Overview
Background
Adrian Oehmen is an Associate Professor in the School of Chemical Engineering at the University of Queensland. He leads research in the area of bioprocess engineering, particularly focussing on wastewater treatment and resource recovery. His research interests include enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR or BioP), metabolic modelling, biopolymer (polyhydroxyalkanoate – PHA) production, micropollutant removal and greenhouse gas (N2O) assessment and mitigation. He also focusses on other aspects of bioprocess engineering, including microbial encapsulation, bioprocess modelling and food and beverage applications. He has published more than 100 papers in international scientific journals, led or collaborated on more than 30 research projects (many with industry). He is active within the International Water Association (IWA), serving on specialist group and conference committees and is an Associate Editor of Water Research.
Availability
- Associate Professor Adrian Oehmen is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Wastewater Treatment
Domestic and Industrial Wastewater Treatment Technologies
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Resource Recovery
Recovering Value-Added Products (e.g. Nutrients, Biopolymers) from Waste and Wastewater Streams
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Biological Nutrient Removal
Biological Processes for Removing Nutrients such as Phosphorus and Nitrogen from Wastewater
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Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal
Process Engineering, Microbiology and Metabolic Features associated with Biological Phosphorus Removal
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Biopolymer Production
Mixed Culture Technologies focussed on the Production and Recovery of Biopolymers (e.g. Polyhydroxyalkanoates - PHA) from Waste/Wastewater Feedstocks
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Greenhouse Gas Assessment and Mitigation
Measurement and Minimisation of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions from Wastewater Treatment Processes (e.g nitrous oxide - N2O)
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Micropollutant Removal
The Removal of Pharmaceutical Active Compounds, Heavy Metals, and other Hazardous Substances from Wastewater using Biological and Physical-Chemical Approaches
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Process Modelling
Process Modelling for Design, Optimisation and Control of Wastewater Treatment Processes.
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Metabolic Modelling
Modelling the Metabolism Associated with Biological Processes and their Application towards Process Engineering
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Anaerobic Digestion
Experimental and Modelling Studies focused on Fermentation and Biogas Production from Waste/Wastewater Feedstocks
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Drinking Water Treatment
Heavy Metal Removal (e.g. Arsenic) from Drinking Water Supplies. Application of Ion Exchange Membrane Process Technologies for Drinking Water Treatment.
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Phototrophic Processes
Light-Driven Biological Technologies for Value-Added Product Generation (e.g. PHA) from Wastewater
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Bioremediation
Removal of Herbicides/Pesticides from Contaminated Waters
Works
Search Professor Adrian Oehmen’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Industry-relevant undergraduate education in hands-on bioprocess engineering
Ghebosu, Raluca, Iannotta, Dalila, Storeshaw, Peter, Heffernan, James, Masud, Mostafa Kamal, Li, Li, Cooper-White, Justin, Oehmen, Adrian, Carvalho, Gilda and Wolfram, Joy (2025). Industry-relevant undergraduate education in hands-on bioprocess engineering. Chemical Engineering Journal, 503 158332, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2024.158332
2024
Journal Article
Development and validation of an off-gas tool for oxygen transfer efficiency and N2O emission monitoring in wastewater treatment
Freches, André, Freitas, Patrícia, Marques, Ricardo, Fradinho, Joana Costa, Oehmen, Adrian and Reis, Maria Ascensão (2024). Development and validation of an off-gas tool for oxygen transfer efficiency and N2O emission monitoring in wastewater treatment. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 67 106102, 106102. doi: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.106102
2024
Conference Publication
Threading process control and process safety concepts through undergraduate chemical engineering courses at UQ
Coulter, Bev, Ye, Liu, Oehmen, Adrian and Rufford, Thomas E. (2024). Threading process control and process safety concepts through undergraduate chemical engineering courses at UQ. CHEMECA 2024, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 29 September - 1 October 2024. IChemE.
