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)

381 - 400 of 805 works

2015

Journal Article

Suppressing nitrite-oxidizing bacteria growth to achieve nitrogen removal from domestic wastewater via anammox using intermittent aeration with low dissolved oxygen

Ma, Bin, Bao, Peng, Wei, Yan, Zhu, Guibing, Yuan, Zhiguo and Peng, Yongzhen (2015). Suppressing nitrite-oxidizing bacteria growth to achieve nitrogen removal from domestic wastewater via anammox using intermittent aeration with low dissolved oxygen. Scientific Reports, 5 (Art No.: 13048) 13048, 13048. doi: 10.1038/srep13048

Suppressing nitrite-oxidizing bacteria growth to achieve nitrogen removal from domestic wastewater via anammox using intermittent aeration with low dissolved oxygen

2015

Journal Article

Role of extracellular polymeric substances in improvement of sludge dewaterability through peroxidation

Zhou, Xu, Jiang, Guangmin, Zhang, Tingting, Wang, Qilin, Xie, Guo-Jun and Yuan, Zhiguo (2015). Role of extracellular polymeric substances in improvement of sludge dewaterability through peroxidation. Bioresource Technology, 192, 817-820. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.05.087

Role of extracellular polymeric substances in improvement of sludge dewaterability through peroxidation

2015

Journal Article

Enhanced volatile fatty acids production of waste activated sludge under salinity conditions: Performance and mechanisms

Su, Gaoqiang., Wang, Shuying., Yuan, Zhiguo. and Peng, Yongzhen. (2015). Enhanced volatile fatty acids production of waste activated sludge under salinity conditions: Performance and mechanisms. Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering, 121 (3), 293-298. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2015.07.009

Enhanced volatile fatty acids production of waste activated sludge under salinity conditions: Performance and mechanisms

2015

Journal Article

Methane emission from sewers

Liu, Yiwen, Ni, Bing-Jie, Sharma, Keshab R. and Yuan, Zhiguo (2015). Methane emission from sewers. Science of the Total Environment, 524-525, 40-51. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.04.029

Methane emission from sewers

2015

Journal Article

Full-scale modeling explaining large spatial variations of nitrous oxide fluxes in a step-feed plug-flow wastewater treatment reactor

Ni, Bing-Jie, Pan, Yuting, Van Den Akker, Ben, Ye, Liu and Yuan, Zhiguo (2015). Full-scale modeling explaining large spatial variations of nitrous oxide fluxes in a step-feed plug-flow wastewater treatment reactor. Environmental Science and Technology, 49 (15), 9176-9184. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5b02038

Full-scale modeling explaining large spatial variations of nitrous oxide fluxes in a step-feed plug-flow wastewater treatment reactor

2015

Journal Article

Oxide electric-double-layer transistors gated by a chitosan-based biopolymer electrolyte

Chao, Jin Yu, Zhu, Li Qiang, Xiao, Hui and Yuan, Zhi Guo (2015). Oxide electric-double-layer transistors gated by a chitosan-based biopolymer electrolyte. Ieee Electron Device Letters, 36 (8), 799-801. doi: 10.1109/LED.2015.2445333

Oxide electric-double-layer transistors gated by a chitosan-based biopolymer electrolyte

2015

Journal Article

A novel conditioning process for enhancing dewaterability of waste activated sludge by combination of zero-valent iron and persulfate

Zhou, Xu, Wang, Qilin, Jiang G., Liu, Peng and Yuan, Zhiguo (2015). A novel conditioning process for enhancing dewaterability of waste activated sludge by combination of zero-valent iron and persulfate. Bioresource Technology, 185, 416-420. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.02.088

A novel conditioning process for enhancing dewaterability of waste activated sludge by combination of zero-valent iron and persulfate

2015

Journal Article

Corrosion and odor management in sewer systems

Jiang, Guangming, Sun, Jing, Sharma, Keshab R and Yuan, Zhiguo (2015). Corrosion and odor management in sewer systems. Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 33, 192-197. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2015.03.007

Corrosion and odor management in sewer systems

2015

Journal Article

Sampling considerations and assessment of Exetainer usage for measuring dissolved and gaseous methane and nitrous oxide in aquatic systems

Sturm, Katrin, Keller‐Lehmann, Beatrice, Werner, Ursula, Sharma, Keshab Raj, Grinham, Alistair Robert and Yuan, Zhiguo (2015). Sampling considerations and assessment of Exetainer usage for measuring dissolved and gaseous methane and nitrous oxide in aquatic systems. Limnology and Oceanography: Methods, 13 (7), 375-390. doi: 10.1002/lom3.10031

Sampling considerations and assessment of Exetainer usage for measuring dissolved and gaseous methane and nitrous oxide in aquatic systems

2015

Journal Article

N2O production by ammonia oxidizing bacteria in an enriched nitrifying sludge linearly depends on inorganic carbon concentration

Peng, Lai, Ni, Bing-Jie, Ye, Liu and Yuan, Zhiguo (2015). N2O production by ammonia oxidizing bacteria in an enriched nitrifying sludge linearly depends on inorganic carbon concentration. Water Research, 74, 58-66. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2015.02.003

N2O production by ammonia oxidizing bacteria in an enriched nitrifying sludge linearly depends on inorganic carbon concentration

