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
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
Upscaled and validated technologies for the production of bio-based materials from wastewater
Akyol, Çağrı, Ozbayram, E. Gozde, Eusebi, Anna Laura, Foglia, Alessia, Cipolletta, Giulia, Frison, Nicola, Conca, Vincenzo, Da Ros, Cinzia, Wessels, Coos, Ganigué, Ramon, Pikaar, Ilje, Oehmen, Adrian, Carvalho, Gilda and Fatone, Francesco (2022). Upscaled and validated technologies for the production of bio-based materials from wastewater. Resource Recovery from Water. (pp. 197-222) 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_0197
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
2022
Journal Article
Dynamics of microbial communities in phototrophic polyhydroxyalkanoate accumulating cultures
Almeida, Juliana R., Fradinho, Joana C., Carvalho, Gilda, Oehmen, Adrian and Reis, Maria A. M. (2022). Dynamics of microbial communities in phototrophic polyhydroxyalkanoate accumulating cultures. Microorganisms, 10 (2) 351, 1-17. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms10020351
2022
Journal Article
Diclofenac biotransformation in the enhanced biological phosphorus removal process
Kolakovic, Srdana, Salgado, Ricardo, Freitas, Elisabete B., Bronze, Maria R., Sekulic, Maja Turk, Carvalho, Gilda, Reis, Maria A.M. and Oehmen, Adrian (2022). Diclofenac biotransformation in the enhanced biological phosphorus removal process. Science of the Total Environment, 806 (Pt 3) 151232, 151232. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151232
2022
Journal Article
The impact of biomass withdrawal strategy on the biomass selection and polyhydroxyalkanoates accumulation of mixed microbial cultures
Cruz, Rafaela A.P., Oehmen, Adrian and Reis, Maria A.M. (2022). The impact of biomass withdrawal strategy on the biomass selection and polyhydroxyalkanoates accumulation of mixed microbial cultures. New Biotechnology, 66, 8-15. doi: 10.1016/j.nbt.2021.08.004
2022
Journal Article
The impact of a seasonal change in loading rate on the nitrous oxide emissions at the WWTP of a tourist region
Dias, Daniel F. C., Marques, Ricardo, Martins, Carla, Martins, António and Oehmen, Adrian (2022). The impact of a seasonal change in loading rate on the nitrous oxide emissions at the WWTP of a tourist region. Science of the Total Environment, 804 149987, 149987. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149987
2021
Journal Article
Achieving nitrogen and phosphorus removal at low C/N ratios without aeration through a novel phototrophic process
Carvalho, V. C.F., Kessler, M., Fradinho, J. C., Oehmen, A. and Reis, M. A.M. (2021). Achieving nitrogen and phosphorus removal at low C/N ratios without aeration through a novel phototrophic process. Science of the Total Environment, 793 148501, 148501. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148501
2021
Journal Article
The storage compounds associated with Tetrasphaera PAO metabolism and the relationship between diversity and P removal
Close, Kylie, Marques, Ricardo, Carvalho, Virginia C.F., Freitas, Elisabete B., Reis, Maria A.M., Carvalho, Gilda and Oehmen, Adrian (2021). The storage compounds associated with Tetrasphaera PAO metabolism and the relationship between diversity and P removal. Water Research, 204 117621, 117621. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117621
2021
Journal Article
Intracellular polyphosphate length characterization in polyphosphate accumulating microorganisms (PAOs): implications in PAO phenotypic diversity and enhanced biological phosphorus removal performance
Wang, Dongqi, Li, Yueyun, Cope, Helen A., Li, Xiaoxiao, He, Peisheng, Liu, Cong, Li, Guangyu, Rahman, Sheikh M., Tooker, Nicholas B., Bott, Charles B., Onnis-Hayden, Annalisa, Singh, Jyoti, Elfick, Alistair, Marques, Ricardo, Jessen, Henning J., Oehmen, Adrian and Gu, April Z. (2021). Intracellular polyphosphate length characterization in polyphosphate accumulating microorganisms (PAOs): implications in PAO phenotypic diversity and enhanced biological phosphorus removal performance. Water Research, 206 117726, 117726. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117726
2021
Journal Article
Achieving combined biological short-cut nitrogen and phosphorus removal in a one sludge system with side-stream sludge treatment
Lu, Xuanyu, Duan, Haoran, Oehmen, Adrian, Carvalho, Gilda, Yuan, Zhiguo and Ye, Liu (2021). Achieving combined biological short-cut nitrogen and phosphorus removal in a one sludge system with side-stream sludge treatment. Water Research, 203 117563, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117563
2021
Journal Article
Polyhydroxyalkanoates production from fermented domestic wastewater using phototrophic mixed cultures
