If you have been following my Concentrating on Chromatography podcast, you know that I am constantly searching for the cutting edge of separation science. After years of interviewing the brightest minds in the field, it has become clear to me that the Multidimensional Chromatography Workshop (MDCW) is undeniably the best up-and-coming event in our industry.
While I was unfortunately traveling in Asia during the most recent session, I was able to catch every detail thanks to the incredible work of LabRulez. A huge thank you to Ivo Novotný and the LabRulez team for providing Open Access video presentations of the event. Their portal is an invaluable resource for anyone who needs to find technical information quickly and efficiently.
I have had the privilege of featuring the core organizers of MDCW on my podcast, including Katelynn Perrault Uptmor, Dwight Stoll, and Petr Vozka. Their dedication to creating a space where forensic chemistry, environmental analysis, and metabolomics intersect is what makes this workshop so unique. The event is a perfect showcase for how multidimensional techniques—like GC×GC and 2D-LC—are essential for tackling the world's most complex samples.
As we often discuss at Organomation, even the most advanced chromatographic systems depend on meticulous sample preparation. Two presentations highlighted in the LabRulez playlist perfectly illustrate the critical role of solvent evaporation and sample concentration.
Emma Macturk, working in Dr. Katelynn Perrault Uptmor’s lab, is redefining how we look at one of the oldest forms of forensic evidence: the fingerprint. While traditional forensics relies on the physical patterns of ridges and whorls, these are often incomplete or smudged in real-world scenarios. Emma’s research shifts the focus to the chemical residue left behind, which can provide vital "class characteristics" like the biological sex and relative age of a suspect.
Her optimized workflow is a masterclass in handling complex biological matrices. Using a cotton swab to extract residue from surfaces, the samples are centrifuged and then "blown down" (a critical concentration step for any trace analysis) before being reconstituted for GC×GC-TOFMS.
What makes her work truly fascinating—and highly relevant for our readers at Organomation—is the discovery of anthropogenic compounds. Emma identified UVB blockers like octocrylene and various moisturizers hidden within the natural sterols and fatty acids of the skin. The power of multidimensional chromatography allows forensic scientists to resolve these external "lifestyle" markers from endogenous skin compounds, potentially providing a much more detailed profile of a suspect than a physical print ever could.
Grace Saunders addressed a looming crisis in forensic ballistics: the shift toward "green ammunition." For decades, the gold standard for detecting gunshot residue (GSR) has been SEM-EDS, which looks for heavy metals like lead, barium, and antimony. However, modern environmental and health standards are leading manufacturers to omit these metals. This means that traditional standards are failing to identify GSR in cases involving green rounds.
Grace’s research proposes a dual-pronged approach, using GC×GC to target Organic Gunshot Residue (OGSR). Her liquid extraction protocol is meticulous: samples are extracted in methanol, "evaporated to dryness under nitrogen," and then reconstituted. This ensures that volatile and semi-volatile nitroaromatic compounds, such as nitroglycerin and diphenylamine, are concentrated enough for detection.
By optimizing parameters like the modulation period (2.5 seconds) and switching to hydrogen carrier gas, Grace was able to resolve these critical markers from the complex background "noise" of human skin. Her work isn't just about better chemistry; it’s about legal survival. As she noted, forensic methods must meet Federal Rule 702 for admissibility in court. Without the organic profiling Grace is developing, evidence from a "green" firearm discharge might never make it past a judge.
The workshop also featured brilliant presenters like Ryland Giebelhaus, whose work on the metabolomics of cannabis exposure during pregnancy shows the real-world impact of these technologies.
The MDCW isn't just another conference; it is a community-driven powerhouse that bridges the gap between proof-of-concept and field-ready applications. Whether you are looking for advanced data reduction strategies or the latest in high-resolution mass spectrometry, this is the event to watch.
If you missed it this year like I did, I highly recommend visiting the LabRulez portal to see the full breadth of research presented!