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)

261 - 280 of 805 works

2019

Conference Publication

Manuscript: New GHG methodology to quantify sewer methane

Willis, John, Brower, Bill, Graf, Walter, Murthy, Sudhir, Peot, Chris, Regmi, Pusker, Sharma, Keshab and Yuan, Zhiguo (2019). Manuscript: New GHG methodology to quantify sewer methane. 91st Annual Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference, WEFTEC 2018, New Orleans, 29 September - 3 October 2018. Water Environment Federation.

Manuscript: New GHG methodology to quantify sewer methane

2018

Journal Article

Systematic evaluation of biomarker stability in pilot scale sewer pipes

Gao, Jianfa, Li, Jiaying, Jiang, Guangming, Shypanski, Adam, Nieradzik, Ludwika M., Yuan, Zhiguo, Mueller, Jochen F., Ort, Christoph and Thai, Phong K. (2018). Systematic evaluation of biomarker stability in pilot scale sewer pipes. Water Research, 151, 447-455. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.12.032

Systematic evaluation of biomarker stability in pilot scale sewer pipes

2018

Journal Article

Effects of free nitrous acid treatment conditions on the nitrite pathway performance in mainstream wastewater treatment

Duan, Haoran, Wang, Qilin, Erler, Dirk V., Ye, Liu and Yuan, Zhiguo (2018). Effects of free nitrous acid treatment conditions on the nitrite pathway performance in mainstream wastewater treatment. Science of the Total Environment, 644, 360-370. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.346

Effects of free nitrous acid treatment conditions on the nitrite pathway performance in mainstream wastewater treatment

2018

Journal Article

A comprehensive laboratory assessment of the effects of sewer-dosed iron salts on wastewater treatment processes

Rebosura, Mario, Salehin, Sirajus, Pikaar, Ilje, Sun, Xiaoyan, Keller, Jürg, Sharma, Keshab and Yuan, Zhiguo (2018). A comprehensive laboratory assessment of the effects of sewer-dosed iron salts on wastewater treatment processes. Water Research, 146, 109-117. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.09.021

A comprehensive laboratory assessment of the effects of sewer-dosed iron salts on wastewater treatment processes

2018

Journal Article

High-rate production of short-chain fatty acids from methane in a mixed-culture membrane biofilm reactor

Chen, Hui, Zhao, Lei, Hu, Shihu, Yuan, Zhiguo and Guo, Jianhua (2018). High-rate production of short-chain fatty acids from methane in a mixed-culture membrane biofilm reactor. Environmental Science and Technology Letters, 5 (11) acs.estlett.8b00460, 662-667. doi: 10.1021/acs.estlett.8b00460

High-rate production of short-chain fatty acids from methane in a mixed-culture membrane biofilm reactor

2018

Conference Publication

A novel operational strategy of aerobic sludge digester improving VS destruction and nitrogen removal

Duan, Haoran, Ye, Liu, Lu, Xuanyu, Batstone, Damien and Yuan, Zhiguo (2018). A novel operational strategy of aerobic sludge digester improving VS destruction and nitrogen removal. IWA Nutrient Removal and Recovery Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 18-21 November 2018. IWA.

A novel operational strategy of aerobic sludge digester improving VS destruction and nitrogen removal

2018

Conference Publication

Start-up of mainstream partial nitritation at high hydraulic loading rates: experimental demonstration and model explanation

Duan, Haoran, Zheng, Min, Li, Ji-yun, Liu, Tao, Shrestha, Sohan, Wang, Bingzheng and Yuan, Zhiguo (2018). Start-up of mainstream partial nitritation at high hydraulic loading rates: experimental demonstration and model explanation. IWA Nutrient Removal and Recovery Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 18-21 November 2018.

