Overview
Background
Dr Liu Ye is is a Professor at The University of Queensland (UQ) in the School of Chemical Engineering. Dr Ye’s research is focused on sustainable environmental engineering and is dedicated to finding innovative and practical solutions to tackle challenges in achieving net zero emissions, climate resilience, and sustainability. She is the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) research program leader at UQ urban water engineering. She has an established national and international leadership in the research field of net-zero emissions from urban wastewater systems. Prof Ye has been awarded over AU$10M competitive research funding and has a broad research collaboration within academia and industry. She collaborated extensively with water industry partners (> 15, both Australia and overseas water utilities), Australian state Government, Industry peak bodies (Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA), Water Research Australia (WarterRA)) and Technology companies (e.g., Jacob, Suez, Veolia). She has also received more than eight scientific awards (including Research Innovation Award from Australia Water Association, UQ Foundation Research Excellence Award, etc.), and the EAIT faculty teaching excellence award. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) and an elected member in the Strategic Council of International Water Association (IWA). She is also a member of the Australia Association for Engineering Education (AAEE) and Engineers Australia (EA). She current servers as the Associate editor of Environmental Science: Water Research and Technology and in the Editorial board of Engineering journal.
Research:
Liu’s research includes greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigation from biological wastewater treatment processes; sludge minimization and biogas production enhancement; advanced biological nutrient removal (BNR) technology development; on-line process control and optimisation and resource recovery from wastes.
Teaching and Learning:
CHEE2020: Process Equipment and Control (Coordinator and Lecturer);
CHEE2501: Environmental Systems Engineering I: Processes (Lecturer);
CHEE4012: Industrial Wastewater & Solid Waste Management (Lecturer);
CHEE4007/4027 Thesis project;
Availability
- Professor Liu Ye is:
- Not available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Engineering, Zhengzhou University
- Doctor of Philosophy, Beijing University of Technology
Research impacts
Prof Liu Ye's research is having a substantive impact in gaining a deeper scientific understanding of biological nutrient removal and recovery during wastewater treatment and outputs from her research are used by industry to recover nutrients from wastewater and reduce greenhouse gas emission and activate sludge production during wastewater treatment, which directly benefits the Australia water utilities and the living environment-:
- Leader and one of the key drivers to the development of N2O research at UQ, with solid and active collaboration with Australia water utilities. Research outcome has set a benchmark for reducing emissions by 35% at one of the largest Australian treatment plants in Adelaide, translating to potential annual savings of $50M for the water industry.
- GHG outcome featured as an exemplar of how chemical engineering can drive real change for a better future, as recognized by the IChemE in their publication "Chemical Engineering Impact in Australia" at the end of 2019.
- Featured by IChemE Sustainability Hub: Sustainability success stories on “Wastewater treatment and process emissions – Dr Liu Ye”, (https://www.icheme.org/knowledge-networks/sustainability-hub/sdg-6-clean-water-and-sanitation/making-a-difference-sustainability-success-stories/)
- Her methodology for real-time greenhouse gas emission measurement, which was applied in Melbourne Water’s full-scale treatment plant, won the 2022 Australia Water Association Research Excellence and Innovation award (Victoria region).
- Developed the first systematic approach to quantify the N2O emissions from wastewater system with surface aerators. It was successfully applied to estimate the N2O emission factor for a well-mixed full-scale oxidation ditch wastewater treatment plant in Perth.
- Her ground-breaking research has led to substantial development and commercialisation of the free nitrous acid (FNA) technology. Her research revealed, for the first time, FNA at a low concentration can completely suppress bacterial growth. This research, together with another research result, underpinned the application of FNA as a green chemical to control biofilm growth on sewers and to reduce the sludge production during urban wastewater treatment.
Works
Search Professor Liu Ye’s works on UQ eSpace
2019
Conference Publication
Existence of NOB in raw wastewater and its effects on the stability of mainstream nitrite shunt
Duan, Haoran, Liu, Ye and Yuan, Zhiguo (2019). Existence of NOB in raw wastewater and its effects on the stability of mainstream nitrite shunt. 2019 Innovation Conference on Sustainable Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery, Shanghai, China, 25-28 November 2019.
