Young Researchers Driving Innovation: Mahnoor Riaz

As part of WASTE2H2’s mission to develop innovative pathways for sustainable hydrogen production, three PhD students are actively contributing to the project’s scientific and technological progress.

Working across different work packages and institutions, they bring fresh perspectives, energy, and dedication to key areas such as plastic valorization, catalytic systems, and process optimization.

Through this series, we introduce their research focus, challenges, and personal insights as they help shape the future of green hydrogen.

How do you think your participation in the WASTE2H2 can influence your PhD work, in terms of research focus, methodology, resources, and scientific career development?

I´ve always been driven by a passion for green hydrogen and the circular economy, and WASTE2H2 has provided the perfect platform to turn that into meaningful research. With access to cutting-edge facilities and expert guidance, I’m developing advanced catalysts to efficiently convert waste plastics into hydrogen at low temperatures.

Through this project, I’m investigating how variations in catalyst structure and surface properties impact hydrogen production, while optimizing both catalyst design and reaction conditions using conventional and microwave reactors. Collaborating within a multidisciplinary team has also exposed me to real-world industrial challenges, making my research both scientifically robust and practically impactful.

What is your specific role within WASTE2H project, and how does it contribute to the overall goals of the consortium?

My role focuses on developing and optimizing metal-based catalysts on various supports for the efficient conversion of plastic waste into hydrogen, particularly under microwave-assisted conditions using an ionic liquid as a transport medium.

Catalysts are tested in a microwave reactor and compared against conventional heating to assess performance benefits and microwave effects at low temperatures. Post-reaction, both the catalyst and ionic liquid are thoroughly characterized to evaluate structural changes, stability, and reusability; critical factors for long-term process efficiency.

Since the catalyst is central to achieving high hydrogen yields with minimal energy input, this work directly advances the project’s main goal: transforming plastic waste into clean hydrogen fuel, while promoting sustainability and addressing global waste challenges.

How do you collaborate with other partners/work packages, and how do you coordinate your work with them?

Collaboration within the WASTE2H2 project is continuous and well-structured. We hold bi-weekly meetings where all partners share progress, discuss challenges, and align on next steps. I send my synthesized catalysts in batches to partners in France, Spain, and Germany for testing, and I also maintain an up-to-date record of all entries in our shared Teams folder to ensure nothing gets lost over time.

For more specific collaboration needs, such as unusual results or joint experiments, we arrange separate meetings with the relevant partners to go into detail. Communication also remains active through emails, where partners are quick to assist and provide feedback. This coordinated approach ensures our work packages stay connected and progress smoothly toward the project´s goals.

How is your role evolving as the project progresses, and what are your learnings from the responsibilities you take on?

As the project progresses, we are gaining deeper insights. Initially, the focus was mainly on catalyst synthesis, but over time, we’ve started to understand which metal shapes and structures yield promising results, allowing us to explore them in more detail. We are also preparing to begin microwave-based catalytic testing to compare with conventional heating methods.

Personally, I’ve learned how various synthesis parameters influence catalyst performance. I’m gaining experience in multiple synthesis techniques, characterization methods, and now moving towards reaction studies. This progression is giving me a more complete understanding of catalyst development—from material design to performance evaluation.

What challenges or difficulties do you currently face in your role within WASTE2H2 project, and how are you addressing them?

As we are still in the early phase of the project, the challenges are manageable. One key difficulty is preparing catalyst batches at a scale suitable for all project partners while ensuring consistent quality. We typically begin by synthesizing a small batch for full characterization and performance testing. Once optimized, we scale up to produce a larger batch for distribution. To ensure consistency, we cross-check the larger batch by repeating selected tests and characterizations, verifying that the key properties are maintained across both scales.