Start-up of mainstream partial nitritation at high hydraulic loading rates: experimental demonstration and model explanation

2018

Journal Article

Antidepressant fluoxetine induces multiple antibiotics resistance in Escherichia coli via ROS-mediated mutagenesis

Jin, Min, Lu, Ji, Chen, Zhaoyu, Nguyen, Son Hoang, Mao, Likai, Li, Junwen, Yuan, Zhiguo and Guo, Jianhua (2018). Antidepressant fluoxetine induces multiple antibiotics resistance in Escherichia coli via ROS-mediated mutagenesis. Environment International, 120, 421-430. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.07.046

Antidepressant fluoxetine induces multiple antibiotics resistance in Escherichia coli via ROS-mediated mutagenesis

2018

Journal Article

Nitrite accumulation inside sludge flocs significantly influencing nitrous oxide production by ammonium-oxidizing bacteria

Chen, Xueming, Yuan, Zhiguo and Ni, Bing-Jie (2018). Nitrite accumulation inside sludge flocs significantly influencing nitrous oxide production by ammonium-oxidizing bacteria. Water Research, 143, 99-108. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.06.025

Nitrite accumulation inside sludge flocs significantly influencing nitrous oxide production by ammonium-oxidizing bacteria

2018

Journal Article

Antiepileptic drug carbamazepine promotes horizontal transfer of plasmid-borne multi-antibiotic resistance genes within and across bacterial genera

Wang, Yue, Lu, Ji, Mao, Likai, Li, Jie, Yuan, Zhiguo, Bond, Philip L. and Guo, Jianhua (2018). Antiepileptic drug carbamazepine promotes horizontal transfer of plasmid-borne multi-antibiotic resistance genes within and across bacterial genera. ISME Journal, 13 (2), 509-522. doi: 10.1038/s41396-018-0275-x

Antiepileptic drug carbamazepine promotes horizontal transfer of plasmid-borne multi-antibiotic resistance genes within and across bacterial genera

2018

Conference Publication

Stable mainstream nitrite pathway achieved by in-line sludge treatment using free ammonia

Duan, Haoran, Yuan, Zhiguo and Wang, Qilin (2018). Stable mainstream nitrite pathway achieved by in-line sludge treatment using free ammonia. IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition, Tokyo, Japan, 16-21 September 2018.

Stable mainstream nitrite pathway achieved by in-line sludge treatment using free ammonia

2018

Journal Article

Non-antibiotic antimicrobial triclosan induces multiple antibiotic resistance through genetic mutation

Lu, Ji, Jin, Min, Nguyen, Son Hoang, Mao, Likai, Li, Jie, Coin, Lachlan J.M., Yuan, Zhiguo and Guo, Jianhua (2018). Non-antibiotic antimicrobial triclosan induces multiple antibiotic resistance through genetic mutation. Environment International, 118, 257-265. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.06.004

Non-antibiotic antimicrobial triclosan induces multiple antibiotic resistance through genetic mutation

2018

Journal Article

Free nitrous acid promotes hydrogen production from dark fermentation of waste activated sludge

Wang, Yali, Zhao, Jianwei, Wang, Dongbo, Liu, Yiwen, Wang, Qilin, Ni, Bing-Jie, Chen, Fei, Yang, Qi, Li, Xiaoming, Zeng, Guangming and Yuan, Zhiguo (2018). Free nitrous acid promotes hydrogen production from dark fermentation of waste activated sludge. Water Research, 145, 113-124. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.08.011

Free nitrous acid promotes hydrogen production from dark fermentation of waste activated sludge

2018

Journal Article

Decoupling livestock from land use through industrial feed production pathways

Pikaar, Ilje, Matassa, Silvio, Bodirsky, Benjamin L., Weindl, Isabelle, Humpenöder, Florian, Rabaey, Korneel, Boon, Nico, Bruschi, Michele, Yuan, Zhiguo, van Zanten, Hannah, Herrero, Mario, Verstraete, Willy and Popp, Alexander (2018). Decoupling livestock from land use through industrial feed production pathways. Environmental Science & Technology, 52 (13), 7351-7359. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.8b00216

Decoupling livestock from land use through industrial feed production pathways

2018

Journal Article

Stability of alcohol and tobacco consumption biomarkers in a real rising main sewer