2019
Journal Article
Nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) contained in influent deteriorate mainstream NOB suppression by sidestream inactivation
Duan, Haoran, Ye, Liu, Wang, Qilin, Zheng, Min, Lu, Xuanyu, Wang, Zhiyao and Yuan, Zhiguo (2019). Nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) contained in influent deteriorate mainstream NOB suppression by sidestream inactivation. Water Research, 162, 331-338. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.07.002
2019
Journal Article
Individual and combined effect of salinity and nitrite on freshwater Anammox bacteria (FAB)
Lin, Limin, Pratt, Steven, Rattier, Maxime and Ye, Liu (2019). Individual and combined effect of salinity and nitrite on freshwater Anammox bacteria (FAB). Water Research, 169 114931, 114931. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.114931
2019
Conference Publication
Achieving stable mainstream nitrite shunt: NOB adaptation solved
Duan, Haoran, Ye, Liu, Lu, Xuanyu and Yuan, Zhiguo (2019). Achieving stable mainstream nitrite shunt: NOB adaptation solved. 16th IWA Leading Edge Conference on Water and Wastewater Technologies, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, 1-5 June 2019.
2019
Journal Article
Increasing capacity of an anaerobic sludge digester through FNA pre-treatment of thickened waste activated sludge
Zhang, Liguo, Duan, Haoran, Ye, Liu, Liu, Lei, Batstone, Damien J. and Yuan, Zhiguo (2019). Increasing capacity of an anaerobic sludge digester through FNA pre-treatment of thickened waste activated sludge. Water Research, 149, 406-413. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.11.008
Featured
2019
Journal Article
Overcoming nitrite oxidizing bacteria adaptation through alternating sludge treatment with free nitrous acid and free ammonia
Duan, Haoran, Ye, Liu, Lu, Xuanyu and Yuan, Zhiguo (2019). Overcoming nitrite oxidizing bacteria adaptation through alternating sludge treatment with free nitrous acid and free ammonia. Environmental Science & Technology, 53 (4) acs.est.8b06148, 1937-1946. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.8b06148
2019
Journal Article
Self-sustained nitrite accumulation at low pH greatly enhances volatile solids destruction and nitrogen removal in aerobic sludge digestion
Duan, Haoran, Ye, Liu, Lu, Xuanyu, Batstone, Damien J. and Yuan, Zhiguo (2019). Self-sustained nitrite accumulation at low pH greatly enhances volatile solids destruction and nitrogen removal in aerobic sludge digestion. Environmental Science & Technology, 53 (3) acs.est.8b04498, 1225-1234. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.8b04498
2018
Journal Article
Effects of free nitrous acid treatment conditions on the nitrite pathway performance in mainstream wastewater treatment
Duan, Haoran, Wang, Qilin, Erler, Dirk V., Ye, Liu and Yuan, Zhiguo (2018). Effects of free nitrous acid treatment conditions on the nitrite pathway performance in mainstream wastewater treatment. Science of the Total Environment, 644, 360-370. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.346
2018
Journal Article
Evaluating the membrane fouling formation and chemical cleaning strategy in forward osmosis membrane filtration treating domestic sewage
Ab Hamid, Nur Hafizah, Ye, Liu, Wang, David K., Smart, Simon, Filloux, Emmanuelle, Lebouteiller, Thibault and Zhang, Xiwang (2018). Evaluating the membrane fouling formation and chemical cleaning strategy in forward osmosis membrane filtration treating domestic sewage. Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, 4 (12), 2092-2103. doi: 10.1039/c8ew00584b
2018
Conference Publication
Individual and combined effect of salinity and nitrite on Anammox bacteria
Lin, Limin, Pratt, Steven, Rattier, Maxime and Ye, Liu (2018). Individual and combined effect of salinity and nitrite on Anammox bacteria. IWA Nutrient Removal and Recovery Conference 2018, Brisbane, Australia, 18-21 November 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
A novel operational strategy of aerobic sludge digester improving VS destruction and nitrogen removal
Duan, Haoran, Ye, Liu, Lu, Xuanyu, Batstone, Damien and Yuan, Zhiguo (2018). A novel operational strategy of aerobic sludge digester improving VS destruction and nitrogen removal. IWA Nutrient Removal and Recovery Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 18-21 November 2018. IWA.
