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Associate Professor Adrian Oehmen
Associate Professor

Adrian Oehmen

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Phone: 
+61 7 336 53729

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

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Wastewater Treatment

    Domestic and Industrial Wastewater Treatment Technologies

  • Resource Recovery

    Recovering Value-Added Products (e.g. Nutrients, Biopolymers) from Waste and Wastewater Streams

  • Biological Nutrient Removal

    Biological Processes for Removing Nutrients such as Phosphorus and Nitrogen from Wastewater

  • Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal

    Process Engineering, Microbiology and Metabolic Features associated with Biological Phosphorus Removal

  • Biopolymer Production

    Mixed Culture Technologies focussed on the Production and Recovery of Biopolymers (e.g. Polyhydroxyalkanoates - PHA) from Waste/Wastewater Feedstocks

  • Greenhouse Gas Assessment and Mitigation

    Measurement and Minimisation of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions from Wastewater Treatment Processes (e.g nitrous oxide - N2O)

  • Micropollutant Removal

    The Removal of Pharmaceutical Active Compounds, Heavy Metals, and other Hazardous Substances from Wastewater using Biological and Physical-Chemical Approaches

  • Process Modelling

    Process Modelling for Design, Optimisation and Control of Wastewater Treatment Processes.

  • Metabolic Modelling

    Modelling the Metabolism Associated with Biological Processes and their Application towards Process Engineering

  • Anaerobic Digestion

    Experimental and Modelling Studies focused on Fermentation and Biogas Production from Waste/Wastewater Feedstocks

  • Drinking Water Treatment

    Heavy Metal Removal (e.g. Arsenic) from Drinking Water Supplies. Application of Ion Exchange Membrane Process Technologies for Drinking Water Treatment.

  • Phototrophic Processes

    Light-Driven Biological Technologies for Value-Added Product Generation (e.g. PHA) from Wastewater

  • Bioremediation

    Removal of Herbicides/Pesticides from Contaminated Waters

Works

Search Professor Adrian Oehmen’s works on UQ eSpace

157 works between 2002 and 2025

141 - 157 of 157 works

2007

Conference Publication

On-line metabolic flux analysis in a PHB production process

Dias, João, Eusébio, Mário, Serafim, Luísa, Oehmen, Adrian, Reis, Maria A.M. and Oliveira, Rui (2007). On-line metabolic flux analysis in a PHB production process. 10th IFAC Symposium on Computer Applications in Biotechnology, 2007, Cancun, , June 4, 2007-June 6, 2007. IFAC Secretariat. doi: 10.1016/s1474-6670(16)32883-x

On-line metabolic flux analysis in a PHB production process

2006

Journal Article

Obtaining highly enriched cultures of candidatus accumulibacter phosphates through alternating carbon sources

Lu, Huabing, Oehmen, Adrian M., Virdis, Bernardino, Keller, Jürg and Yuan, Zhiguo (2006). Obtaining highly enriched cultures of candidatus accumulibacter phosphates through alternating carbon sources. Water Research, 40 (20), 3838-3848. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2006.09.004

Obtaining highly enriched cultures of candidatus accumulibacter phosphates through alternating carbon sources

2006

Journal Article

Removal of heavy metals from drinking water supplies through the ion exchange membrane bioreactor

Oehmen, Adrian, Viegas, Rui, Velizarov, Svetlozar, Reis, Maria A. M. and Crespo, Joao G. (2006). Removal of heavy metals from drinking water supplies through the ion exchange membrane bioreactor. Desalination, 199 (1-3), 405-407. doi: 10.1016/j.desal.2006.03.091

Removal of heavy metals from drinking water supplies through the ion exchange membrane bioreactor

2006

Journal Article

Anaerobic and aerobic metabolism of glycogen-accumulating organisms selected with propionate as the sole carbon source

Oehmen, A, Zeng, RJ, Saunders, AM, Blackall, LL, Keller, J and Yuan, ZG (2006). Anaerobic and aerobic metabolism of glycogen-accumulating organisms selected with propionate as the sole carbon source. Microbiology-sgm, 152 (Part 9), 2767-2778. doi: 10.1099/mic.0.28065-0

Anaerobic and aerobic metabolism of glycogen-accumulating organisms selected with propionate as the sole carbon source

2006

Conference Publication

Obtaining highly enriched cultures of Candidatus accumulibacter phosphatis through alternating carbon sources

Lu, H., Oehmen, A., Virdis, B., Keller, J. and Yuan, Z. (2006). Obtaining highly enriched cultures of Candidatus accumulibacter phosphatis through alternating carbon sources. IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition, Beijing, China, 10-14 September, 2006.

