Honorary Professor Zhiguo Yuan
Honorary Professor

Zhiguo Yuan

Email: 

Background

Prof Yuan received his PhD degree in aeronautical engineering in 1992 from Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, China. He changed research direction to wastewater management in 1994, when he took up a postdoctoral research fellow position at Ghent University, Belgium. He joined the Advanced Water Management Centre (AWMC), renamed as the Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology in July 2021, at The University of Queensland in 1998. He served as the AWMC Deputy Director 2001-2014, and then the AWMC/ACWEB Director in 2015 to July 2022. His research focuses on development of innovative solutions for urban water management and environmental biotechnology through effective integration of fundamental science and applied engineering. He won over $50M in government, industry and university research funding including many ARC Discovery, Linkage and Fellowship grants, mostly as the lead Chief Investigator. Prof Yuan was one of the founding members of the $117m Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities. He has published intensively both in specialised journals such as Water Research and Environmental Science and Technology, and multidisciplinary journals including Nature and Science. He is the founder of three biotechnology businesses namely SeweX, Cloevis and Lodomat, and his research has delivered documented savings of hundreds of millions of dollars to the Australian water industry. His research achievements and leadership have been recognized through major national and international awards including the 2015 ATSE Clunies Ross Award and the International Water Association (IWA) 2014 Global Project Innovation Award (Applied Research Category). Prof Yuan was named as one of Engineers Australia’s Top 100 Most Influential Engineers for 2015. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE), an IWA Distinguished Fellow, and was awarded the highly prestigious ARC Australian Laureate Fellowship in 2017. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in January 2019.

Availability

Honorary Professor Zhiguo Yuan is:
Not available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Environmental biotechnology Environmental engineering

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Engineering, Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics

Research interests

  • Integrated Urban Water Management

    A whole-of-system approach to managing multiple water resources in an urban water cycle and multiple elements in an urban water system.

  • Digital water

    Descriptive, diagnostic, predictive and prescriptive data analytics for proactive urban water management

  • Sustainable carbon bioeconomy

    Gas fermentation to convert organic wastes to carbon commodities

  • Corrosion and odour management in sewers systems

    Effective control of H2S production in sewer systems and minimise its effect on sewer corrosion and odour generation

  • Sludge management in wastewater treatment systems

    Innovative technologies for enhancing bioenergy recovery from wastewater and reducing sludge production

  • Greenhouse gas emissions from water and wastewater systems

    Fugitive greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater systems including CH4 emission in sewers, N2O emission from wastewater treatment processes and CH4 and N2O emissions from estuaries, dams and bays

  • Biological nutrient removal and recovery

    Innovative technologies and fundamental science for biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal and recovery from wastewater

Research impacts

  • His research in sewer management has fundamentally changed practice of many Australian water utilities in corrosion and odour management in sewers. The documented savings to date for the water industry amounts to approximately $400 million, based on the testimonial letters provided by industry partners.
  • He has collaborated with almost all major water utilities in Australia through many ARC Industry Linkage projects as well as a large number of collaborative research projects.
  • He was a founding and Executive Committee member of the $117 million Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cites, with over 80 industry partners, and led the Future Technologies Program Leader.
  • Established SeweX, a consulting company under UniQuest Pty Ltd, in 2008. SeweX has undertaken over $3 million consulting work since 2009. Clients included both Australian water utilities and companies from overseas. SeweX has been recently licensed to Envirosuite, an ASX listed technology company.
  • Established Cloevis Pty Ltd, a spin-off company from my sewer research. The company has licenced its patented technology on biofilm removal from sewer pipes to USP Technologies (US).
  • His research on sludge treatment using free nitrous acid has led to the development of the patented Lodomat technology that substantially increases biogas production from wastewater sludge. The technology has recently attracted >$5M (+ >$4M in-kind) industry and government funding for pilot plant demonstrations.
  • His research has frequently attracted media attention, with many articles published in newspapers such as The Australian and The Courier Mail, the News Agency Websites (e.g. ABC, Xinhua Agency), and industry magazines, newsletters and websites. Five of his papers have Altmetric Attention Scores that are in the top 5% of the 6.4 million research outputs tracked.
  • He is an Editor of Water Research, a top journal in water science and technology.
  • He published over 500 papers in internationally leading journals (the full list and citation record: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=1IPdGqkAAAAJ&hl=en)