2017
Journal Article
Quantifying nitrous oxide production pathways in wastewater treatment systems using isotope technology – a critical review
Duan, Haoran, Ye, Liu, Erler, Dirk, Ni, Bing-Jie and Yuan, Zhiguo (2017). Quantifying nitrous oxide production pathways in wastewater treatment systems using isotope technology – a critical review. Water Research, 122, 96-113. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.05.054
2017
Journal Article
Strategies for enhanced deammonification performance and reduced nitrous oxide emissions
Leix, Carmen, Drewes, Jörg E., Ye, Liu and Koch, Konrad (2017). Strategies for enhanced deammonification performance and reduced nitrous oxide emissions. Bioresource Technology, 236, 174-185. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.03.182
2016
Journal Article
Enhancing post anaerobic digestion of full-scale anaerobically digested sludge using free nitrous acid treatment
Zhang, Tingting, Wang, Qilin, Ye, Liu and Yuan, Zhiguo (2016). Enhancing post anaerobic digestion of full-scale anaerobically digested sludge using free nitrous acid treatment. Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, 43 (5), 713-717. doi: 10.1007/s10295-016-1742-x
2016
Journal Article
Effect of free nitrous acid pre-treatment on primary sludge biodegradability and its implications
Zhang, Tingting, Wang, Qilin, Ye, Liu and Yuan, Zhiguo (2016). Effect of free nitrous acid pre-treatment on primary sludge biodegradability and its implications. Chemical Engineering Journal, 290, 31-36. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2016.01.028
2016
Journal Article
Nitric oxide and nitrous oxide emissions from a full-scale activated sludge anaerobic/anoxic/oxic process
Wang, Yayi, Lin, Ximao, Zhou, Dong, Ye, Liu, Han, Haicheng and Song, Chengkang (2016). Nitric oxide and nitrous oxide emissions from a full-scale activated sludge anaerobic/anoxic/oxic process. Chemical Engineering Journal, 289, 330-340. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2015.12.074
2016
Journal Article
Unravelling the spatial variation of nitrous oxide emissions from a step-feed plug-flow full scale wastewater treatment plant
Pan, Yuting, van den Akker, Ben, Ye, Liu, Ni, Bing-Jie, Watts, Shane, Reid, Katherine and Yuan, Zhiguo (2016). Unravelling the spatial variation of nitrous oxide emissions from a step-feed plug-flow full scale wastewater treatment plant. Scientific Reports, 6 (1) 20792, 20792. doi: 10.1038/srep20792
2016
Journal Article
Sludge-drying lagoons: a potential significant methane source in wastewater treatment plants
Pan, Yuting, Ye, Liu, van den Akker, Ben, Ganigue Pages, Ramon, Musenze, Ronald S. and Yuan, Zhiguo (2016). Sludge-drying lagoons: a potential significant methane source in wastewater treatment plants. Environmental Science and Technology, 50 (3), 1368-1375. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5b04844
2015
Journal Article
Selection of mathematical models for N2O production by ammonia oxidizing bacteria under varying dissolved oxygen and nitrite concentrations
Peng, Lai, Ni, Bing-Jie, Ye, Liu and Yuan, Zhiguo (2015). Selection of mathematical models for N2O production by ammonia oxidizing bacteria under varying dissolved oxygen and nitrite concentrations. Chemical Engineering Journal, 281, 661-668. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2015.07.015
2015
Journal Article
Combined free nitrous acid and hydrogen peroxide pre-treatment of waste activated sludge enhances methane production via organic molecule breakdown
Zhang, Tingting, Wang, Qilin, Ye, Liu, Batstone, Damien and Yuan, Zhiguo (2015). Combined free nitrous acid and hydrogen peroxide pre-treatment of waste activated sludge enhances methane production via organic molecule breakdown. Scientific Reports, 5 (16631) 16631, 1-9. doi: 10.1038/srep16631
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Liu Ye is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
State of Knowledge and modeling of Scope 1 emissions from Sewage Treatment Plants
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Haoran Duan, Dr Shakil Ahmmed
-
Doctor Philosophy
Novel biofilm-based nitrogen removal technology and its N2O emission in wastewater treatment
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Haoran Duan
-
Doctor Philosophy
Quantification and reducing direct greenhouse gas emissions from next generation wastewater treatment systems
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Haoran Duan
-
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding nitrous oxide emissions from wastewater treatment processes with stable isotopes and mathematical modelling
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Haoran Duan, Professor Hongzhi Yin
-
Doctor Philosophy
Novel Phosphorous accumulating organisms in next generation wastewater treatment systems
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Adrian Oehmen
-
Doctor Philosophy
Climate smart biological wastewater treatment processes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Haoran Duan
-
Doctor Philosophy
An Integrated Approach to achieve Net-zero operation in Wastewater Resource Recovery Facilities
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Zhiyao Wang
-
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater system in the data era
