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)

141 - 160 of 805 works

2021

Journal Article

Novel multiplexed amplicon-based sequencing to quantify SARS-CoV-2 RNA from wastewater

Ni, Gaofeng, Lu, Ji, Maulani, Nova, Tian, Wei, Yang, Lin, Harliwong, Ivon, Wang, Zhiyao, Mueller, Jochen, Yang, Bicheng, Yuan, Zhiguo, Hu, Shihu and Guo, Jianhua (2021). Novel multiplexed amplicon-based sequencing to quantify SARS-CoV-2 RNA from wastewater. Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 8 (8) acs.estlett.1c00408, 683-690. doi: 10.1021/acs.estlett.1c00408

Novel multiplexed amplicon-based sequencing to quantify SARS-CoV-2 RNA from wastewater

2021

Journal Article

Interactions of functional microorganisms and their contributions to methane bioconversion to short-chain fatty acids

Zhao, Lei, Chen, Hui, Yuan, Zhiguo and Guo, Jianhua (2021). Interactions of functional microorganisms and their contributions to methane bioconversion to short-chain fatty acids. Water Research, 199 117184, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117184

Interactions of functional microorganisms and their contributions to methane bioconversion to short-chain fatty acids

2021

Journal Article

Exploring the spatial impact of green infrastructure on urban drainage resilience

Rodriguez, Mayra, Fu, Guangtao, Butler, David, Yuan, Zhiguo and Sharma, Keshab (2021). Exploring the spatial impact of green infrastructure on urban drainage resilience. Water, 13 (13) 1789, 1-21. doi: 10.3390/w13131789

Exploring the spatial impact of green infrastructure on urban drainage resilience

2021

Journal Article

Effects of pH, temperature, suspended solids, and biological activity on transformation of illicit drug and pharmaceutical biomarkers in sewers

Li, Jiaying, Gao, Jianfa, Zheng, Qiuda, Thai, Phong K., Duan, Haoran, Mueller, Jochen F., Yuan, Zhiguo and Jiang, Guangming (2021). Effects of pH, temperature, suspended solids, and biological activity on transformation of illicit drug and pharmaceutical biomarkers in sewers. Environmental Science and Technology, 55 (13), 8771-8782. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.1c01516

Effects of pH, temperature, suspended solids, and biological activity on transformation of illicit drug and pharmaceutical biomarkers in sewers

2021

Journal Article

Development of radio-frequency identification (RFID) sensors suitable for smart-monitoring applications in sewer systems

Tatiparthi, Sundra R., De Costa, Yashika G., Whittaker, Colin N., Hu, Shihu, Yuan, Zhiguo, Zhong, Ray Y. and Zhuang, Wei-Qin (2021). Development of radio-frequency identification (RFID) sensors suitable for smart-monitoring applications in sewer systems. Water Research, 198 117107, 117107. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117107

Development of radio-frequency identification (RFID) sensors suitable for smart-monitoring applications in sewer systems

2021

Journal Article

Shape-tuned electrodeposition of bismuth-based nanosheets on flow-through hollow fiber gas diffusion electrode for high-efficiency CO2 reduction to formate

Rabiee, Hesamoddin, Ge, Lei, Zhang, Xueqin, Hu, Shihu, Li, Mengran, Smart, Simon, Zhu, Zhonghua and Yuan, Zhiguo (2021). Shape-tuned electrodeposition of bismuth-based nanosheets on flow-through hollow fiber gas diffusion electrode for high-efficiency CO2 reduction to formate. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 286 119945, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2021.119945

Shape-tuned electrodeposition of bismuth-based nanosheets on flow-through hollow fiber gas diffusion electrode for high-efficiency CO2 reduction to formate

2021

Journal Article

Simultaneous removal of antibiotic resistant bacteria, antibiotic resistance genes, and micropollutants by a modified photo-Fenton process

