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
2010
Journal Article
Free nitrous acid inhibition on the aerobic metabolism of poly-phosphate accumulating organisms
Pijuan, Maite, Ye, Liu and Yuan, Zhiguo (2010). Free nitrous acid inhibition on the aerobic metabolism of poly-phosphate accumulating organisms. Water Research, 44 (20), 6063-6072. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2010.07.075
2010
Journal Article
Nitrifying population optimization in municipal saline wastewater treatment
Ye, Liu, Wang, Shuying, Zhao, Kaifeng and Peng, Yongzhen (2010). Nitrifying population optimization in municipal saline wastewater treatment. Beijing Daxue Xuebao (Ziran Kexue Ban)/Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Pekinensis, 46 (3), 422-428.
2010
Journal Article
The effect of free nitrous acid on the anabolic and catabolic processes of glycogen accumulating organisms
Ye, Liu, Pijuan, Maite and Yuan, Zhiguo (2010). The effect of free nitrous acid on the anabolic and catabolic processes of glycogen accumulating organisms. Water Research, 44 (9), 2901-2909. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2010.02.010
2010
Journal Article
Using excess sludge as carbon source for enhanced nitrogen removal and sludge reduction with hydrolysis technology
Gao, YQ, Peng, YZ, Zhang, JY, Wang, JL and Ye, L (2010). Using excess sludge as carbon source for enhanced nitrogen removal and sludge reduction with hydrolysis technology. Water Science and Technology, 62 (7), 1536-1543. doi: 10.2166/wst.2010.433
2010
Journal Article
Occurrence, control and utilization of filamentous sludge bulking in salt-tolerant sludge
Ye, Liu, Wang, Shuying, Liu, Yang, Liu, Zhibo, Yu, Xia and Sun, Zhirong (2010). Occurrence, control and utilization of filamentous sludge bulking in salt-tolerant sludge. Huagong Xuebao/CIESC Journal, 61 (1), 180-185.
2009
Journal Article
Determination effect of influent salinity and inhibition time on partial nitrification in a sequencing batch reactor treating saline sewage
Ye, Liu, Peng, Cheng-yao, Tang, Bing, Wang, Shu-ying, Zhao, Kai-feng and Peng, Yong-zhen (2009). Determination effect of influent salinity and inhibition time on partial nitrification in a sequencing batch reactor treating saline sewage. Desalination, 246 (1-3), 556-566. doi: 10.1016/j.desal.2009.01.005
2009
Journal Article
Effects of salt on microbial populations and treatment performance in purifying saline sewage using the MUCT process
Cui, Youwei, Peng, Changyao, Peng, Yongzhen and Ye, Liu (2009). Effects of salt on microbial populations and treatment performance in purifying saline sewage using the MUCT process. Clean - Soil, Air, Water, 37 (8), 649-656. doi: 10.1002/clen.200900049
2009
Journal Article
Effects of salinity concentration on N2O production during nitrification
Shang, Hui-Lai, Peng, Yong-Zhen, Zhang, Jing-Rong, Ye, Liu and Zhao, Kai-Feng (2009). Effects of salinity concentration on N2O production during nitrification. Huanjing Kexue/Environmental Science, 30 (4), 1079-1083.
2009
Journal Article
Nitrogen removal via nitrite in domestic wastewater treatment using combined salt inhibition and on-line process control
Ye, L, Tang, B, Zhao, KF, Pijuan, M and Peng, YZ (2009). Nitrogen removal via nitrite in domestic wastewater treatment using combined salt inhibition and on-line process control. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, 60 (6), 1633-1639. doi: 10.2166/wst.2009.521
2009
Conference Publication
Nitrogen removal via nitrite in domestic wastewater treatment using combined salt inhibition and on-line process control in SBR
Liu, Ye, Peng, Yong-zhen, Pijuan, Maite, Tang, Bing and Zhao, Kai-feng (2009). Nitrogen removal via nitrite in domestic wastewater treatment using combined salt inhibition and on-line process control in SBR. 10th IWA Conference on Instrumentation, Control & Automation, Cairns, Australia, 14-17 June. Cairns, Australia: IWA.
2008
Journal Article
Influence of NaCl salinity on nitrogen removal of activated sludge system
Wang, Shu-Ying, Tang, Bing, Ye, Liu and Peng, Yong-Zhen (2008). Influence of NaCl salinity on nitrogen removal of activated sludge system. Beijing Gongye Daxue Xuebao / Journal of Beijing University of Technology, 34 (6), 631-635.
2008
Journal Article
Fuzzy-control parameters for nitrogen removal of saline sewage in SBR process
Ye, Liu, Peng, Yongzhen, Tang, Bing and Hou, Hongxun (2008). Fuzzy-control parameters for nitrogen removal of saline sewage in SBR process. Huagong Xuebao/Journal of Chemical Industry and Engineering (China), 59 (4), 995-1000.
2006
Journal Article
Treatment of saline sewage with modified MUCT process
Ye, Liu, Peng, Yong-Zhen, Cui, You-Wei and Wang, Xiao-Wei (2006). Treatment of saline sewage with modified MUCT process. Beijing Gongye Daxue Xuebao / Journal of Beijing University of Technology, 32 (12), 1087-1092.
2006
Journal Article
Achieving biological nitrogen removal via nitrite by salt inhibition
Cui, Y. W., Peng, Y. Z., Peng, C. Y., Gan, X. Q. and Ye, Liu (2006). Achieving biological nitrogen removal via nitrite by salt inhibition. Water Science and Technology, 53 (6), 115-122. doi: 10.2166/wst.2006.183
2005
Journal Article
Achieving and maintaining biological nitrogen removal via nitrite under normal conditions
Cui, You-Wei, Peng, Yong-Zhen, Gan, Xiang-Qing, Ye, Liu and Wang, Ya-Yi (2005). Achieving and maintaining biological nitrogen removal via nitrite under normal conditions. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 17 (5), 794-797.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Liu Ye is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Climate smart biological wastewater treatment processes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Haoran Duan
-
Doctor Philosophy
Novel Phosphorous accumulating organisms in next generation wastewater treatment systems
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Adrian Oehmen
-
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
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
An Integrated Approach to achieve Net-zero operation in Wastewater Resource Recovery Facilities
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Zhiyao Wang
-
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
Cost-effective and sustainable treatment of ammonium-rich industrial wastewater
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Shihu Hu, Dr Haoran Duan
-
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
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
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
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
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