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Haoran Duan, Professor Hongzhi Yin
-
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating and reducing the carbon footprint of biosolids treatment from urban wastewater system
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Damien Batstone
-
Doctor Philosophy
Climate smart biological wastewater treatment processes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Haoran Duan
-
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater system in the data era
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Haoran Duan, Professor Hongzhi Yin
-
Doctor Philosophy
A sustainable biological nutrient removal and recovery process for cost-effective wastewater treatment
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Adrian Oehmen, Associate Professor Gilda Carvalho
-
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating novel microbes for simultaneous nutrient removal from wastewater in Carbon Neutral era
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Adrian Oehmen, Dr Zhiyao Wang
-
Doctor Philosophy
Cost-effective and sustainable treatment of ammonium-rich industrial wastewater
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Shihu Hu, Dr Haoran Duan
-
Doctor Philosophy
Sustainable and cost-effective biological phosphorus removal technology in urban water systems
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Gilda Carvalho, Associate Professor Adrian Oehmen
-
Doctor Philosophy
Establishment LCA method coupled with an activated sludge model for sustainable nitrogen management technology evaluation.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Rocky Chen, Dr Shakil Ahmmed
-
Doctor Philosophy
The development of process control strategies to optimise biological phosphorus removal and recovery
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Gilda Carvalho, Associate Professor Adrian Oehmen
Completed supervision
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater system in the data era
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Haoran Duan, Professor Hongzhi Yin
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding nitrous oxide generation from novel partial nitrification systems for sustainable wastewater treatment
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Zhiguo Yuan, Dr Haoran Duan
-
2022
Master Philosophy
Carbon Footprint Analysis of Urban Wastewater Treatment Processes and Nitrous Oxide Emission From Aerobic Digestion
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Haoran Duan
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Achieving and Understanding Combined Biological Phosphorus Removal and Short-cut Nitrogen in Wastewater Treatment Processes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Adrian Oehmen, Honorary Professor Zhiguo Yuan
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Freshwater Anammox bacteria for treatment of saline wastewater
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steven Pratt
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding of Carbon/Nitrogen recovery from wastewater as value-added bioproducts
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jianhua Guo
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Forward Osmosis (FO) Membrane-based Technology in Urban Wastewater Treatment
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Simon Smart
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
The return activated sludge sidestream process and the role of Tetrasphaera, a fermenting polyphosphate accumulating organism
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Adrian Oehmen
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Versatile uses of iron in the urban wastewater system
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Shihu Hu
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Controlling nitrite oxidizing bacteria using nitrogen released from sludge digestion
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Zhiguo Yuan
-
2016
Master Philosophy
Biological silicon removal from coal seam gas water
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steven Pratt
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
FNA-based Pre-treatment of Primary, Secondary and Digested Sludge
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Zhiguo Yuan
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding nitrous oxide production by ammonia oxidizing bacteria in an enriched nitrifying sludge
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Zhiguo Yuan
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Treatment of secondary sludge using free nitrous acid to achieve sludge reduction and enhance methane production in wastewater treatment systems
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Zhiguo Yuan
-
2013
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding nitrous oxide production during denitrification by methanol-utilizing denitrifying activated sludge
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Zhiguo Yuan
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Liu Ye directly for media enquiries about:
- Biological wastewater treatment
- Greenhouse gas emissions
- nitrous acid
- online process control
- saline wastewater treatment
- sludge reduction
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: