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)

221 - 240 of 805 works

2020

Journal Article

Granular sludge coupling nitrate/nitrite dependent anaerobic methane oxidation with Anammox: from proof-of-concept to high rate nitrogen removal

Fan, Sheng-Qiang, Xie, Guo-Jun, Lu, Yang, Liu, Bing-Feng, Xing, De-Feng, Han, Hong-Jun, Yuan, Zhiguo and Ren, Nan-Qi (2020). Granular sludge coupling nitrate/nitrite dependent anaerobic methane oxidation with Anammox: from proof-of-concept to high rate nitrogen removal. Environmental Science and Technology, 54 (1) acs.est.9b02528, 297-305. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.9b02528

Granular sludge coupling nitrate/nitrite dependent anaerobic methane oxidation with Anammox: from proof-of-concept to high rate nitrogen removal

2020

Conference Publication

Achieving combined partial nitrification and biological phosphorus removal in a side-stream sludge treatment system

Lu, Xuanyu, Duan, Haoran, Oehmen, Adrian, Carvalho, Gilda, Yuan, Zhiguo and Ye, Liu (2020). Achieving combined partial nitrification and biological phosphorus removal in a side-stream sludge treatment system. IWA Nutrient Removal and Recovery Conference, Helsinki, Finland, 8 - 12 June 2020. IWA.

Achieving combined partial nitrification and biological phosphorus removal in a side-stream sludge treatment system

2019

Journal Article

Full-scale investigation of in-situ iron and alkalinity generation for efficient sulfide control

Pikaar, Ilje, Flugen, Markus, Lin, Hui-Wen, Salehin, Sirajus, Li, Jiuling, Donose, Bogdan C., Dennis, Paul G., Bethke, Lisa, Johnson, Ian, Rabaey, Korneel and Yuan, Zhiguo (2019). Full-scale investigation of in-situ iron and alkalinity generation for efficient sulfide control. Water Research, 167 115032, 115032. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.115032

Full-scale investigation of in-situ iron and alkalinity generation for efficient sulfide control

2019

Journal Article

Unravelling the influences of sewer-dosed iron salts on activated sludge properties with implications on settleability, dewaterability and sludge rheology

Shrestha, Sohan, Sharma, Keshab, Chen, Zhongwei and Yuan, Zhiguo (2019). Unravelling the influences of sewer-dosed iron salts on activated sludge properties with implications on settleability, dewaterability and sludge rheology. Water Research, 167 115089, 115089. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.115089

Unravelling the influences of sewer-dosed iron salts on activated sludge properties with implications on settleability, dewaterability and sludge rheology

2019

Journal Article

High-level nitrogen removal by simultaneous partial nitritation, anammox and nitrite/nitrate-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation

Liu, Tao, Hu, Shihu, Yuan, Zhiguo and Guo, Jianhua (2019). High-level nitrogen removal by simultaneous partial nitritation, anammox and nitrite/nitrate-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation. Water Research, 166 115057, 115057. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.115057

High-level nitrogen removal by simultaneous partial nitritation, anammox and nitrite/nitrate-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation

2019

Journal Article

Insight into the nitrification kinetics and microbial response of an enriched nitrifying sludge in the biodegradation of sulfadiazine

Wang, Bingzheng, Ni, Bing-Jie, Yuan, Zhiguo and Guo, Jianhua (2019). Insight into the nitrification kinetics and microbial response of an enriched nitrifying sludge in the biodegradation of sulfadiazine. Environmental Pollution, 255 (Pt 1) 113160, 113160. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113160

Insight into the nitrification kinetics and microbial response of an enriched nitrifying sludge in the biodegradation of sulfadiazine

2019

Journal Article

Effects of ultrasonic treatment on the ammonia-oxidizing bacterial (AOB) growth kinetics

Zheng, Min, Duan, Haoran, Dong, Qian, Ni, Bing-Jie, Hu, Shihu, Liu, Yanchen, Huang, Xia and Yuan, Zhiguo (2019). Effects of ultrasonic treatment on the ammonia-oxidizing bacterial (AOB) growth kinetics. Science of The Total Environment, 690, 629-635. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.435

Effects of ultrasonic treatment on the ammonia-oxidizing bacterial (AOB) growth kinetics

2019

Journal Article

Microbial methane conversion to short-chain fatty acids using various electron acceptors in membrane biofilm reactors

Chen, Hui, Luo, Jinghuan, Liu, Shuai, Yuan, Zhiguo and Guo, Jianhua (2019). Microbial methane conversion to short-chain fatty acids using various electron acceptors in membrane biofilm reactors. Environmental Science & Technology, 53 (21) acs.est.8b06767, 12846-12855. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.8b06767

Microbial methane conversion to short-chain fatty acids using various electron acceptors in membrane biofilm reactors

2019

Conference Publication

Existence of NOB in raw wastewater and its effects on the stability of mainstream nitrite shunt

Duan, Haoran, Liu, Ye and Yuan, Zhiguo (2019). Existence of NOB in raw wastewater and its effects on the stability of mainstream nitrite shunt. 2019 Innovation Conference on Sustainable Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery, Shanghai, China, 25-28 November 2019.

