16th Multidimensional Chromatography Workshop (MDCW) - Closing

Significance of the Topic

The American Chemical Society Subdivision on Chromatography and Separations Chemistry Poster Awards recognize pioneering work in multidimensional chromatography, a field that provides superior resolution for complex mixtures in pharmaceuticals, environmental monitoring, clinical diagnostics and food analysis. By highlighting innovative approaches and practical solutions, the event promotes the advancement of separation science and supports early-career researchers.

Objectives and Overview of the Event

This summary covers the structure and outcomes of the ACS SCSC Poster Awards, which:

• Are sponsored by the ACS Analytical Division and the SCSC subdivision
• Award two $250 USD prizes for outstanding poster presentations at a dedicated session
• Featured 42 poster contributions judged by experts in multidimensional chromatography

Methodology and Award Criteria

Poster submissions were evaluated on:

• Originality and innovation in experimental design
• Technical rigor and reproducibility
• Clarity of data presentation and interpretation
• Potential impact on separation science and applications

The judging panel selected one winner for each day of the poster session based on these criteria.

Main Results and Discussion

The two awardees were:

• Rick van den Hurk (University of Amsterdam) – Poster P-2: "Overcoming the modulation challenges in two-dimensional liquid chromatography", demonstrating advanced modulation strategies to improve peak capacity and sensitivity in 2D-LC.
• Thibault Massenet (University of Liège) – Poster P-25: "Breath sampling and patient considerations for clinical implementation: a comparative study", offering practical insights into non-invasive sampling methods and their clinical applicability.

These contributions address critical bottlenecks in instrumentation and sampling protocols, underscoring the relevance of method development for real-world applications.

Benefits and Practical Applications

The Poster Awards:

• Encourage collaboration among academia and industry
• Provide visibility and financial support for emerging scientists
• Disseminate best practices in multidimensional chromatographic workflows

Practitioners gain actionable insights into modulation techniques and breath sampling designs, facilitating technology transfer to quality control and clinical laboratories.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Emerging directions in multidimensional chromatography include:

• Expanded hands-on training programs (e.g., Multi-Dimensional Chromatography Institute workshops)
• Integration of automated modulation and data analytics powered by machine learning
• Broader clinical adoption of non-invasive sampling methods coupled with high-throughput separations
• Enhanced networking platforms and international symposia to foster knowledge exchange

Such developments will accelerate method standardization and drive innovation in complex sample analysis.

Conclusion

The ACS SCSC Poster Awards effectively spotlight cutting-edge research in multidimensional chromatography, offering recognition and resources to promising scientists. By sharing advancements in modulation and sampling strategies, the event strengthens the separation science community and paves the way for practical applications across pharmaceutical, environmental and clinical sectors.