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)

541 - 560 of 805 works

2011

Journal Article

Electrochemical sulfide removal from synthetic and real domestic wastewater at high current densities

Pikaar, Ilje, Rozendal, René A., Yuan, Zhiguo, Keller, Jürg and Rabaey, Korneel (2011). Electrochemical sulfide removal from synthetic and real domestic wastewater at high current densities. Water Research, 45 (6), 2281-2289. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2010.12.025

Electrochemical sulfide removal from synthetic and real domestic wastewater at high current densities

2011

Journal Article

Impact of chemical dosing of sewers on WWTP performance

Sharma, K. R., Gutierrez, O., Corrie, S., O'Halloran, K., Capati, B., Keller, J. and Yuan, Z. (2011). Impact of chemical dosing of sewers on WWTP performance. Water, 38 (1), 88-91.

Impact of chemical dosing of sewers on WWTP performance

2011

Journal Article

Preparation and phenol-recognizing ability of a poly(methacrylic acid) molecular imprint on the surface of a silica gel

Yuan, Zhiguo, Liu, Youzhi and An, Fuqiang (2011). Preparation and phenol-recognizing ability of a poly(methacrylic acid) molecular imprint on the surface of a silica gel. Microchimica Acta, 172 (1-2), 89-94. doi: 10.1007/s00604-010-0461-7

Preparation and phenol-recognizing ability of a poly(methacrylic acid) molecular imprint on the surface of a silica gel

2011

Conference Publication

The effect of pH on N2O Production from an ammonium-oxidising enriched culture in a partial nitritation system

Law, Yingyu, Lant, Paul and Yuan, Zhiguo (2011). The effect of pH on N2O Production from an ammonium-oxidising enriched culture in a partial nitritation system. International Symposium on Microbial Resources of Management in Biotechnology: Concepts & Applications (1st, MRM, 2011), Ghent, Belgium, 30 June-1 July 2011.

The effect of pH on N2O Production from an ammonium-oxidising enriched culture in a partial nitritation system

2011

Journal Article

Biofilm stratification during simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) at a biocathode

Virdis, Bernardino, Read, Suzanne T., Rabaey, Korneel, Rozendal, Rene A., Yuan, Zhiguo and Keller, Jurg (2011). Biofilm stratification during simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) at a biocathode. Bioresource Technology, 102 (1), 334-341. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2010.06.155

Biofilm stratification during simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) at a biocathode

2011

Conference Publication

Quantifying Methane Evolution from Sewers: Results from WERF/DeKalb Phase 2- Continuous Monitoring

Willis, J., Fillmore, L., Shah, A., Yuan, Z. and Sharma, K. (2011). Quantifying Methane Evolution from Sewers: Results from WERF/DeKalb Phase 2- Continuous Monitoring. 84th Annual Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC 2011), Los Angeles, California, USA, 15-19 October 2011.

Quantifying Methane Evolution from Sewers: Results from WERF/DeKalb Phase 2- Continuous Monitoring

2011

Other Outputs

N2O and CH4 emission from wastewater collection and treatment systems: technical report

Foley, Jeff, Yuan, Zhiguo, Keller, Jurg, Senante, Elena, Chandran, Kartik, Willis, John, Shah, Anup, van Loosdrecht, Mark and van Voorthuizen, Ellen (2011). N2O and CH4 emission from wastewater collection and treatment systems: technical report. London, United Kingdom: Global Water Research Coalition.

N2O and CH4 emission from wastewater collection and treatment systems: technical report

2011

Book Chapter

Microbial fuel cells

Virdis, B., Freguia, S., Rozendal, R. A., Rabaey, K., Yuan, Z. and Keller, J. (2011). Microbial fuel cells. Treatise on water science. (pp. 641-665) edited by Peter A. Wilderer. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier Science. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-444-53199-5.00098-1

Microbial fuel cells

2011

Journal Article

Could nitrite/free nitrous acid favour GAOs over PAOs in enhanced biological phosphorus removal systems?

Pijuan, M., Ye, L. and Yuan, Z. (2011). Could nitrite/free nitrous acid favour GAOs over PAOs in enhanced biological phosphorus removal systems?. Water Science and Technology, 63 (2), 345-351. doi: 10.2166/wst.2011.062

Could nitrite/free nitrous acid favour GAOs over PAOs in enhanced biological phosphorus removal systems?

2011

Conference Publication

The biocidal effect of free nitrous acid on microorganisms in anaerobic wastewater biofilms

Jiang, Guangming, Gutierrez, Oriol and Yuan, Zhiguo (2011). The biocidal effect of free nitrous acid on microorganisms in anaerobic wastewater biofilms. 8th IWA Leading-Edge Conference on Water and Wastewater Technologies, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 6-10 June 2011.

The biocidal effect of free nitrous acid on microorganisms in anaerobic wastewater biofilms

2011

Conference Publication

Nitrifier decay and recovery in a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) teating reverse osmosis concentrate

Ye, Liu, Hu, Shihu, Poussade, Yvan, Keller, Jurg and Yuan, Zhiguo (2011). Nitrifier decay and recovery in a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) teating reverse osmosis concentrate. IWA Biofilm Conference 2011: Processes in Biofilms, Shanghai, China, October 27-30 2011. Shanghai, China: IWA.

