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)

41 - 60 of 805 works

2023

Journal Article

Pyrogenic carbon promotes anaerobic oxidation of methane coupled with iron reduction via the redox-cycling mechanism

Zhang, Xueqin, Xie, Mengying, Cai, Chen, Rabiee, Hesamoddin, Wang, Zhiyao, Virdis, Bernardino, Tyson, Gene W., McIlroy, Simon J., Yuan, Zhiguo and Hu, Shihu (2023). Pyrogenic carbon promotes anaerobic oxidation of methane coupled with iron reduction via the redox-cycling mechanism. Environmental Science and Technology, 57 (48), 19793-19804. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05907

Pyrogenic carbon promotes anaerobic oxidation of methane coupled with iron reduction via the redox-cycling mechanism

2023

Journal Article

Fate of micropollutants in a lab-scale urban wastewater system: impact of iron-rich drinking water treatment sludge

Kulandaivelu, Jagadeeshkumar, Chen, Yan, Choi, Phil M., Li, Xuan, Rebosura, Mario, Song, Yarong, Yuan, Zhiguo, Mueller, Jochen F. and Jiang, Guangming (2023). Fate of micropollutants in a lab-scale urban wastewater system: impact of iron-rich drinking water treatment sludge. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances, 12 100360, 100360. doi: 10.1016/j.hazadv.2023.100360

Fate of micropollutants in a lab-scale urban wastewater system: impact of iron-rich drinking water treatment sludge

2023

Journal Article

Decoupling the simultaneous effects of NO2−, pH and free nitrous acid on N2O and NO production from enriched nitrifying activated sludge

Zhao, Yingfen, Duan, Haoran, Erler, Dirk, Yuan, Zhiguo and Ye, Liu (2023). Decoupling the simultaneous effects of NO2−, pH and free nitrous acid on N2O and NO production from enriched nitrifying activated sludge. Water Research, 245 120609, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120609

Decoupling the simultaneous effects of NO2−, pH and free nitrous acid on N2O and NO production from enriched nitrifying activated sludge

2023

Journal Article

Insights on biological phosphorus removal with partial nitrification in single sludge system via sidestream free ammonia and free nitrous acid dosing

Lu, Xuanyu, Oehmen, Adrian, Zhao, Jing, Duan, Haoran, Yuan, Zhiguo and Ye, Liu (2023). Insights on biological phosphorus removal with partial nitrification in single sludge system via sidestream free ammonia and free nitrous acid dosing. Science of the Total Environment, 895 165174, 165174. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165174

Insights on biological phosphorus removal with partial nitrification in single sludge system via sidestream free ammonia and free nitrous acid dosing

2023

Journal Article

Global resilience analysis of combined sewer systems under continuous hydrologic simulation

Rodriguez, Mayra, Fu, Guangtao, Butler, David, Yuan, Zhiguo and Cook, Lauren (2023). Global resilience analysis of combined sewer systems under continuous hydrologic simulation. Journal of Environmental Management, 344 118607, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118607

Global resilience analysis of combined sewer systems under continuous hydrologic simulation

2023

Journal Article

Integrated urban water management by coupling iron salt production and application with biogas upgrading

Hu, Zhetai, Li, Lanqing, Cen, Xiaotong, Zheng, Min, Hu, Shihu, Wang, Xiuheng, Song, Yarong, Xu, Kangning and Yuan, Zhiguo (2023). Integrated urban water management by coupling iron salt production and application with biogas upgrading. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 6405, 1-12. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-42158-w

Integrated urban water management by coupling iron salt production and application with biogas upgrading

2023

Journal Article

Exploring denitrification and anammox processes in the saturated zone of passively operated vegetated biofiltration systems

Zhang, Kefeng, Prodanovic, Veljko, Zhao, Hengke, Zheng, Min, Hu, Shihu, Hong, Pei-Ying, Yuan, Zhiguo and Deletic, Ana (2023). Exploring denitrification and anammox processes in the saturated zone of passively operated vegetated biofiltration systems. Environmental Science-Water Research and Technology, 9 (11), 3062-3075. doi: 10.1039/d3ew00347g

