Honorary Professor Zhiguo Yuan
Honorary Professor

Zhiguo Yuan

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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)

521 - 540 of 805 works

2012

Conference Publication

Full scale monitoring of fugitive nitrous oxide and methane emissions from a wastewater treatment plant in Australia

Law, Yingyu, Ye, Liu, Ni, Bing-Jie, Byers, Craig, DeJong, Katie, Lant, Paul and Yuan, Zhiguo (2012). Full scale monitoring of fugitive nitrous oxide and methane emissions from a wastewater treatment plant in Australia. OzWater '12: Australia's National Water Conference and Exhibition, Sydney, Australia, 8 - 10 May 2012. St Leonards, NSW, Australia: Australian Water Association.

Full scale monitoring of fugitive nitrous oxide and methane emissions from a wastewater treatment plant in Australia

2012

Journal Article

Integrated modelling of sewer system and wastewater treatment plant for investigating the impacts of chemical dosing in sewers

Sharma, K. R., Corrie, S. and Yuan, Z. (2012). Integrated modelling of sewer system and wastewater treatment plant for investigating the impacts of chemical dosing in sewers. Water Science and Technology, 65 (8), 1399-1405. doi: 10.2166/wst.2012.019

Integrated modelling of sewer system and wastewater treatment plant for investigating the impacts of chemical dosing in sewers

2012

Conference Publication

On-line control of magnesium hydroxide dosing for sulfide mitigation in sewers

Ganigue, Ramon, Chen, Jindong, Vuong, Lam and Yuan, Zhiguo (2012). On-line control of magnesium hydroxide dosing for sulfide mitigation in sewers. OzWater '12: Australia's National Water Conference and Exhibition, Sydney, Australia, 8 - 10 May 2012. St Leonards, NSW, Australia: Australian Water Association.

On-line control of magnesium hydroxide dosing for sulfide mitigation in sewers

2012

Conference Publication

Demonstration of nitrogen removal from wastewater by coupling anammox and methane-dependent denitrification in a membrane biofilm reactor

Shi, Ying, Hu, Shihu, Lou, Juqing, Lu, Peili, Keller, Jurg and Yuan, Zhiguo (2012). Demonstration of nitrogen removal from wastewater by coupling anammox and methane-dependent denitrification in a membrane biofilm reactor. IWA Nutrient Removal and Recovery 2012 (IWA NRR 2012), Harbin, China, 23-25 September 2012.

Demonstration of nitrogen removal from wastewater by coupling anammox and methane-dependent denitrification in a membrane biofilm reactor

2012

Conference Publication

Monitoring and modelling nitrous oxide emissions from a full-scale wastewater treatment plant

Law, Y., Ni, B. J., Ye, L., Byers, C., De Jong, K., Lant, P. and Yuan, Z. (2012). Monitoring and modelling nitrous oxide emissions from a full-scale wastewater treatment plant. 9th IWA Leading - Edge Conference on Water and Wastewater Technologies, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 3-7 June 2012.

Monitoring and modelling nitrous oxide emissions from a full-scale wastewater treatment plant

2011

Journal Article

SCORe-CT: A new method for testing effectiveness of sulfide-control chemicals used in sewer systems

Gutierrez, Oriol, Sudarjanto, Gatut, Sharma, Keshab R., Keller, Jurg and Yuan, Zhiguo (2011). SCORe-CT: A new method for testing effectiveness of sulfide-control chemicals used in sewer systems. Water Science and Technology, 64 (12), 2381-2388. doi: 10.2166/wst.2011.80

SCORe-CT: A new method for testing effectiveness of sulfide-control chemicals used in sewer systems

2011

Journal Article

Chemical dosing for sulfide control in Australia: An industry survey

Ganigue, Ramon, Gutierrez, Oriol, Rootsey, Ray and Yuan, Zhiguo (2011). Chemical dosing for sulfide control in Australia: An industry survey. Water Research, 45 (19), 6564-6574. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2011.09.054

Chemical dosing for sulfide control in Australia: An industry survey

2011

Journal Article

Selectively inducing the synthesis of a key structural exopolysaccharide in aerobic granules by enriching for Candidatus “Competibacter phosphatis”

Seviour, Thomas William, Lambert, Lynette K., Pijuan, Maite and Yuan, Zhiguo (2011). Selectively inducing the synthesis of a key structural exopolysaccharide in aerobic granules by enriching for Candidatus “Competibacter phosphatis”. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 92 (6), 1297-1305. doi: 10.1007/s00253-011-3385-1

Selectively inducing the synthesis of a key structural exopolysaccharide in aerobic granules by enriching for Candidatus “Competibacter phosphatis”

2011

Journal Article

The effect of pH on N2O production under aerobic conditions in a partial nitritation system

Law, Yingyu, Lant, Paul and Yuan, Zhiguo (2011). The effect of pH on N2O production under aerobic conditions in a partial nitritation system. Water Research, 45 (18), 5934-5944. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2011.08.055

The effect of pH on N2O production under aerobic conditions in a partial nitritation system

2011

Journal Article

Electrochemical sulfide oxidation from domestic wastewater using mixed metal-coated titanium electrodes

