated aging of explosives
• Metabolomics and exposomics, supporting non-target screening in biological and clinical samples

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Emerging directions include:

• Integration of machine learning and AI for automated peak detection, deconvolution, and pattern recognition
• Expansion of three-dimensional separations to probe ultra-complex proteomic and metabolomic matrices
• Miniaturized and portable multidimensional platforms for in-field environmental and forensic analyses
• Advances in sustainable solvents and stationary phases to reduce environmental impact
• Enhanced user training modules leveraging virtual reality for immersive GC×GC data visualization

Conclusion

The 16th Multidimensional Chromatography Workshop provided a comprehensive forum for sharing cutting-edge research, promoting collaboration, and charting the future of separation science. Participants gained practical insights into methodological innovations, data processing strategies, and training best practices, reinforcing the pivotal role of multidimensional chromatography in analytical chemistry.

References

No references were provided in the original workshop guidebook.