Obtaining highly enriched cultures of Candidatus accumulibacter phosphatis through alternating carbon sources

2006

Journal Article

Competition between polyphosphate and glycogen accumulating organisms in enhanced biological phosphorus removal systems with acetate and propionate as carbon sources

Oehmen, Adrian, Saunders, Aaron M., Vives, M. Teresa, Yuan, Zhiguo and Keller, Jurg (2006). Competition between polyphosphate and glycogen accumulating organisms in enhanced biological phosphorus removal systems with acetate and propionate as carbon sources. Journal Of Biotechnology, 123 (1), 22-32. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiotic.2005.10.009

Competition between polyphosphate and glycogen accumulating organisms in enhanced biological phosphorus removal systems with acetate and propionate as carbon sources

2005

Conference Publication

Sludge population optimisation in biological wastewater treatment systems through on-line process control: What can we achieve?

Yuan, Z., Peng, Y., Oehmen, A. M., Lu, H., Fux, C. and Keller, J. (2005). Sludge population optimisation in biological wastewater treatment systems through on-line process control: What can we achieve?. The 2nd IWA Conference on Instrumentation, Control and Automa, Busan, Korea, 29 May - 2 June 2005. Korea: IWA.

Sludge population optimisation in biological wastewater treatment systems through on-line process control: What can we achieve?

2005

Journal Article

The effect of pH on the competition between polyphosphate-accumulating organisms and glycogen-accumulating organisms

Oehmen, A, Vives, MT, Lu, HB, Yuan, ZG and Keller, J (2005). The effect of pH on the competition between polyphosphate-accumulating organisms and glycogen-accumulating organisms. Water Research, 39 (15), 3727-3737. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2005.06.031

The effect of pH on the competition between polyphosphate-accumulating organisms and glycogen-accumulating organisms

2005

Journal Article

Comparison of acetate and propionate uptake by polyphosphate accumulating organisms and glycogen accumulating organisms

Oehmen, A, Yuan, ZG, Blackall, LL and Keller, J (2005). Comparison of acetate and propionate uptake by polyphosphate accumulating organisms and glycogen accumulating organisms. Biotechnology And Bioengineering, 91 (2), 162-168. doi: 10.1002/bit.20500

Comparison of acetate and propionate uptake by polyphosphate accumulating organisms and glycogen accumulating organisms

2005

Other Outputs

The competition between polyphosphate accumulating organisms and glycogen accumulating organisms in the enhanced biological phosphorous removal process

Oehmen, Adrian (2005). The competition between polyphosphate accumulating organisms and glycogen accumulating organisms in the enhanced biological phosphorous removal process. PhD Thesis, School of Engineering, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/268750

The competition between polyphosphate accumulating organisms and glycogen accumulating organisms in the enhanced biological phosphorous removal process

2005

Journal Article

Anaerobic metabolism of propionate by polyphosphate-accumulating organisms in enhanced biological phosphorus removal systems

Oehmen, A, Zeng, RJ, Yuan, ZG and Keller, J (2005). Anaerobic metabolism of propionate by polyphosphate-accumulating organisms in enhanced biological phosphorus removal systems. Biotechnology And Bioengineering, 91 (1), 43-53. doi: 10.1002/bit.20480

Anaerobic metabolism of propionate by polyphosphate-accumulating organisms in enhanced biological phosphorus removal systems

2005

Journal Article

Optimisation of poly-b-hydroxyalkanoate analysis using gas chromatography for enhanced biological phosphorus removal systems

Oehmen, A, Keller-Lehmann, B, Zeng, RJ, Yuan, ZG and Keller, E (2005). Optimisation of poly-b-hydroxyalkanoate analysis using gas chromatography for enhanced biological phosphorus removal systems. Journal of Chromatography A, 1070 (1-2), 131-136. doi: 10.1016/j.chroma.2005.02.020

Optimisation of poly-b-hydroxyalkanoate analysis using gas chromatography for enhanced biological phosphorus removal systems

