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)

281 - 300 of 805 works

2018

Journal Article

A methanotrophic archaeon couples anaerobic oxidation of methane to Fe(III) reduction

Cai, Chen, Leu, Andy O., Xie, Guo-Jun, Guo, Jianhua, Feng, Yuexing, Zhao, Jian-Xin, Tyson, Gene W., Yuan, Zhiguo and Hu, Shihu (2018). A methanotrophic archaeon couples anaerobic oxidation of methane to Fe(III) reduction. The ISME Journal, 12 (8), 1929-1939. doi: 10.1038/s41396-018-0109-x

A methanotrophic archaeon couples anaerobic oxidation of methane to Fe(III) reduction

2018

Journal Article

Methane-supported nitrate removal from groundwater in a membrane biofilm reactor

Luo, Jing-Huan, Chen, Hui, Yuan, Zhiguo and Guo, Jianhua (2018). Methane-supported nitrate removal from groundwater in a membrane biofilm reactor. Water Research, 132, 71-78. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.12.064

Methane-supported nitrate removal from groundwater in a membrane biofilm reactor

2018

Journal Article

Microbial selenate reduction driven by a denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation biofilm

Luo, Jing-Huan, Chen, Hui, Hu, Shihu, Cai, Chen, Yuan, Zhiguo and Guo, Jianhua (2018). Microbial selenate reduction driven by a denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation biofilm. Environmental Science & Technology, 52 (7), 4006-4012. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.7b05046

Microbial selenate reduction driven by a denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation biofilm

2018

Journal Article

Modeling of pharmaceutical biotransformation by enriched nitrifying culture under different metabolic conditions

Xu, Yifeng, Chen, Xueming, Yuan, Zhiguo and Ni, Bing-Jie (2018). Modeling of pharmaceutical biotransformation by enriched nitrifying culture under different metabolic conditions. Environmental Science & Technology, 52 (5), 2835-2843. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.8b00705

Modeling of pharmaceutical biotransformation by enriched nitrifying culture under different metabolic conditions

2018

Journal Article

Optimization of free nitrous acid pre-treatment on waste activated sludge

Zahedi, S., Romero-Güiza, M., Icaran, Pilar, Yuan, Z. and Pijuan, M. (2018). Optimization of free nitrous acid pre-treatment on waste activated sludge. Bioresource Technology, 252, 216-220. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.12.090

Optimization of free nitrous acid pre-treatment on waste activated sludge

2018

Journal Article

Quantifying rainfall-derived inflow and infiltration in sanitary sewer systems based on conductivity monitoring

Zhang, Mingkai, Liu, Yanchen, Cheng, Xun, Zhu, David Z., Shi, Hanchang and Yuan, Zhiguo (2018). Quantifying rainfall-derived inflow and infiltration in sanitary sewer systems based on conductivity monitoring. Journal of Hydrology, 558, 174-183. doi: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.01.002

Quantifying rainfall-derived inflow and infiltration in sanitary sewer systems based on conductivity monitoring

2018

Journal Article

Free nitrous acid pre-treatment of waste activated sludge enhances volatile solids destruction and improves sludge dewaterability in continuous anaerobic digestion

Wei, Wei, Wang, Qilin, Zhang, Liguo, Laloo, Andrew, Duan, Haoran, Batstone, Damien J. and Yuan, Zhiguo (2018). Free nitrous acid pre-treatment of waste activated sludge enhances volatile solids destruction and improves sludge dewaterability in continuous anaerobic digestion. Water Research, 130, 13-19. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.11.050

Free nitrous acid pre-treatment of waste activated sludge enhances volatile solids destruction and improves sludge dewaterability in continuous anaerobic digestion

2018

Journal Article

Greenhouse gas emissions from integrated urban drainage systems: Where do we stand?

Mannina, Giorgio, Butler, David, Benedetti, Lorenzo, Deletic, Ana, Fowdar, Harsha, Fu, Guangtao, Kleidorfer, Manfred, McCarthy, David, Steen Mikkelsen, Peter, Rauch, Wolfgang, Sweetapple, Chris, Vezzaro, Luca, Yuan, Zhiguo and Willems, Patrick (2018). Greenhouse gas emissions from integrated urban drainage systems: Where do we stand?. Journal of Hydrology, 559, 307-314. doi: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.02.058

Greenhouse gas emissions from integrated urban drainage systems: Where do we stand?

2018

Journal Article

Improved sulfide mitigation in sewers through on-line control of ferrous salt dosing

Ganigué, Ramon, Jiang, Guangming, Liu, Yiqi, Sharma, Keshab, Wang, Yue-Cong, Gonzalez, José, Nguyen, Tung and Yuan, Zhiguo (2018). Improved sulfide mitigation in sewers through on-line control of ferrous salt dosing. Water Research, 135, 302-310. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.02.022

Improved sulfide mitigation in sewers through on-line control of ferrous salt dosing

2018

Journal Article

Free ammonia enhances dark fermentative hydrogen production from waste activated sludge

Wang, Dongbo, Duan, YuYing, Yang, Qi, Liu, Yiwen, Ni, Bing-Jie, Wang, Qilin, Zeng, Guangming, Li, Xiaoming and Yuan, Zhiguo (2018). Free ammonia enhances dark fermentative hydrogen production from waste activated sludge. Water Research, 133, 272-281. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.01.051

Free ammonia enhances dark fermentative hydrogen production from waste activated sludge

2018

Journal Article

Silver nanoparticles stimulate the proliferation of sulfate reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio vulgaris