Search Professor Zhiguo Yuan’s works on UQ eSpace

805 works between 1992 and 2025
All (805) Journal Article (623) Book Chapter (9) Conference Publication (169) Book (1) Other Outputs (3)

21 - 40 of 805 works

2024

Journal Article

Defining and achieving net-zero emissions in the wastewater sector

Song, Cuihong, Zhu, Jun-Jie, Yuan, Zhiguo, van Loosdrecht, Mark C. M. and Ren, Zhiyong Jason (2024). Defining and achieving net-zero emissions in the wastewater sector. Nature Water, 2 (10) 113818, 927-935. doi: 10.1038/s44221-024-00318-2

Defining and achieving net-zero emissions in the wastewater sector

2024

Journal Article

Graph neural network-based surrogate modelling for real-time hydraulic prediction of urban drainage networks

Zhang, Zhiyu, Tian, Wenchong, Lu, Chenkaixiang, Liao, Zhenliang and Yuan, Zhiguo (2024). Graph neural network-based surrogate modelling for real-time hydraulic prediction of urban drainage networks. Water Research, 263 122142, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.122142

Graph neural network-based surrogate modelling for real-time hydraulic prediction of urban drainage networks

2024

Journal Article

Pathways to advanced resource recovery from sewage

Zheng, Min, Hu, Zhetai, Liu, Tao, Sperandio, Mathieu, Volcke, Eveline I. P., Wang, Zhiyao, Hao, Xiaodi, Duan, Haoran, Vlaeminck, Siegfried E., Xu, Kangning, Zuo, Zhiqiang, Guo, Jianhua, Huang, Xia, Daigger, Glen T., Verstraete, Willy, van Loosdrecht, Mark C. M. and Yuan, Zhiguo (2024). Pathways to advanced resource recovery from sewage. Nature Sustainability, 7 (11), 1395-1404. doi: 10.1038/s41893-024-01423-6

Pathways to advanced resource recovery from sewage

2024

Journal Article

Significant in situ sludge yield reduction in an acidic activated sludge system

Kong, Zheng, Wang, Zhiyao, Lu, Xi, Song, Yunqian, Yuan, Zhiguo and Hu, Shihu (2024). Significant in situ sludge yield reduction in an acidic activated sludge system. Water Research, 261 122042, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.122042

Significant in situ sludge yield reduction in an acidic activated sludge system

2024

Journal Article

Making waves: knowledge and data fusion in urban water modelling

Duan, Haoran, Li, Jiuling and Yuan, Zhiguo (2024). Making waves: knowledge and data fusion in urban water modelling. Water Research X, 24 100234, 1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.wroa.2024.100234

Making waves: knowledge and data fusion in urban water modelling

2024

Journal Article

Quadrupling the capacity of post aerobic digestion treating anaerobically digested sludge using a moving-bed biofilm (MBBR) configuration

Wang, Zhiyao, Lu, Xi, Zheng, Min, Hu, Zhetai, Batstone, Damien, Yuan, Zhiguo and Hu, Shihu (2024). Quadrupling the capacity of post aerobic digestion treating anaerobically digested sludge using a moving-bed biofilm (MBBR) configuration. Water Research: X, 24 100240, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.wroa.2024.100240

Quadrupling the capacity of post aerobic digestion treating anaerobically digested sludge using a moving-bed biofilm (MBBR) configuration

2024

Journal Article

A data-driven method for estimating sewer inflow and infiltration based on temperature and conductivity monitoring

Ge, Jingyu, Li, Jiuling, Qiu, Ruihong, Shi, Tao, Zhang, Chenming, Huang, Zi and Yuan, Zhiguo (2024). A data-driven method for estimating sewer inflow and infiltration based on temperature and conductivity monitoring. Water Research, 261 122002, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.122002

A data-driven method for estimating sewer inflow and infiltration based on temperature and conductivity monitoring

2024

Journal Article

Single cell protein production from methane in a gas-delivery membrane bioreactor

Ma, Yicheng, Liu, Tao, Yuan, Zhiguo and Guo, Jianhua (2024). Single cell protein production from methane in a gas-delivery membrane bioreactor. Water Research, 259 121820, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121820