2024
Journal Article
The phototrophic metabolic behaviour of Candidatus accumulibacter
Carvalho, V.C.F., Gan, A.Z.M., Shon, A., Kolakovic, S., Freitas, E.B., Reis, M.A.M., Fradinho, J.C. and Oehmen, A. (2024). The phototrophic metabolic behaviour of Candidatus accumulibacter. Water Research, 259 121865, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121865
2024
Journal Article
Assessment of three different approaches for integrating phosphorus recovery from sewage sludge and derived products in existing wastewater treatment plants
Boniardi, Gaia, Close, Kylie, Turolla, Andrea, Canziani, Roberto and Oehmen, Adrian (2024). Assessment of three different approaches for integrating phosphorus recovery from sewage sludge and derived products in existing wastewater treatment plants. Bioresource Technology, 402 130822. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.130822
2024
Journal Article
Polyhydroxyalkanoates production in purple phototrophic bacteria ponds: A breakthrough in outdoor pilot-scale operation
Almeida, J.R., León, E. Serrano, Rogalla, F., Fradinho, J.C., Oehmen, A. and Reis, M.A.M. (2024). Polyhydroxyalkanoates production in purple phototrophic bacteria ponds: A breakthrough in outdoor pilot-scale operation. Science of The Total Environment, 912 168899, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168899
2024
Conference Publication
Community modelling of growth and metabolism of purple phototrophic bacteria for resource recovery
Shon, Akhila, Capson Tojo, Gabriel, Reji, Amal and Oehmen, Adrian (2024). Community modelling of growth and metabolism of purple phototrophic bacteria for resource recovery. 1st International Conference on Novel Photorefineries for Resource Recovery 2024, Valladolid, Spain, 9-11 September 2024. Valladolid, Spain:
2024
Other Outputs
RsphCyc genome-scale metabolic model
Shon, Akhila, Oehmen, Adrian and Gabriel Capson Tojo (2024). RsphCyc genome-scale metabolic model. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/970137e
2023
Journal Article
Synergism and physiological characteristics of glycogen accumulating organisms (GAOs) in anaerobic ammonia oxidation based (anammox-based) systems: Mechanisms and prospects
Zhen, Jianyuan, Oehmen, Adrian, Wei, Wei, Ni, Shou-Qing and Ni, Bing-Jie (2023). Synergism and physiological characteristics of glycogen accumulating organisms (GAOs) in anaerobic ammonia oxidation based (anammox-based) systems: Mechanisms and prospects. Chemical Engineering Journal, 478 147316, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2023.147316
2023
Journal Article
Insights on biological phosphorus removal with partial nitrification in single sludge system via sidestream free ammonia and free nitrous acid dosing
Lu, Xuanyu, Oehmen, Adrian, Zhao, Jing, Duan, Haoran, Yuan, Zhiguo and Ye, Liu (2023). Insights on biological phosphorus removal with partial nitrification in single sludge system via sidestream free ammonia and free nitrous acid dosing. Science of the Total Environment, 895 165174, 165174. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165174
2023
Journal Article
Ammonia impact on the selection of a phototrophic - chemotrophic consortium for polyhydroxyalkanoates production under Light-Feast / Dark-Aerated-Famine Conditions
Almeida, J.R., León, E. Serrano, Corona, E. Lara, Fradinho, J.C., Oehmen, A. and Reis, M.A.M. (2023). Ammonia impact on the selection of a phototrophic - chemotrophic consortium for polyhydroxyalkanoates production under Light-Feast / Dark-Aerated-Famine Conditions. Water Research, 244 120450, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120450
2023
Journal Article
Benefits and drawbacks of integrating a side-stream sludge fermenter into an A2O system under limited COD conditions
Zhang, Congcong, Guisasola, Albert, Oehmen, Adrian and Baeza, Juan Antonio (2023). Benefits and drawbacks of integrating a side-stream sludge fermenter into an A2O system under limited COD conditions. Chemical Engineering Journal, 468 143700, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2023.143700
2023
Journal Article
Long term operation of a phototrophic biological nutrient removal system: Impact of CO2 concentration and light exposure on process performance
Carvalho, V. C.F., Fradinho, J. C., Oehmen, A. and Reis, M. A.M. (2023). Long term operation of a phototrophic biological nutrient removal system: Impact of CO2 concentration and light exposure on process performance. Journal of Environmental Management, 334 117490, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117490
2023
Journal Article
The impact of pH on the anaerobic and aerobic metabolism of Tetrasphaera-enriched polyphosphate accumulating organisms
Nguyen, P.Y., Marques, Ricardo, Wang, Hongmin, Reis, Maria A. M., Carvalho, Gilda and Oehmen, Adrian (2023). The impact of pH on the anaerobic and aerobic metabolism of Tetrasphaera-enriched polyphosphate accumulating organisms. Water Research X, 19 100177, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.wroa.2023.100177
2023
Book Chapter
Enhanced biological phosphorus removal
Lopez-Vazquez, Carlos M., Rincon, Francisco Rubio and Oehmen, Adrian (2023). Enhanced biological phosphorus removal. Biological Wastewater Treatment: Examples and Exercises. (pp. 175-244) IWA Publishing. doi: 10.2166/9781789062304_0175
2023
Journal Article
Polyhydroxyalkanoates production from ethanol- and lactate-rich fermentate of confectionary industry effluents
Rangel, Catarina, Carvalho, Gilda, Oehmen, Adrian, Frison, Nicola, Lourenço, Nídia D. and Reis, Maria A. M. (2023). Polyhydroxyalkanoates production from ethanol- and lactate-rich fermentate of confectionary industry effluents. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 229, 713-723. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.12.268
2023
Conference Publication
Metabolic modelling of purple non sulfur bacteria for resource recovery
Shon, Akhila, Capson Tojo, Gabriel and Oehmen, Adrian (2023). Metabolic modelling of purple non sulfur bacteria for resource recovery. 10th IWA Microbial Ecology and Water Engineering Specialist Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 10-14 September 2023. London, United Kingdom: IWA.
