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, resource recovery and sustainable materials and processes. His research interests include enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR or BioP) and P recovery, microbial entrapment, acid mine drainage and metal recovery, biopolymer (polyhydroxyalkanoate – PHA) production and metabolic modelling as applied to mixed and co-cultures of microorganisms. 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:
- Not available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Resource Recovery
Recovering Value-Added Products (e.g. Nutrients, Metals, 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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Wastewater Treatment
Domestic and Industrial Wastewater Treatment Technologies
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Microbial entrapment
Up-concentration of microorganisms for process intensification
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Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal
Process Engineering, Microbiology and Metabolic Features associated with Biological Phosphorus Removal
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Acid Mine Drainage
Sulfate reducing bacteria and metal recovery
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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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Metabolic Modelling
Modelling the Metabolism Associated with Biological Processes and their Application towards Process Engineering
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Process Modelling
Process Modelling for Design, Optimisation and Control of Wastewater Treatment Processes.
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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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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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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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Phototrophic Processes
Light-Driven Biological Technologies for Value-Added Product Generation (e.g. PHA) from Wastewater
Works
Search Professor Adrian Oehmen’s works on UQ eSpace
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.
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.
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
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
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Adrian Oehmen is:
- Not available for supervision
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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Doctor Philosophy
Developing Strategies to Optimise Return Sludge Sidestream Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Gilda Carvalho, Professor Liu Ye
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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
Metabolic modelling of microbial co-cultures for biotherapeutic production
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Esteban Marcellin
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Master Philosophy
Methodology for assessing polyphosphate accumulating organisms in wastewater via fluorescence-activated cell sorting
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Gilda Carvalho
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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 nutrients from water
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
The Role of the Sidestream Tank and Temperature on Sidestream Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal Performance and Microbial Community
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Gilda Carvalho, Professor Liu Ye
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Master Philosophy
Biofilm-based pre-treatment for drinking water treatment
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Shihu Hu, Associate Professor Gilda Carvalho
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Doctor Philosophy
Enzyme-assisted deconstruction of lignocellulose and reconstruction into high value bio-derived advanced materials
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gary Schenk, 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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