Ahmed, Yunus, Zhong, Jiexi, Yuan, Zhiguo and Guo, Jianhua (2021). Simultaneous removal of antibiotic resistant bacteria, antibiotic resistance genes, and micropollutants by a modified photo-Fenton process. Water Research, 197 117075, 117075. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117075

Simultaneous removal of antibiotic resistant bacteria, antibiotic resistance genes, and micropollutants by a modified photo-Fenton process

2021

Journal Article

Feasibility of methane bioconversion to methanol by acid-tolerant ammonia-oxidizing bacteria

Zhang, Junji, Hu, Zhetai, Liu, Tao, Wang, Zhiyao, Guo, Jianhua, Yuan, Zhiguo and Zheng, Min (2021). Feasibility of methane bioconversion to methanol by acid-tolerant ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. Water Research, 197 117077, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117077

Feasibility of methane bioconversion to methanol by acid-tolerant ammonia-oxidizing bacteria

2021

Journal Article

Hydrogen-driven microbial biogas upgrading: advances, challenges and solutions

Lai, Chun-Yu, Zhou, Linjie, Yuan, Zhiguo and Guo, Jianhua (2021). Hydrogen-driven microbial biogas upgrading: advances, challenges and solutions. Water Research, 197 117120, 1-17. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117120

Hydrogen-driven microbial biogas upgrading: advances, challenges and solutions

2021

Journal Article

Numerical simulation and experimental study of the characteristics of packing feature size on liquid flow in a rotating packed bed

Duan, Xifan, Yuan, Zhiguo, Liu, Youzhi, Li, Hangtian and Jiao, Weizhou (2021). Numerical simulation and experimental study of the characteristics of packing feature size on liquid flow in a rotating packed bed. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 34, 22-31. doi: 10.1016/j.cjche.2020.09.063

Numerical simulation and experimental study of the characteristics of packing feature size on liquid flow in a rotating packed bed

2021

Journal Article

Insights into nitrous oxide mitigation strategies in wastewater treatment and challenges for wider implementation

Duan, Haoran, Zhao, Yingfen, Koch, Konrad, Wells, George F., Zheng, Min, Yuan, Zhiguo and Ye, Liu (2021). Insights into nitrous oxide mitigation strategies in wastewater treatment and challenges for wider implementation. Environmental Science and Technology, 55 (11) acs.est.1c00840, 7208-7224. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.1c00840

Insights into nitrous oxide mitigation strategies in wastewater treatment and challenges for wider implementation

2021

Journal Article

An integrated strategy to enhance performance of anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge

Calderon, Angelica Guerrero, Duan, Haoran, Meng, Jia, Zhao, Jing, Song, Yarong, Yu, Wenbo, Hu, Zhetai, Xu, Kangning, Cheng, Xiang, Hu, Shihu, Yuan, Zhiguo and Zheng, Min (2021). An integrated strategy to enhance performance of anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge. Water Research, 195 116977, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.116977

An integrated strategy to enhance performance of anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge

2021

Journal Article

Versatility of nitrite/nitrate-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (n-DAMO): first demonstration with real wastewater

Lim, Zhuan Khai, Liu, Tao, Zheng, Min, Yuan, Zhiguo, Guo, Jianhua and Hu, Shihu (2021). Versatility of nitrite/nitrate-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (n-DAMO): first demonstration with real wastewater. Water Research, 194 116912, 116912. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.116912

Versatility of nitrite/nitrate-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (n-DAMO): first demonstration with real wastewater

2021

Journal Article

Simultaneous nitrate and sulfate dependent anaerobic oxidation of methane linking carbon, nitrogen and sulfur cycles

Nie, Wen-Bo, Ding, Jie, Xie, Guo-Jun, Tan, Xin, Lu, Yang, Peng, Lai, Liu, Bing-Feng, Xing, De-Feng, Yuan, Zhiguo and Ren, Nanqi (2021). Simultaneous nitrate and sulfate dependent anaerobic oxidation of methane linking carbon, nitrogen and sulfur cycles. Water Research, 194 116928, 116928. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.116928