2023
Conference Publication
Metabolic network reconstruction providing insights into the metabolism relevant for resource recovery in Rhodobacter sphaeroides
Shon, Akhila, Capson Tojo, Gabriel and Oehmen, Adrian (2023). Metabolic network reconstruction providing insights into the metabolism relevant for resource recovery in Rhodobacter sphaeroides. 6th IWA International Conference on eco-Technologies for Wastewater Treatment, Girona, Spain, 26-29 June 2023. Girona, Spain: IWA.
2022
Journal Article
Expanding ASM models towards integrated processes for short-cut nitrogen removal and bioplastic recovery
Ribeiro, Joao M., Conca, Vincenzo, Santos, Jorge M.M., Dias, Daniel F.C., Sayi-Ucar, Nilay, Frison, Nicola and Oehmen, Adrian (2022). Expanding ASM models towards integrated processes for short-cut nitrogen removal and bioplastic recovery. Science of the Total Environment, 821 153492, 153492. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153492
2022
Book Chapter
Resource recovery from municipal wastewater: what and how much is there?
Ostermeyer, Pieter, Capson-Tojo, Gabriel, Hülsen, Tim, Carvalho, Gilda, Oehmen, Adrian, Rabaey, Korneel and Pikaar, Ilje (2022). Resource recovery from municipal wastewater: what and how much is there?. Resource Recovery from Water. (pp. 1-19) edited by Ilje Pikaar, Jeremy Guest, Ramon Ganigué, Paul Jensen, Korneel Rabaey, Thomas Seviour, John Trimmer, Olaf van der Kolk, Céline Vaneeckhaute and Willy Verstraete. London, United Kingdom: IWA Publishing. doi: 10.2166/9781780409566_0001
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Adrian Oehmen is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Integrated model-based assessment of the impact of sidestream biological phosphorus removal processes on resource recovery in wastewater treatment systems
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Damien Batstone
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Doctor Philosophy
Application of novel immobilized microbial enrichment for intensified removal of nutrients from water
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Sustainable and cost-effective biological phosphorus removal technology in urban water systems
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Gilda Carvalho, Professor Liu Ye
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Doctor Philosophy
Novel halophilic biotechnology for PHA production from sugar
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steven Pratt, Dr Lisa Bai, Dr Ian Levett
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Doctor Philosophy
Application of novel immobilized microbial enrichment for intensified removal of sulfate from mining influenced waters and recovery of metals
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
A sustainable biological nutrient removal and recovery process for cost-effective wastewater treatment
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Gilda Carvalho, Professor Liu Ye
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Master Philosophy
Biological methods to identify and quantify PAO/GAO microorganisms and their activity in wastewater treatment
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Gilda Carvalho
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Doctor Philosophy
The development of process control strategies to optimise biological phosphorus removal and recovery
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Gilda Carvalho, Professor Liu Ye
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Doctor Philosophy
Metabolic Modelling of Fermentative and Conventional Polyphosphate Accumulating Organisms in Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Damien Batstone
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Master Philosophy
Biological methods to identify and quantify PAO/GAO microorganisms and their activity in wastewater treatment
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Gilda Carvalho
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Doctor Philosophy
Novel Phosphorous accumulating organisms in next generation wastewater treatment systems
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Liu Ye
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Doctor Philosophy
Developing a novel taste and odour removal process for drinking water
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Shihu Hu, Associate Professor Gilda Carvalho
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating novel microbes for simultaneous nutrient removal from wastewater in Carbon Neutral era
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Liu Ye, Dr Zhiyao Wang
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Doctor Philosophy
Enzyme-assisted deconstruction of lignocellulose and reconstruction into high value bio-derived advanced materials
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Mike Tebyetekerwa, Professor Darren Martin
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
The return activated sludge sidestream process and the role of Tetrasphaera, a fermenting polyphosphate accumulating organism
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Liu Ye
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Achieving and Understanding Combined Biological Phosphorus Removal and Short-cut Nitrogen in Wastewater Treatment Processes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Zhiguo Yuan, Professor Liu Ye
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Adrian Oehmen directly for media enquiries about:
- Bioprocess Engineering
- Wastewater Treatment
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