Gao, Jianfa, Li, Jiaying, Jiang, Guangming, Yuan, Zhiguo, Eaglesham, Geoff, Covaci, Adrian, Mueller, Jochen F. and Thai, Phong K. (2018). Stability of alcohol and tobacco consumption biomarkers in a real rising main sewer. Water Research, 138, 19-26. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.03.036

Stability of alcohol and tobacco consumption biomarkers in a real rising main sewer

2018

Journal Article

Predictions of the influent and operational conditions for partial nitritation with a model incorporating pH dynamics

Zheng, Min, Wu, Shuang, Zuo, Zhiqiang, Wang, Zhiyao, Qiu, Yong, Liu, Yan-Chen, Huang, Xia and Yuan, Zhiguo (2018). Predictions of the influent and operational conditions for partial nitritation with a model incorporating pH dynamics. Environmental Science and Technology, 52 (11), 6457-6465. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.8b00202

Predictions of the influent and operational conditions for partial nitritation with a model incorporating pH dynamics

2018

Journal Article

An electrospun fiber reinforced scaffold promotes total meniscus regeneration in rabbit meniscectomy model

Gao, Shuang, Chen, Mingxue, Wang, Pei, Li, Yan, Yuan, Zhiguo, Guo, Weimin, Zhang, Zengzeng, Zhang, Xueliang, Jing, Xiaoguang, Li, Xu, Liu, Shuyun, Sui, Xiang, Xi, Tingfei and Guo, Quanyi (2018). An electrospun fiber reinforced scaffold promotes total meniscus regeneration in rabbit meniscectomy model. Acta Biomaterialia, 73, 127-140. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2018.04.012

An electrospun fiber reinforced scaffold promotes total meniscus regeneration in rabbit meniscectomy model

2018

Journal Article

Effect of methane partial pressure on the performance of a membrane biofilm reactor coupling methane-dependent denitrification and anammox

Cai, Chen, Hu, Shihu, Chen, Xueming, Ni, Bing-Jie, Pu, Jiaoyang and Yuan, Zhiguo (2018). Effect of methane partial pressure on the performance of a membrane biofilm reactor coupling methane-dependent denitrification and anammox. Science of the Total Environment, 639, 278-285. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.164

Effect of methane partial pressure on the performance of a membrane biofilm reactor coupling methane-dependent denitrification and anammox

2018

Journal Article

Different clusters of Candidatus 'Methanoperedens nitroreducens'-like archaea as revealed by high-throughput sequencing with new primers

Xu, Sai, Cai, Chen, Guo, Jianhua, Lu, Wenjing, Yuan, Zhiguo and Hu, Shihu (2018). Different clusters of Candidatus 'Methanoperedens nitroreducens'-like archaea as revealed by high-throughput sequencing with new primers. Scientific Reports, 8 (1) 7695, 7695. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-24974-z

Different clusters of Candidatus 'Methanoperedens nitroreducens'-like archaea as revealed by high-throughput sequencing with new primers

2018

Journal Article

Mechanisms of persistence of the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria Nitrosomonas to the biocide free nitrous acid

Laloo, Andrew E., Wei, Justin, Wang, Dongbo, Narayanasamy, Shaman, Vanwonterghem, Inka, Waite, David, Steen, Jason, Kaysen, Anne, Heintz-Buschart, Anna, Wang, Qilin, Schulz, Benjamin, Nouwens, Amanda, Wilmes, Paul, Hugenholtz, Philip, Yuan, Zhiguo and Bond, Philip L. (2018). Mechanisms of persistence of the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria Nitrosomonas to the biocide free nitrous acid. Environmental science & technology, 52 (9), 5386-5397. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.7b04273

Mechanisms of persistence of the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria Nitrosomonas to the biocide free nitrous acid

Availability

Honorary Professor Zhiguo Yuan is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • 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

    Data quality assurance in digitalisation of urban water management

    Principal Advisor

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

  • 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

  • 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

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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