Mohammed Arshad

The main focus of Arshad’s research is to design catalysts that can effectively break down waste polymers such as plastics and lignin. Catalyst design focuses on combining two transition metals together to create a balance between reactivity and selectivity. The focus on breaking down waste polymers is to PhD project is funded by ESPRC through CritiCAT.

Arshad obtained his MChem at the university of Bradford in 2015. Whilst obtaining his masters, he worked for Unipetrol’s research department in Czech Republic. The project looked at producing jet fuel precursors from second-generation feedstock using zeolites as a catalyst. Following his interest of working with biomass, Arshad has started his PhD looking at ways to depolymerize lignin and potentially to produce value added chemicals from this abundant resource. Arshad is part of Criticat, which is the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Critical Resource Catalysis. It is a four-year PhD programme with main focus on homogeneous-, heterogeneous- and bio- catalysis as well as chemical engineering. Alongside his PhD he has started working as a KTP associate researching the breakdown of plastics into products. Producing novel catalysts that can be used for different types of wastes materials. Arshad is currently balancing both PhD and work utilizing his research experience to help a start up company excel.

Catalysis, Inorganic chemistry, Plastics, Lignin, waste recycling