Single cell protein production from methane in a gas-delivery membrane bioreactor

2024

Journal Article

Characterization of the redox-active extracellular polymeric substances in an anaerobic methanotrophic consortium

Zhang, Xueqin, Zhao, Jing, Erler, Dirk V., Rabiee, Hesamoddin, Kong, Zheng, Wang, Suicao, Wang, Zhiyao, Virdis, Bernardino, Yuan, Zhiguo and Hu, Shihu (2024). Characterization of the redox-active extracellular polymeric substances in an anaerobic methanotrophic consortium. Journal of Environmental Management, 365 121523, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121523

Characterization of the redox-active extracellular polymeric substances in an anaerobic methanotrophic consortium

2024

Journal Article

Superior mainstream partial nitritation in an acidic membrane-aerated biofilm reactor

Niu, Chenkai, Ying, Yifeng, Zhao, Jing, Zheng, Min, Guo, Jianhua, Yuan, Zhiguo, Hu, Shihu and Liu, Tao (2024). Superior mainstream partial nitritation in an acidic membrane-aerated biofilm reactor. Water Research, 257 121692, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121692

Superior mainstream partial nitritation in an acidic membrane-aerated biofilm reactor

2024

Journal Article

Effect of tetrahedral framework nucleic acids on the reconstruction of tendon‐to‐bone injuries after rotator cuff tears

Li, Pinxue, Fu, Liwei, Ning, Chao, Wu, Jiang, Xu, Zizheng, Liao, Zhiyao, Gao, Cangjian, Sui, Xiang, Lin, Yunfeng, Liu, Shuyun, Yuan, Zhiguo and Guo, Quanyi (2024). Effect of tetrahedral framework nucleic acids on the reconstruction of tendon‐to‐bone injuries after rotator cuff tears. Cell Proliferation, 57 (6) e13605, 1-16. doi: 10.1111/cpr.13605

Effect of tetrahedral framework nucleic acids on the reconstruction of tendon‐to‐bone injuries after rotator cuff tears

2024

Journal Article

Ammonium-based bioleaching of toxic metals from sewage sludge in a continuous bioreactor

Wang, Zhiyao, Lu, Xi, Zhang, Xueqin, Yuan, Zhiguo, Zheng, Min and Hu, Shihu (2024). Ammonium-based bioleaching of toxic metals from sewage sludge in a continuous bioreactor. Water Research, 256 121651, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121651

Ammonium-based bioleaching of toxic metals from sewage sludge in a continuous bioreactor

2024

Journal Article

Key techno-economic barriers in the valorization of organic solid wastes for chemical production

Mou, Jin-Hua, Qin, Zi-Hao, Chen, Season Si, Leu, Shao-Yuan, Tsang, Daniel C.W., Lam, Jason Chun-Ho, Zhao, Jun, Yuan, Zhiguo, Xu, Chunbao and Lin, Carol Sze Ki (2024). Key techno-economic barriers in the valorization of organic solid wastes for chemical production. One Earth, 7 (5), 742-746. doi: 10.1016/j.oneear.2024.04.017

Key techno-economic barriers in the valorization of organic solid wastes for chemical production

2024

Journal Article

Coupling Partial Nitritation, Anammox and n-DAMO in a membrane aerated biofilm reactor for simultaneous dissolved methane and nitrogen removal

Lu, Yan, Liu, Tao, Hu, Shihu, Yuan, Zhiguo, Dwyer, Jason, Akker, Ben Van Den, Lloyd, James and Guo, Jianhua (2024). Coupling Partial Nitritation, Anammox and n-DAMO in a membrane aerated biofilm reactor for simultaneous dissolved methane and nitrogen removal. Water Research, 255 121511, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121511

Coupling Partial Nitritation, Anammox and n-DAMO in a membrane aerated biofilm reactor for simultaneous dissolved methane and nitrogen removal

2024

Journal Article

The effect of green infrastructure on resilience performance in combined sewer systems under climate change

Rodriguez, Mayra, Fu, Guangtao, Butler, David, Yuan, Zhiguo and Cook, Lauren (2024). The effect of green infrastructure on resilience performance in combined sewer systems under climate change. Journal of Environmental Management, 353 120229, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120229