Existence of NOB in raw wastewater and its effects on the stability of mainstream nitrite shunt

2019

Journal Article

High performance nitrogen removal through integrating denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation and Anammox: from enrichment to application

Nie, Wen-Bo, Xie, Guo-Jun, Ding, Jie, Lu, Yang, Liu, Bing-Feng, Xing, De-Feng, Wang, Qilin, Han, Hong-Jun, Yuan, Zhiguo and Ren, Nan-Qi (2019). High performance nitrogen removal through integrating denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation and Anammox: from enrichment to application. Environment International, 132 105107, 105107. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105107

High performance nitrogen removal through integrating denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation and Anammox: from enrichment to application

2019

Journal Article

Development of microbially influenced corrosion on carbon steel in a simulated water injection system

Zhong, Huiyun, Shi, Zhiming, Jiang, Guangming, Song, Yarong and Yuan, Zhiguo (2019). Development of microbially influenced corrosion on carbon steel in a simulated water injection system. Materials and Corrosion, 70 (10) maco.201910873, 1826-1836. doi: 10.1002/maco.201910873

Development of microbially influenced corrosion on carbon steel in a simulated water injection system

2019

Conference Publication

Real-time prediction of rain-impacted sewage flow for on-line control of chemical dosing in sewers

Li, Jiuling, Sharma, Keshab, Liu, Yiqi, Jiang, Guangming and Yuan, Zhiguo (2019). Real-time prediction of rain-impacted sewage flow for on-line control of chemical dosing in sewers. 10th IWA Symposium on Modelling and Integrated Assessment (Watermatex 2019), Copenhagen, Denmark, 1-4 September 2019.

Real-time prediction of rain-impacted sewage flow for on-line control of chemical dosing in sewers

2019

Journal Article

Nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) contained in influent deteriorate mainstream NOB suppression by sidestream inactivation

Duan, Haoran, Ye, Liu, Wang, Qilin, Zheng, Min, Lu, Xuanyu, Wang, Zhiyao and Yuan, Zhiguo (2019). Nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) contained in influent deteriorate mainstream NOB suppression by sidestream inactivation. Water Research, 162, 331-338. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.07.002

Nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) contained in influent deteriorate mainstream NOB suppression by sidestream inactivation

2019

Journal Article

Microbial chromate reduction coupled with anaerobic oxidation of methane in a membrane biofilm reactor

Luo, Jing-Huan, Wu, Mengxiong, Liu, Jianyong, Qian, Guangren, Yuan, Zhiguo and Guo, Jianhua (2019). Microbial chromate reduction coupled with anaerobic oxidation of methane in a membrane biofilm reactor. Environment International, 130 104926, 104926. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.104926

Microbial chromate reduction coupled with anaerobic oxidation of methane in a membrane biofilm reactor

2019

Journal Article

Opportunities for reducing coagulants usage in urban water management: the Oxley Creek Sewage Collection and Treatment System as an example

Salehin, Sirajus, Kulandaivelu, Jagadeeshkumar, Rebosura, Mario, Khan, Wakib, Wong, Reece, Jiang, Guangming, Smith, Peter, McPhee, Paul, Howard, Chris, Sharma, Keshab, Keller, Jürg, Donose, Bogdan C., Yuan, Zhiguo and Pikaar, Ilje (2019). Opportunities for reducing coagulants usage in urban water management: the Oxley Creek Sewage Collection and Treatment System as an example. Water Research, 165 114996, 114996. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.114996

Opportunities for reducing coagulants usage in urban water management: the Oxley Creek Sewage Collection and Treatment System as an example

2019

Journal Article

Copper nanoparticles and copper ions promote horizontal transfer of plasmid-mediated multi-antibiotic resistance genes across bacterial genera

Zhang, Shuai, Wang, Yue, Song, Hailiang, Lu, Ji, Yuan, Zhiguo and Guo, Jianhua (2019). Copper nanoparticles and copper ions promote horizontal transfer of plasmid-mediated multi-antibiotic resistance genes across bacterial genera. Environment International, 129, 478-487. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.05.054

Copper nanoparticles and copper ions promote horizontal transfer of plasmid-mediated multi-antibiotic resistance genes across bacterial genera

2019

Journal Article

Cometabolic biodegradation of cephalexin by enriched nitrifying sludge: process characteristics, gene expression and product biotoxicity

Wang, Bingzheng, Ni, Bing-Jie, Yuan, Zhiguo and Guo, Jianhua (2019). Cometabolic biodegradation of cephalexin by enriched nitrifying sludge: process characteristics, gene expression and product biotoxicity. Science of The Total Environment, 672, 275-282. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.473

Cometabolic biodegradation of cephalexin by enriched nitrifying sludge: process characteristics, gene expression and product biotoxicity

2019

Journal Article

Evaluating the in-sewer stability of three potential population biomarkers for application in wastewater-based epidemiology

Thai, Phong K., O'Brien, Jake W., Banks, Andrew P. W., Jiang, Guangming, Gao, Jack, Choi, Phil M., Yuan, Zhiguo and Mueller, Jochen F. (2019). Evaluating the in-sewer stability of three potential population biomarkers for application in wastewater-based epidemiology. Science of The Total Environment, 671, 248-253. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.231

Evaluating the in-sewer stability of three potential population biomarkers for application in wastewater-based epidemiology

2019

Journal Article

Acetate production from anaerobic oxidation of methane via intracellular storage compounds

Cai, Chen, Shi, Ying, Guo, Jianhua, Tyson, Gene W., Hu, Shihu and Yuan, Zhiguo (2019). Acetate production from anaerobic oxidation of methane via intracellular storage compounds. Environmental Science & Technology, 53 (13) acs.est.9b00077, 7371-7379. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.9b00077

Acetate production from anaerobic oxidation of methane via intracellular storage compounds

2019

Journal Article

The development and application of improved solids modelling to enable resilient urban sewer networks

Murali, Madhu K., Hipsey, Matthew R., Ghadouani, Anas and Yuan, Zhiguo (2019). The development and application of improved solids modelling to enable resilient urban sewer networks. Journal of Environmental Management, 240, 219-230. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.03.120

The development and application of improved solids modelling to enable resilient urban sewer networks

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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