Nitrifier decay and recovery in a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) teating reverse osmosis concentrate

2011

Conference Publication

Isotopic fractionation and assimilation of fossil carbon in wastewater treatment plant

Law, YingYu, Jacobsen, Geraldine, Smith, Andrew, Yuan, Zhiguo and Lant, Paul (2011). Isotopic fractionation and assimilation of fossil carbon in wastewater treatment plant. UQ Engineering Postgraduate Research Conference (2011), Brisbane, Australia, 6 June 2011.

Isotopic fractionation and assimilation of fossil carbon in wastewater treatment plant

2011

Conference Publication

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

Sharma K. R., Corrie, S. and Yuan, Z. (2011). Integrated modelling of sewer system and wastewater treatment plant for investigating the impacts of chemical dosing in sewer. 8th IWA Symposium on Systems Analysis and Integrated Assessment (Watermatex 2011), San Sebastian, Spain, 20-22 June 2011. San Sebastian, Spain:

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

2011

Conference Publication

Control of anaerobic sewer biofilms using the biocidal effect of free nitrous acid

Jiang, Guangming, Gutierrez, Oriol and Yuan, Zhiguo (2011). Control of anaerobic sewer biofilms using the biocidal effect of free nitrous acid. IWA Biofilm Conference 2011:Processes in Biofilms, Shanghai, China, 27-30 October 2011.

Control of anaerobic sewer biofilms using the biocidal effect of free nitrous acid

2011

Conference Publication

Electrochemical sulfide abatement in sewer systems

Pikaar, Ilje, Rozendal, Rene, Yuan, Z, Keller, Jurg and Rabaey, Korneel (2011). Electrochemical sulfide abatement in sewer systems. 8th IWA Leading-Edge Conference on Water and Wastewater Technologies, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 6-10 June 2011.

Electrochemical sulfide abatement in sewer systems

2011

Other Outputs

N2O and CH4 emission from wastewater collection and treatment systems: state of the science report

Foley, Jeff, Yuan, Zhiguo, Keller, Jurg, Senante, Elena, Chandran, Kartik, Willis, John, Shah, Anup, van Loosdrecht, Mark and van Voorthuizen, Ellen (2011). N2O and CH4 emission from wastewater collection and treatment systems: state of the science report. London, United Kingdom: Global Water Research Coalition.

N2O and CH4 emission from wastewater collection and treatment systems: state of the science report

2011

Conference Publication

Developing a benchmarking tool for minimizing wastewater utility greenhouse gas footprints

Porro, J., Guo, L., Sharma K., Benedetti, L., Vanrolleghem, P. A., Amerlinck, Y., Yuan, Z., Shaw, A. and Nopens, I. (2011). Developing a benchmarking tool for minimizing wastewater utility greenhouse gas footprints. Watermatex 2011: 8th IWA Symposium on Systems Analysis and Integrated Assessment, San Sebastian, Spain, 20-22 June 2011. London, United Kingdom: International Water Association.

Developing a benchmarking tool for minimizing wastewater utility greenhouse gas footprints

2011

Conference Publication

The effect of free nitrous acid on the anaerobic metabolism of Polyphosphate Accumulating Organisms (PAOs) and Glycogen Accumulating Organisms (GAOs)

Ye, Liu, Pijuan, Maite and Yuan, Zhiguo (2011). The effect of free nitrous acid on the anaerobic metabolism of Polyphosphate Accumulating Organisms (PAOs) and Glycogen Accumulating Organisms (GAOs). Nutrient Recovery and Management Conference 2011, Miami, Florida, USA, January 9 – 12 2011. Miami, Florida, USA: WEF /IWA.

The effect of free nitrous acid on the anaerobic metabolism of Polyphosphate Accumulating Organisms (PAOs) and Glycogen Accumulating Organisms (GAOs)

2010

Journal Article

Structural determination of a key exopolysaccharide in mixed culture aerobic sludge granules using NMR spectroscopy

Seviour, T, Lambert, LK, Pijuan, M and Yuan, ZG (2010). Structural determination of a key exopolysaccharide in mixed culture aerobic sludge granules using NMR spectroscopy. Environmental Science & Technology, 44 (23), 8964-8970. doi: 10.1021/es102658s

Structural determination of a key exopolysaccharide in mixed culture aerobic sludge granules using NMR spectroscopy

2010

Journal Article

Free nitrous acid inhibition on the aerobic metabolism of poly-phosphate accumulating organisms

Pijuan, Maite, Ye, Liu and Yuan, Zhiguo (2010). Free nitrous acid inhibition on the aerobic metabolism of poly-phosphate accumulating organisms. Water Research, 44 (20), 6063-6072. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2010.07.075

Free nitrous acid inhibition on the aerobic metabolism of poly-phosphate accumulating organisms

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

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au