The effect of green infrastructure on resilience performance in combined sewer systems under climate change

2024

Journal Article

Humic substances as electron acceptor for anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) and electron shuttle in Mn (IV)-dependent AOM

Xie, Mengying, Zhang, Xueqin, Li, Shiqing, Maulani, Nova, Cai, Fangrui, Zheng, Yue, Cai, Chen, Virdis, Bernardino, Yuan, Zhiguo and Hu, Shihu (2024). Humic substances as electron acceptor for anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) and electron shuttle in Mn (IV)-dependent AOM. Science of The Total Environment, 912 169576, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169576

Humic substances as electron acceptor for anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) and electron shuttle in Mn (IV)-dependent AOM

2024

Journal Article

New perspectives in free nitrous acid (FNA) uses for sustainable wastewater management

Zuo, Zhiqiang, Zheng, Min, Liu, Tao, Peng, Yongzhen and Yuan, Zhiguo (2024). New perspectives in free nitrous acid (FNA) uses for sustainable wastewater management. Frontiers of Environmental Science and Engineering, 18 (2) 26, 1-8. doi: 10.1007/s11783-024-1786-5

New perspectives in free nitrous acid (FNA) uses for sustainable wastewater management

2024

Journal Article

Nitrate-driven anaerobic oxidation of ethane and butane by bacteria

Wu, Mengxiong, Li, Jie, Lai, Chun-Yu, Leu, Andy O, Sun, Shengjie, Gu, Rui, Erler, Dirk V, Liu, Lian, Li, Lin, Tyson, Gene W, Yuan, Zhiguo, McIlroy, Simon J. and Guo, Jianhua (2024). Nitrate-driven anaerobic oxidation of ethane and butane by bacteria. The ISME Journal, 18 (1) wrad011. doi: 10.1093/ismejo/wrad011

Nitrate-driven anaerobic oxidation of ethane and butane by bacteria

2023

Journal Article

Challenges of suppressing nitrite-oxidizing bacteria in membrane aerated biofilm reactors by low dissolved oxygen control

Lu, Yan, Liu, Tao, Niu, Chenkai, Duan, Haoran, Zheng, Min, Hu, Shihu, Yuan, Zhiguo, Wang, Hui and Guo, Jianhua (2023). Challenges of suppressing nitrite-oxidizing bacteria in membrane aerated biofilm reactors by low dissolved oxygen control. Water Research, 247 120754, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120754

Challenges of suppressing nitrite-oxidizing bacteria in membrane aerated biofilm reactors by low dissolved oxygen control

2023

Journal Article

Multifaceted benefits of magnesium hydroxide dosing in sewer systems: impacts on downstream wastewater treatment processes

Cen, Xiaotong, Duan, Haoran, Hu, Zhetai, Huang, Xin, Li, Jiaying, Yuan, Zhiguo and Zheng, Min (2023). Multifaceted benefits of magnesium hydroxide dosing in sewer systems: impacts on downstream wastewater treatment processes. Water Research, 247 120788, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120788

Multifaceted benefits of magnesium hydroxide dosing in sewer systems: impacts on downstream wastewater treatment processes

Availability

Honorary Professor Zhiguo Yuan is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Data quality assurance in digitalisation of urban water management

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Helen Huang, Dr Jiuling Li, Dr Ruihong Qiu

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Airflow and temperature modelling for sewers

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jiuling Li

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding of Ventilation-Based Drying for Sewer Corrosion Control

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jiuling Li, Dr Zhetai Hu

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Understanding of Condensation-induced Concrete Corrsoion in the Sewer Crown Region

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Damien Batstone, Dr Jiuling Li

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Integrated use of magnesium and iron chemicals in urban wastewater systems

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Zhetai Hu

  • Doctor Philosophy

    In-depth understanding of bioprocess and microbial community in a novel methane-based membrane biofilm reactor

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Jianhua Guo

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Extracellular Electron Transfer-Facilitated Microbial Conversion of Methanol by Eubacterium limosum

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Xueqin Zhang, Dr Bernardino Virdis

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Honorary Professor Zhiguo Yuan directly for media enquiries about:

  • Corrosion - sewers
  • Odour - sewers
  • Sewers
  • Wastewater management
  • Wastewater treatment
  • Water treatment

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