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)

641 - 660 of 805 works

2008

Journal Article

Sequential anode-cathode configuration improves cathodic oxygen reduction and effluent quality of microbial fuel cells

Freguia, Stefano, Rabaey, Korneel, Yuan, Zhiguo and Keller, Jurg (2008). Sequential anode-cathode configuration improves cathodic oxygen reduction and effluent quality of microbial fuel cells. Water Research, 42 (6-7), 1387-1396. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2007.10.007

Sequential anode-cathode configuration improves cathodic oxygen reduction and effluent quality of microbial fuel cells

2008

Journal Article

Odour control by chemical dosing: a case study

de Haas, David, Sharma, Keshab R., Corrie, Shaun, O'Halloran, Kellie, Keller, Jurg and Yuan, Zhiguo (2008). Odour control by chemical dosing: a case study. Water, 35 (2), 138-143.

Odour control by chemical dosing: a case study

2008

Journal Article

Instrumentation, Control and Automation-improving water and wastewater treatment

Hall, Sandra J. and Yuan, Zhiguo (2008). Instrumentation, Control and Automation-improving water and wastewater treatment. International Water Association 2008 Yearbook

Instrumentation, Control and Automation-improving water and wastewater treatment

2008

Conference Publication

The role of nitrite/free nitrous acid on N2O production during denitrification

Zhou, C., Pijuan, M., Fux, C., Yuan, Z. and Keller, J. (2008). The role of nitrite/free nitrous acid on N2O production during denitrification. 6th IWA World Water Congress, Vienna, Austria, 7-12 September, 2008.

The role of nitrite/free nitrous acid on N2O production during denitrification

2008

Conference Publication

A mechanism for bioelectrochemical systems

Rodriguez, J., Batstone, Damien J., Yuan, Zhiguo and Korneel Rabaey (2008). A mechanism for bioelectrochemical systems. 1stIWA/WEF Wastewater Treatment Modelling Seminar, Quebec City Canada, 1-3 June, 2008. Quebec: IWA.

A mechanism for bioelectrochemical systems

2008

Conference Publication

The role of nitrite/free nitrous acid on N20 production during denitrification

Zhou, Crystal, Pijuan Vilalta, Maite, Fux, C., Yuan, Zhiguo and Keller, Jurg (2008). The role of nitrite/free nitrous acid on N20 production during denitrification. AWA/IWA Australian Young Water Professionals Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 4-6 February, 2008. Brisbane, Australia: IWA.

The role of nitrite/free nitrous acid on N20 production during denitrification

2008

Journal Article

Characterizing the biochemical activity of full-scale enhanced biological phosphorus removal systems: A comparison with metabolic models

Pijuan, M., Oehmen, A., Baeza, J. A., Casas, C. and Yuan, Z. (2008). Characterizing the biochemical activity of full-scale enhanced biological phosphorus removal systems: A comparison with metabolic models. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 99 (1), 170-179. doi: 10.1002/bit.21502

Characterizing the biochemical activity of full-scale enhanced biological phosphorus removal systems: A comparison with metabolic models

2008

Journal Article

Achieving the nitrite pathway using aeration phase length control and step-feed in an SBR removing nutrients from abattoir waste

Romain Lemaire, Marcelino, M. and Yuan, Zhiguo (2008). Achieving the nitrite pathway using aeration phase length control and step-feed in an SBR removing nutrients from abattoir waste. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 100 (6), 1228-1236. doi: 10.1002/bit.21844

Achieving the nitrite pathway using aeration phase length control and step-feed in an SBR removing nutrients from abattoir waste

2008

Conference Publication

Free Nitrous acid (FNA) inhibition on nitrous oxide (N20) reduction

Zhou, Crystal, Pijuan Vilalta, Maite, Zeng, Raymond and Yuan, Zhiguo (2008). Free Nitrous acid (FNA) inhibition on nitrous oxide (N20) reduction. World Water Congress and Exhibition, Vienna, 7-12 September 2008. London: International Water Association-IWA.

Free Nitrous acid (FNA) inhibition on nitrous oxide (N20) reduction

2008

Conference Publication

Free Nitrous Acid (FNA) inhibition on nitrous oxide (N20) reduction by denitrifying EBPR sludge

Zhou, Crystal, Pijuan Vilalta, Maite, Zeng, Raymond and Yuan, Zhiguo (2008). Free Nitrous Acid (FNA) inhibition on nitrous oxide (N20) reduction by denitrifying EBPR sludge. Young Water Professionals, Brisbane, 4-6 February 2008. Brisane: IWA.