Pikaar, Ilje, Rozendal, Rene A., Yuan, Zhiguo, Keller, Jurg and Rabaey, Korneel (2011). Electrochemical sulfide oxidation from domestic wastewater using mixed metal-coated titanium electrodes. Water Research, 45 (17), 5381-5388. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2011.07.033

Electrochemical sulfide oxidation from domestic wastewater using mixed metal-coated titanium electrodes

2011

Journal Article

Optimization of intermittent, simultaneous dosage of nitrite and hydrochloric acid to control sulfide and methane productions in sewers

Jiang, Guangming, Gutierrez, Oriol, Sharma, Keshab Raj, Keller, Jurg and Yuan, Zhiguo (2011). Optimization of intermittent, simultaneous dosage of nitrite and hydrochloric acid to control sulfide and methane productions in sewers. Water Research, 45 (18), 6163-6172. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2011.09.009

Optimization of intermittent, simultaneous dosage of nitrite and hydrochloric acid to control sulfide and methane productions in sewers

2011

Journal Article

Electrochemical caustic generation from sewage

Pikaar, Ilje, Rozendal, Rene A., Yuan, Zhiguo and Rabaey, Korneel (2011). Electrochemical caustic generation from sewage. Electrochemistry Communications, 13 (11), 1202-1204. doi: 10.1016/j.elecom.2011.08.044

Electrochemical caustic generation from sewage

2011

Journal Article

A laboratory assessment of the impact of brewery wastewater discharge on sulfide and methane production in a sewer

Sudarjanto, Gatut, sharma, Keshab R., Gutierrez, Oriol and Yuan, Zhiguo (2011). A laboratory assessment of the impact of brewery wastewater discharge on sulfide and methane production in a sewer. Water Science & Technology, 64 (8), 1614-1619. doi: 10.2166/wst.2011.733

A laboratory assessment of the impact of brewery wastewater discharge on sulfide and methane production in a sewer

2011

Journal Article

Reducing the startup time of aerobic granular sludge reactors through seeding floccular sludge with crushed aerobic granules

Pijuan, Maite, Werner, Ursula and Yuan, Zhiguo (2011). Reducing the startup time of aerobic granular sludge reactors through seeding floccular sludge with crushed aerobic granules. Water Research, 45 (16), 5075-5083. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2011.07.009

Reducing the startup time of aerobic granular sludge reactors through seeding floccular sludge with crushed aerobic granules

2011

Journal Article

亚硝酸盐对聚磷菌厌氧代谢的影响

彭永臻 Peng, Yong-zhen, 郭春艳 Guo, Chun-yan, 徐立杰 Xu, Li-jie, 李夕耀 Li, Xi-yao and 袁志国 Yuan, Zhi-guo (2011). 亚硝酸盐对聚磷菌厌氧代谢的影响. Beijing Gongye Daxue Xuebao, 37 (9), 1424-1429.

亚硝酸盐对聚磷菌厌氧代谢的影响

2011

Journal Article

Dynamic microbial response of sulfidogenic wastewater biofilm to nitrate

Mohanakrishnan, Janani, Kofoed, Michael Vedel Wegener, Barr, Jeremy, Yuan, Zhiguo, Schramm, Andreas and Meyer, Rikke Louise Meyer (2011). Dynamic microbial response of sulfidogenic wastewater biofilm to nitrate. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 91 (6), 1647-1657. doi: 10.1007/s00253-011-3330-3

Dynamic microbial response of sulfidogenic wastewater biofilm to nitrate

2011

Journal Article

Review on the microbiological and biochemical characteristics of enhanced biological phosphorus removal system

Xu, Lijie, Guo, Chunyan, Peng, Yongzhen and Yuan, Zhiguo (2011). Review on the microbiological and biochemical characteristics of enhanced biological phosphorus removal system. Chinese Journal of Applied and Environmental Biology, 17 (3), 427-434. doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1145.2011.00427

Review on the microbiological and biochemical characteristics of enhanced biological phosphorus removal system

2011

Journal Article

Effect of nitrate and nitrite on the selection of microorganisms in the denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation process

Hu, Shihu, Zeng, Raymond, Keller, Jurg, Lant, Paul A. and Yuan, Zhiguo (2011). Effect of nitrate and nitrite on the selection of microorganisms in the denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation process. Environmental Microbiology Reports, 3 (3), 315-319. doi: 10.1111/j.1758-2229.2010.00227.x

Effect of nitrate and nitrite on the selection of microorganisms in the denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation process

2011

Journal Article

The strong biocidal effect of free nitrous acid on anaerobic sewer biofilms

Jiang, Guangming, Gutierrez, Oriol and Yuan, Zhiguo (2011). The strong biocidal effect of free nitrous acid on anaerobic sewer biofilms. Water Research, 45 (12), 3735-3743. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2011.04.026

The strong biocidal effect of free nitrous acid on anaerobic sewer biofilms

2011

Journal Article

The sewer corrosion and odour research (SCORe) project delivering outcomes to the water industry

Rootsey, Ray and Yuan, Zhiguo (2011). The sewer corrosion and odour research (SCORe) project delivering outcomes to the water industry. Water, 38 (1), 69-73.

The sewer corrosion and odour research (SCORe) project delivering outcomes to the water industry

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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