Almeida, J.R., Serrano, E., Fernandez, M., Fradinho, J.C., Oehmen, A. and Reis, M.A.M. (2021). Polyhydroxyalkanoates production from fermented domestic wastewater using phototrophic mixed cultures. Water Research, 197 117101, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117101
2021
Journal Article
Accumulibacter diversity at the sub-clade level impacts enhanced biological phosphorus removal performance
Kolakovic, Srdana, Freitas, Elisabete B., Reis, Maria A.M., Carvalho, Gilda and Oehmen, Adrian (2021). Accumulibacter diversity at the sub-clade level impacts enhanced biological phosphorus removal performance. Water Research, 199 117210, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117210
2021
Journal Article
Butyrate can support PAOs b ut not GAOs in tropical climates
Wang, Li, Liu, Jianbo, Oehmen, Adrian, Le, Chencheng, Geng, Yikun and Zhou, Yan (2021). Butyrate can support PAOs b ut not GAOs in tropical climates. Water Research, 193 116884, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.116884
2021
Journal Article
A review of the biotransformations of priority pharmaceuticals in biological wastewater treatment processes
Nguyen, P.Y., Carvalho, Gilda, Reis, Maria A.M. and Oehmen, Adrian (2021). A review of the biotransformations of priority pharmaceuticals in biological wastewater treatment processes. Water Research, 188 116446, 1-24. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.116446
2020
Journal Article
Long-term simulation of a full-scale EBPR plant with a novel metabolic-ASM model and its use as a diagnostic tool
Santos, Jorge M.M., Martins, António, Barreto, Sara, Rieger, Leiv, Reis, Maria and Oehmen, Adrian (2020). Long-term simulation of a full-scale EBPR plant with a novel metabolic-ASM model and its use as a diagnostic tool. Water Research, 187 116398, 116398. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.116398
2020
Journal Article
Purple phototrophic bacteria for resource recovery: Challenges and opportunities
Capson-Tojo, Gabriel, Batstone, Damien J., Grassino, María, Vlaeminck, Siegfried E., Puyol, Daniel, Verstraete, Willy, Kleerebezem, Robbert, Oehmen, Adrian, Ghimire, Anish, Pikaar, Ilje, Lema, Juan M. and Hülsen, Tim (2020). Purple phototrophic bacteria for resource recovery: Challenges and opportunities. Biotechnology Advances, 43 107567. doi: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2020.107567
2020
Journal Article
Defluviicoccus vanus Glycogen-Accumulating Organisms (DvGAOs) are less competitive than Polyphosphate-Accumulating Organisms (PAOs) at high temperature
Wang, Li, Oehmen, Adrian, Le, Chencheng, Liu, Jianbo and Zhou, Yan (2020). Defluviicoccus vanus Glycogen-Accumulating Organisms (DvGAOs) are less competitive than Polyphosphate-Accumulating Organisms (PAOs) at high temperature. ACS ES&T Water, 1 (2) acsestwater.0c00092, 319-327. doi: 10.1021/acsestwater.0c00092
2020
Journal Article
Two-stage anaerobic digestion system treating different seasonal fruit pulp wastes: impact on biogas and hydrogen production and total energy recovery potential
Mateus, Sara, Carvalheira, Mónica, Cassidy, Joana, Freitas, Elisabete, Oehmen, Adrian and Reis, Maria A.M. (2020). Two-stage anaerobic digestion system treating different seasonal fruit pulp wastes: impact on biogas and hydrogen production and total energy recovery potential. Biomass and Bioenergy, 141 105694, 105694. doi: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2020.105694
2020
Journal Article
Community profile governs substrate competition in polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)-producing mixed cultures
Wang, Xiaofei, Oehmen, Adrian, Carvalho, Gilda and Reis, Maria A.M. (2020). Community profile governs substrate competition in polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)-producing mixed cultures. New Biotechnology, 58, 32-37. doi: 10.1016/j.nbt.2020.03.003
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
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
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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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
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
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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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
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
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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
Completed supervision
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2025
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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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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