Simultaneous nitrate and sulfate dependent anaerobic oxidation of methane linking carbon, nitrogen and sulfur cycles

2021

Journal Article

Rapid formation of granules coupling n-DAMO and anammox microorganisms to remove nitrogen

Liu, Chunshuang, Liu, Tao, Zheng, Xiaoying, Meng, Jia, Chen, Hui, Yuan, Zhiguo, Hu, Shihu and Guo, Jianhua (2021). Rapid formation of granules coupling n-DAMO and anammox microorganisms to remove nitrogen. Water Research, 194 116963, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.116963

Rapid formation of granules coupling n-DAMO and anammox microorganisms to remove nitrogen

2021

Journal Article

Roles of oxygen in methane-dependent selenate reduction in a membrane biofilm reactor: stimulation or suppression

Wang, Yulu, Lai, Chunyu, Wu, Mengxiong, Song, Yarong, Hu, Shihu, Yuan, Zhiguo and Guo, Jianhua (2021). Roles of oxygen in methane-dependent selenate reduction in a membrane biofilm reactor: stimulation or suppression. Water Research, 198 117150, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117150

Roles of oxygen in methane-dependent selenate reduction in a membrane biofilm reactor: stimulation or suppression

2021

Journal Article

Acidic aerobic digestion of anaerobically-digested sludge enabled by a novel ammonia-oxidizing bacterium

Wang, Zhiyao, Zheng, Min, Duan, Haoran, Ni, Gaofeng, Yu, Wenbo, Liu, Yanchen, Yuan, Zhiguo and Hu, Shihu (2021). Acidic aerobic digestion of anaerobically-digested sludge enabled by a novel ammonia-oxidizing bacterium. Water Research, 194 116962, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.116962

Acidic aerobic digestion of anaerobically-digested sludge enabled by a novel ammonia-oxidizing bacterium

2021

Journal Article

Multilevel cross flow rotating packed bed to enhance gas film control mass transfer process

Duan, Qing-Qing, Yuan, Zhi-Guo, Liu, You-Zhi, Duan, Shan-Shan and Duan, Xi-Fan (2021). Multilevel cross flow rotating packed bed to enhance gas film control mass transfer process. Chemical Engineering and Processing - Process Intensification, 161 108321, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.cep.2021.108321

Multilevel cross flow rotating packed bed to enhance gas film control mass transfer process

2021

Journal Article

Amphiphilic perfluoropolyether copolymers for the effective removal of polyfluoroalkyl substances from aqueous environments

Tan, Xiao, Zhong, Jiexi, Fu, Changkui, Dang, Huy, Han, Yanxiao, Král, Petr, Guo, Jianhua, Yuan, Zhiguo, Peng, Hui, Zhang, Cheng and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2021). Amphiphilic perfluoropolyether copolymers for the effective removal of polyfluoroalkyl substances from aqueous environments. Macromolecules, 54 (7) acs.macromol.1c00096, 3447-3457. doi: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c00096

Amphiphilic perfluoropolyether copolymers for the effective removal of polyfluoroalkyl substances from aqueous environments

2021

Journal Article

In situ exploration of the sulfidogenic process at the water-sediment interface in sewers: mechanism and implications

Zuo, Zhiqiang, Sun, Zheng, Zhang, Yizhen, Wang, Moran, Ren, Daheng, Li, Siqi, Yuan, Zhiguo, Liu, Yanchen and Huang, Xia (2021). In situ exploration of the sulfidogenic process at the water-sediment interface in sewers: mechanism and implications. ACS - ES & T Engineering, 1 (3), 415-423. doi: 10.1021/acsestengg.0c00163

In situ exploration of the sulfidogenic process at the water-sediment interface in sewers: mechanism and implications

Availability

Honorary Professor Zhiguo Yuan is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • 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

    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

    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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