2004

Journal Article

Short-term effects of carbon source on the competition of polyphosphate accumulating organisms and glycogen accumulating organisms

Oehmen, A., Yuan, Z., Blackall, L. L. and Keller, J. (2004). Short-term effects of carbon source on the competition of polyphosphate accumulating organisms and glycogen accumulating organisms. Water Science And Technology, 50 (10), 139-144. doi: 10.2166/wst.2004.0629

Short-term effects of carbon source on the competition of polyphosphate accumulating organisms and glycogen accumulating organisms

2004

Book Chapter

Performance of enhanced biological phosphorus removal systems enriched with different volatile fatty acids

Oehmen, Adrian, Yuan, Zhiguo, Zeng, Raymond J. and Keller, Jurg (2004). Performance of enhanced biological phosphorus removal systems enriched with different volatile fatty acids. Young researchers 2004. (pp. 69-78) edited by Richard Steutz and Piet Lens. London, U.K.: IWA Publishing.

Performance of enhanced biological phosphorus removal systems enriched with different volatile fatty acids

2004

Conference Publication

Performance of enchanced biological phosphorus removal systems enriched with different volatile acid.

Oehmen, A. M., Yuan, Z., Zeng, R. J. and Keller, J. (2004). Performance of enchanced biological phosphorus removal systems enriched with different volatile acid.. International Water Association 2nd Young Researchers Conference, Waginingen, Netherlands, 23-24 April 2004. London: IWA.

Performance of enchanced biological phosphorus removal systems enriched with different volatile acid.

2003

Journal Article

The effect of GAOs (glycogen accumulating organisms) on anaerobic carbon requirements in full-scale Australian EBPR (enhanced biological phosphorus removal) plants

Saunders, A. M., Oehmen, A. M., Blackall, L. L., Yuan, Z. and Keller, J. (2003). The effect of GAOs (glycogen accumulating organisms) on anaerobic carbon requirements in full-scale Australian EBPR (enhanced biological phosphorus removal) plants. Water Science and Technology, 47 (11), 37-43. doi: 10.2166/wst.2003.0584

The effect of GAOs (glycogen accumulating organisms) on anaerobic carbon requirements in full-scale Australian EBPR (enhanced biological phosphorus removal) plants

2002

Journal Article

Application of a loss causation model to the Westray mine explosion

Amyotte, P. R. and Oehmen, A. M. (2002). Application of a loss causation model to the Westray mine explosion. Process Safety and Environmental Protection: Transactions of the Institution of Chemical Engineers, Part B, 80 (1), 55-59. doi: 10.1205/095758202753502424

Application of a loss causation model to the Westray mine explosion

Funding

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2027
    Biofilm-based solution for cost-effective high-quality drinking water
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2025
    Biobeads for Denitrification in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems
    Novozymes A/S
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    Immobilisation of sulfate reducing bacteria for enhanced mining influenced water treatment
    Rio Tinto Services Limited
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2027
    ARC Training Centre in Bioplastics and Biocomposites
    ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2024
    Developing a microbial co-cultivation system for disease prevention
    Sacco System Australia
    Open grant
  • 2023
    Identifying microbes or enzymes that facilitate extraction of bioactive compounds
    BiomeCentric Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2024
    IPL-UQ Brushite Recovery
    Incitec Pivot Limited
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2023
    IPL-UQ Environmental Research Partnership Scoping of Preliminary Works
    Incitec Pivot Limited
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2024
    Sustainable Water Reuse and Resource Recovery through Cost-Effective BNR
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Associate Professor Adrian Oehmen is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Novel halophilic biotechnology for PHA production from sugar

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Steven Pratt, Dr Lisa Bai, Dr Ian Levett

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Application of novel immobilized microbial enrichment for intensified removal of sulfate from mining influenced waters and recovery of metals

    Principal Advisor

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Metabolic Modelling of Fermentative and Conventional Polyphosphate Accumulating Organisms in Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Damien Batstone

  • 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

  • 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

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Application of novel immobilized microbial enrichment for intensified removal of nutrients from water

    Principal Advisor

  • 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

  • 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

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Novel Phosphorous accumulating organisms in next generation wastewater treatment systems

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Liu Ye

  • 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

  • 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

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Associate Professor Adrian Oehmen directly for media enquiries about:

  • Bioprocess Engineering
  • Wastewater Treatment

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