Exploring denitrification and anammox processes in the saturated zone of passively operated vegetated biofiltration systems

2023

Journal Article

Establishing boundary conditions in sewer pipe/soil heat transfer modelling using physics-informed learning

Li, Jiuling, Mohamad, Nur Nabilah Naina, Sharma, Keshab and Yuan, Zhiguo (2023). Establishing boundary conditions in sewer pipe/soil heat transfer modelling using physics-informed learning. Water Research, 244 120441, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120441

Establishing boundary conditions in sewer pipe/soil heat transfer modelling using physics-informed learning

2023

Journal Article

Multi-heme cytochrome-mediated extracellular electron transfer by the anaerobic methanotroph ‘Candidatus Methanoperedens nitroreducens’

Zhang, Xueqin, Joyce, Georgina H., Leu, Andy O., Zhao, Jing, Rabiee, Hesamoddin, Virdis, Bernardino, Tyson, Gene W., Yuan, Zhiguo, McIlroy, Simon J. and Hu, Shihu (2023). Multi-heme cytochrome-mediated extracellular electron transfer by the anaerobic methanotroph ‘Candidatus Methanoperedens nitroreducens’. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 6118, 1-14. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-41847-w

Multi-heme cytochrome-mediated extracellular electron transfer by the anaerobic methanotroph ‘Candidatus Methanoperedens nitroreducens’

2023

Journal Article

Adaptation of anammox process for nitrogen removal from acidic nitritation effluent in a low pH moving bed biofilm reactor

Hu, Zhetai, Liu, Tao, Su, Zicheng, Zhao, Jing, Guo, Jianhua, Hu, Shihu, Yuan, Zhiguo and Zheng, Min (2023). Adaptation of anammox process for nitrogen removal from acidic nitritation effluent in a low pH moving bed biofilm reactor. Water Research, 243 120370, 120370. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120370

Adaptation of anammox process for nitrogen removal from acidic nitritation effluent in a low pH moving bed biofilm reactor

2023

Journal Article

Salinity effect on an anaerobic methane- and ammonium-oxidising consortium: shifts in activity, morphology, osmoregulation and syntrophic relationship

Frank, Joshua, Zhang, Xueqin, Marcellin, Esteban, Yuan, Zhiguo and Hu, Shihu (2023). Salinity effect on an anaerobic methane- and ammonium-oxidising consortium: shifts in activity, morphology, osmoregulation and syntrophic relationship. Water Research, 242 120090, 120090. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120090

Salinity effect on an anaerobic methane- and ammonium-oxidising consortium: shifts in activity, morphology, osmoregulation and syntrophic relationship

2023

Journal Article

Simultaneous dissolved methane and nitrogen removal from low-strength wastewater using anaerobic granule-based sequencing batch reactor

Liu, Tao, Hu, Shihu, Yuan, Zhiguo and Guo, Jianhua (2023). Simultaneous dissolved methane and nitrogen removal from low-strength wastewater using anaerobic granule-based sequencing batch reactor. Water Research, 242 120194, 120194. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120194

Simultaneous dissolved methane and nitrogen removal from low-strength wastewater using anaerobic granule-based sequencing batch reactor

2023

Journal Article

Hydrophilic nanofibers with aligned topography modulate macrophage-mediated host responses via the NLRP3 inflammasome

Ren, Yiming, Chen, Yi, Chen, Wei, Deng, Haotian, Li, Peiqi, Liu, Yubo, Gao, Cangjian, Tian, Guangzhao, Ning, Chao, Yuan, Zhiguo, Sui, Xiang, Liu, Shuyun and Guo, Quanyi (2023). Hydrophilic nanofibers with aligned topography modulate macrophage-mediated host responses via the NLRP3 inflammasome. Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 21 (1) 269. doi: 10.1186/s12951-023-02024-9

Hydrophilic nanofibers with aligned topography modulate macrophage-mediated host responses via the NLRP3 inflammasome

2023

Journal Article

Tuning flow-through cu-based hollow fiber gas-diffusion electrode for high-efficiency carbon monoxide (CO) electroreduction to C2+products