Free Nitrous Acid (FNA) inhibition on nitrous oxide (N20) reduction by denitrifying EBPR sludge

2008

Conference Publication

Fugitive Greenhouse Gas Emission from Waste Water System

Yuan, Zhiguo (2008). Fugitive Greenhouse Gas Emission from Waste Water System. International Conference on Environment 2008 (ICENV2008), Penang, Malaysia, 15-17 December, 2008. Penang:

Fugitive Greenhouse Gas Emission from Waste Water System

2008

Conference Publication

The inhibitory effects of free nitrous acid on nitrification, denitrification and enhanced biological phosphorus removal

Yuan, Zhiguo (2008). The inhibitory effects of free nitrous acid on nitrification, denitrification and enhanced biological phosphorus removal. Croucher Foundation Advanced studies Institute workshop on leading-edge strategies and technologies for sustainable urban water management, Hong Kong, 23-27 June, 2008. Hong Kong: IWA.

The inhibitory effects of free nitrous acid on nitrification, denitrification and enhanced biological phosphorus removal

2008

Journal Article

The Denitrification Capability of Cluster 1 Defluviicoccus vanus-Related Glycogen-Accumulating Organisms

Wang, Xiaolian, Raymond Zeng, Yu Dai, Peng, Yongzhen and Yuan, Zhiguo (2008). The Denitrification Capability of Cluster 1 Defluviicoccus vanus-Related Glycogen-Accumulating Organisms. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 99 (6), 1329-1336. doi: 10.1002/bit.21711

The Denitrification Capability of Cluster 1 Defluviicoccus vanus-Related Glycogen-Accumulating Organisms

2008

Conference Publication

Inhibition of Free Nitrous Acid on the P-uptake by Poly-phosphate Accumulating Organisms

Pijuan Vilalta, Maite, Crystal Zhou and Yuan, Zhiguo (2008). Inhibition of Free Nitrous Acid on the P-uptake by Poly-phosphate Accumulating Organisms. World Water Congress and Exhibition, Vienna Austria, 7-12 September 2008. London: IWA.

Inhibition of Free Nitrous Acid on the P-uptake by Poly-phosphate Accumulating Organisms

2008

Journal Article

Microbial distribution of Accumulibacter spp. and Competibacter spp. in aerobic granules from a lab-scale biological nutrient removal system

Romain Lemaire, Yuan, Zhiguo, Blackall, Linda L. and Crocetti, Gregory R. (2008). Microbial distribution of Accumulibacter spp. and Competibacter spp. in aerobic granules from a lab-scale biological nutrient removal system. Environmental Microbiology, 10 (2), 354-363. doi: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2007.01456.x

Microbial distribution of Accumulibacter spp. and Competibacter spp. in aerobic granules from a lab-scale biological nutrient removal system

2008

Conference Publication

Fugitive greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater systems

Foley, J., Lant, P. A., Yuan, Z., Keller, J. and Donlon, P. (2008). Fugitive greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater systems. 6th IWA World Water Congress, Vienna, Austria, 7-12 September, 2008.

Fugitive greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater systems

2008

Journal Article

First sequencing then connecting cultivation of the organisms and fast start-up of A2N two-sludge system

Yang, Q.-J., Wang, S.-Y., Liu, Y., Yuan, Z.-G. and Ge, C. (2008). First sequencing then connecting cultivation of the organisms and fast start-up of A2N two-sludge system. Huanjing Kexue/Environmental Science, 29 (8), 2249-2253.

First sequencing then connecting cultivation of the organisms and fast start-up of A2N two-sludge system

2008

Conference Publication

Nitrite effectively inhibits sulfate reducing bacterial activity in a laboratory scale sewer reactor

Janani Mohanakrishnan, Gutierrez, Oriol G., Meyer, R. and Yuan, Zhiguo (2008). Nitrite effectively inhibits sulfate reducing bacterial activity in a laboratory scale sewer reactor. Young Water Professionals, Brisbane, 4-6 February 2008. Brisbane: IWA.

Nitrite effectively inhibits sulfate reducing bacterial activity in a laboratory scale sewer reactor

2008

Journal Article

Nitrogen and phosphorus removal in pilot-scale anaerobic-anoxic oxidation ditch system

Peng, Y., Hou, H., Wang, S., Cui, Y. and Yuan, Zhiguo (2008). Nitrogen and phosphorus removal in pilot-scale anaerobic-anoxic oxidation ditch system. Journal of Environmental Sciences -China, 20 (4), 398-403. doi: 10.1016/S1001-0742(08)62070-7

Nitrogen and phosphorus removal in pilot-scale anaerobic-anoxic oxidation ditch system

2008

Conference Publication

Corrosion and odour management in sewers: the state of the art and key challenges

Yuan, Zhiguo, Sharma, Keshab R., Keller, Jurg, Philip Bond, Melchers, R., Stuetz, R., Valix, M., Witherspoon, J., Bustamante, H. and Vitanage, D. (2008). Corrosion and odour management in sewers: the state of the art and key challenges. World Water Congress and Exhibition, Vienna, 7-12 September 2008. London: IWA.

Corrosion and odour management in sewers: the state of the art and key challenges

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