2015

Journal Article

Effects of nitrate dosing on sulfidogenic and methanogenic activities in sewer sediment

Liu, Yiwen, Sharma, Keshab R., Ni, Bing-Jie, Fan, Lu, Murthy, Sudhir, Tyson, Gene Q. and Yuan, Zhiguo (2015). Effects of nitrate dosing on sulfidogenic and methanogenic activities in sewer sediment. Water Research, 74, 155-165. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2015.02.017

Effects of nitrate dosing on sulfidogenic and methanogenic activities in sewer sediment

2015

Journal Article

Enhancing toxic metal removal from acidified sludge with nitrite addition

Du, Fangzhou, Freguia, Stefano, Yuan, Zhiguo, Keller, Jurg and Pikaar, Ilje (2015). Enhancing toxic metal removal from acidified sludge with nitrite addition. Environmental Science and Technology, 49 (10), 6257-6263. doi: 10.1021/es504507m

Enhancing toxic metal removal from acidified sludge with nitrite addition

2015

Journal Article

The combined effect of dissolved oxygen and nitrite on N2O production by ammonia oxidizing bacteria in an enriched nitrifying sludge

Peng, Lai, Ni, Bing-Jie, Ye, Liu and Yuan, Zhiguo (2015). The combined effect of dissolved oxygen and nitrite on N2O production by ammonia oxidizing bacteria in an enriched nitrifying sludge. Water Research, 73, 29-36. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2015.01.021

The combined effect of dissolved oxygen and nitrite on N2O production by ammonia oxidizing bacteria in an enriched nitrifying sludge

2015

Journal Article

"Large-scale psychological differences within China explained by rice vs. wheat agriculture"

Hu, Shihu and Yuan, Zhiguo (2015). "Large-scale psychological differences within China explained by rice vs. wheat agriculture". Frontiers in Psychology, 6 (APR) 489, 489.1-489.3. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00489

"Large-scale psychological differences within China explained by rice vs. wheat agriculture"

2015

Journal Article

Feasibility of sulfide control in sewers by reuse ofiron rich drinking water treatment sludge

Sun, Jing, Pikaar, Ilje, Sharma, Keshab Raj, Keller, Jurg and Yuan, Zhiguo (2015). Feasibility of sulfide control in sewers by reuse ofiron rich drinking water treatment sludge. Water Research, 71, 150-159. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2014.12.044

Feasibility of sulfide control in sewers by reuse ofiron rich drinking water treatment sludge

2015

Journal Article

Dissecting microbial community structure and methane-producing pathways of a full-scale anaerobic reactor digesting activated sludge from wastewater treatment by metagenomic sequencing

Guo, Jianhua, Peng, Yongzhen, Ni, Bing-Jie, Han, Xiaoyu, Fan, Lu and Yuan, Zhiguo (2015). Dissecting microbial community structure and methane-producing pathways of a full-scale anaerobic reactor digesting activated sludge from wastewater treatment by metagenomic sequencing. Microbial Cell Factories, 14 (33) 33, 1-11. doi: 10.1186/s12934-015-0218-4

Dissecting microbial community structure and methane-producing pathways of a full-scale anaerobic reactor digesting activated sludge from wastewater treatment by metagenomic sequencing

2015

Journal Article

Evaluating two concepts for the modelling of intermediates accumulation during biological denitrification in wastewater treatment

Pan, Yuting, Ni, Bing-Jie, Lu, Huijie, Chandran, Kartik, Richardson, David and Yuan, Zhiguo (2015). Evaluating two concepts for the modelling of intermediates accumulation during biological denitrification in wastewater treatment. Water Research, 71, 21-31. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2014.12.029

Evaluating two concepts for the modelling of intermediates accumulation during biological denitrification in wastewater treatment

2015

Journal Article

A laboratory investigation of interactions between denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation (DAMO) and anammox processes in anoxic environments

Hu, Shihu, Zeng, Raymond J., Haroon, Mohamed F., Keller, Jurg, Lant, Paul A., Tyson, Gene W. and Yuan, Zhiguo (2015). A laboratory investigation of interactions between denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation (DAMO) and anammox processes in anoxic environments. Scientific Reports, 5 (8706) 8706, 1-9. doi: 10.1038/srep08706

A laboratory investigation of interactions between denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation (DAMO) and anammox processes in anoxic environments

2015

Journal Article

Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from a subtropical coastal embayment (Moreton Bay, Australia)

Musenze, Ronald S., Werner, Ursula, Grinham, Alistair, Udy, James and Yuan, Zhiguo (2015). Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from a subtropical coastal embayment (Moreton Bay, Australia). Journal of Environmental Sciences, 29, 82-96. doi: 10.1016/j.jes.2014.06.049

Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from a subtropical coastal embayment (Moreton Bay, Australia)

2015

Journal Article

The concentration-determined and population-specific antimicrobial effects of free nitrous acid on Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

Gao, Shu-Hong, Fan, Lu, Yuan, Zhiguo and Bond, Philip L. (2015). The concentration-determined and population-specific antimicrobial effects of free nitrous acid on Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 99 (5), 2305-2312. doi: 10.1007/s00253-014-6211-8

The concentration-determined and population-specific antimicrobial effects of free nitrous acid on Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

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

    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

  • 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

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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