Chen, Zhaoyu, Lu, Ji, Gao, Shu-Hong, Jin, Min, Bond, Philip L., Yang, Ping, Yuan, Zhiguo and Guo, Jianhua (2018). Silver nanoparticles stimulate the proliferation of sulfate reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio vulgaris. Water Research, 129, 163-171. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.11.021

Silver nanoparticles stimulate the proliferation of sulfate reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio vulgaris

2018

Journal Article

Influence of pressure main pumping frequency on sulfide formation rates in sanitary sewers

Shypanski, A. H., Yuan, Z. and Sharma, K. (2018). Influence of pressure main pumping frequency on sulfide formation rates in sanitary sewers. Environmental Science: Water Research and Technology, 4 (3), 403-410. doi: 10.1039/c7ew00428a

Influence of pressure main pumping frequency on sulfide formation rates in sanitary sewers

2018

Journal Article

Achieving mainstream nitrogen removal via the nitrite pathway from real municipal wastewater using intermittent ultrasonic treatment

Zheng, Min, Wu, Shuang, Dong, Qian, Huang, Xia, Yuan, Zhiguo and Liu, Yanchen (2018). Achieving mainstream nitrogen removal via the nitrite pathway from real municipal wastewater using intermittent ultrasonic treatment. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, 51, 406-411. doi: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2018.07.033

Achieving mainstream nitrogen removal via the nitrite pathway from real municipal wastewater using intermittent ultrasonic treatment

2018

Journal Article

Quantifying the degradation of degradable implants and bone formation in the femoral condyle using micro-CT 3D reconstruction

Xu, Yichi, Meng, Haoye, Yin, Heyong, Sun, Zhen, Peng, Jiang, Xu, Xiaolong, Guo, Quanyi, Xu, Wenjing, Yu, Xiaoming, Yuan, Zhiguo, Xiao, Bo, Wang, Cheng, Wang, Yu, Liu, Shuyun, Lu, Shibi, Wang, Zhaoxu and Wang, Aiyuan (2018). Quantifying the degradation of degradable implants and bone formation in the femoral condyle using micro-CT 3D reconstruction. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 15 (1), 93-102. doi: 10.3892/etm.2017.5389

Quantifying the degradation of degradable implants and bone formation in the femoral condyle using micro-CT 3D reconstruction

2018

Journal Article

Triclosan at environmentally relevant concentrations promotes horizontal transfer of multidrug resistance genes within and across bacterial genera

Lu, Ji, Wang, Yue, Li, Jie, Mao, Likai, Nguyen, Son Hoang, Duarte, Tania, Coin, Lachlan, Bond, Philip, Yuan, Zhiguo and Guo, Jianhua (2018). Triclosan at environmentally relevant concentrations promotes horizontal transfer of multidrug resistance genes within and across bacterial genera. Environment International, 121 (Pt 2), 1217-1226. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.10.040

Triclosan at environmentally relevant concentrations promotes horizontal transfer of multidrug resistance genes within and across bacterial genera

2017

Journal Article

Stability of Illicit Drugs as Biomarkers in Sewers: From Lab to Reality

Li, Jiaying, Gao, Jianfa, Thai, Phong K., Sun, Xiaoyan, Mueller, Jochen F., Yuan, Zhiguo and Jiang, Guangming (2017). Stability of Illicit Drugs as Biomarkers in Sewers: From Lab to Reality. Environmental Science & Technology, 52 (3), 1561-1570. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.7b05109

Stability of Illicit Drugs as Biomarkers in Sewers: From Lab to Reality

2017

Journal Article

Achieving high-level nitrogen removal in mainstream by coupling anammox with denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation in a membrane biofilm reactor

Xie, Guo-Jun, Liu, Tao, Cai, Chen, Hu, Shihu and Yuan, Zhiguo (2017). Achieving high-level nitrogen removal in mainstream by coupling anammox with denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation in a membrane biofilm reactor. Water research, 131, 196-204. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.12.037

Achieving high-level nitrogen removal in mainstream by coupling anammox with denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation in a membrane biofilm reactor

2017

Journal Article

Estimating rainfall-induced inflow and infiltration in a sanitary sewer system based on water quality modelling: Which parameter to use?

Zhang, Mingkai, Liu, Yanchen, Dong, Qian, Hong, Yi, Huang, Xia, Shi, Hanchang and Yuan, Zhiguo (2017). Estimating rainfall-induced inflow and infiltration in a sanitary sewer system based on water quality modelling: Which parameter to use?. Environmental Science: Water Research and Technology, 4 (3), 385-393. doi: 10.1039/c7ew00371d

Estimating rainfall-induced inflow and infiltration in a sanitary sewer system based on water quality modelling: Which parameter to use?

2017

Journal Article

Odor emissions from domestic wastewater: A review

Jiang, Guangming, Melder, Denham, Keller, Jurg and Yuan, Zhiguo (2017). Odor emissions from domestic wastewater: A review. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 47 (17), 1581-1611. doi: 10.1080/10643389.2017.1386952

Odor emissions from domestic wastewater: A review

2017

Journal Article

Simultaneous use of caustic and oxygen for efficient sulfide control in sewers

Lin, Hui-Wen, Lu, Yang, Ganigue, Ramon, Sharma, Keshab R., Rabaey, Korneel, Yuan, Zhiguo and Pikaar, Ilje (2017). Simultaneous use of caustic and oxygen for efficient sulfide control in sewers. Science of the Total Environment, 601-602, 776-783. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.225

Simultaneous use of caustic and oxygen for efficient sulfide control in sewers

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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