Rabiee, Hesamoddin, Heffernan, James K., Ge, Lei, Zhang, Xueqin, Yan, Penghui, Marcellin, Esteban, Hu, Shihu, Zhu, Zhonghua, Wang, Hao and Yuan, Zhiguo (2023). Tuning flow-through cu-based hollow fiber gas-diffusion electrode for high-efficiency carbon monoxide (CO) electroreduction to C2+products. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 330 122589, 122589. doi: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2023.122589

Tuning flow-through cu-based hollow fiber gas-diffusion electrode for high-efficiency carbon monoxide (CO) electroreduction to C2+products

2023

Journal Article

Hydrogen sulfide control in sewer systems: a critical review of recent progress

Zhang, Liang, Qiu, Yan-Ying, Sharma, Keshab R., Shi, Tao, Song, Yarong, Sun, Jianliang, Liang, Zhensheng, Yuan, Zhiguo and Jiang, Feng (2023). Hydrogen sulfide control in sewer systems: a critical review of recent progress. Water Research, 240 120046, 120046. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120046

Hydrogen sulfide control in sewer systems: a critical review of recent progress

2023

Journal Article

In-situ advanced oxidation of sediment iron for sulfide control in sewers

Liu, Yanchen, Zuo, Zhiqiang, Li, He, Xing, Yaxin, Cheng, Dong, Guo, Miao, Liu, Tao, Zheng, Min, Yuan, Zhiguo and Huang, Xia (2023). In-situ advanced oxidation of sediment iron for sulfide control in sewers. Water Research, 240 120077, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120077

In-situ advanced oxidation of sediment iron for sulfide control in sewers

2023

Journal Article

Fractionation of poplar through solid acid pretreatment assisted by mild alkali-1-butanol immersion to effectively produce xylose, glucose, and solid lignin

Chen, Yang, Qi, Wei, Shakeel, Usama, Liang, Cuiyi, Wang, Wen, Hu, Yunzi, Wang, Zhongming, Yuan, Zhenhong, Shen, Fei and Wang, Qiong (2023). Fractionation of poplar through solid acid pretreatment assisted by mild alkali-1-butanol immersion to effectively produce xylose, glucose, and solid lignin. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 14 (19), 1-19. doi: 10.1007/s13399-023-04378-4

Fractionation of poplar through solid acid pretreatment assisted by mild alkali-1-butanol immersion to effectively produce xylose, glucose, and solid lignin

2023

Journal Article

Greenhouse gas emissions, land use and employment in a future global bioplastics economy

Jin, Yutong, Lenzen, Manfred, Montoya, Alejandro, Laycock, Bronwyn, Yuan, Zhiguo, Lant, Paul, Li, Mengyu, Wood, Richard and Malik, Arunima (2023). Greenhouse gas emissions, land use and employment in a future global bioplastics economy. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 193 106950, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2023.106950

Greenhouse gas emissions, land use and employment in a future global bioplastics economy

2023

Journal Article

Impact of electrochemically generated iron on the performance of an anaerobic wastewater treatment process

Hu, Zhetai, Hu, Shihu, Hong, Pei-Ying, Zhang, Xueqin, Prodanovic, Veljko, Zhang, Kefeng, Ye, Liu, Deletic, Ana, Yuan, Zhiguo and Zheng, Min (2023). Impact of electrochemically generated iron on the performance of an anaerobic wastewater treatment process. Science of the Total Environment, 875 162628, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162628

Impact of electrochemically generated iron on the performance of an anaerobic wastewater treatment process

2023

Journal Article

Microbial nitrate reduction in propane- or butane-based membrane biofilm reactors under oxygen-limiting conditions

Wu, Mengxiong, Lai, Chun-Yu, Wang, Yulu, Yuan, Zhiguo and Guo, Jianhua (2023). Microbial nitrate reduction in propane- or butane-based membrane biofilm reactors under oxygen-limiting conditions. Water Research, 235 119887, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.119887

Microbial nitrate reduction in propane- or butane-based membrane biofilm reactors under oxygen-limiting conditions

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

    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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