Yue Zhang

Research interests

Anaerobic digestion (AD) for organic waste management and renewable energy production, especially optimisation of digestion process e.g. via selective trace element supplementation, and manipulation of microbially-mediated pathways methanogenesis

Mixed-culture fermentation for bio-based chemical production with integration of downstream recovery processes, especially on selective carboxylic acid production from protein-rich wastes

CO2 biomethanisation, especially in-situ hydrogen addition new project to be created

Research

Research interests

Anaerobic digestion (AD) for organic waste management and renewable energy production, especially optimisation of digestion process e.g. via selective trace element supplementation, and manipulation of microbially-mediated pathways methanogenesis
Mixed-culture fermentation for bio-based chemical production with integration of downstream recovery processes, especially on selective carboxylic acid production from protein-rich wastes
CO2 biomethanisation, especially in-situ hydrogen addition new project to be created
Microbial electrochemical systems for biofuel production, for instance for methane and biobutanol production
Nutrient recovery from waste and wastewater

Research projects

Completed projects

CO2 capture and utilisation in hybrid anaerobic digesters

Researchers:

Doctor Yue Zhang

Sponsor: Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council

Embedding technical expertise in the optimisation of trace metal supplementation strategies for successful bioenergy production

Researchers:

Doctor Yue Zhang

Sponsor: Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council

Production and extraction of C3 and C4 aliphatic carboxylic acids from the anaerobic digestion of waste blood as a model substrate

Researchers:

Doctor Yue Zhang

Biobutanol production via bioelectrochemical reduction of butyric acid

Researchers:

Doctor Yue Zhang

C Banks 2015 - Biomethanisation of CO2

Researchers:

Emeritus Professor Charles Banks

Emeritus Professor Sonia Heaven ,

Doctor Yue Zhang

Sponsor: EPSRC

Safe Use of Wastewater in Agriculture (SUWA)

Researchers:

Professor Paul Kemp

Doctor Yue Zhang

Sponsor: Royal Academy of Engineering

Biography

Dr Zhang’s research lies in the area of environmental sustainability. One of her main interests is anaerobic digestion, for both renewable energy production and organic waste management. During her postdoctoral career she undertook two Defra-funded research contracts on anaerobic digestion. The results have proven critical to the UK Government's plans for this technology, and have already been successfully applied in the commercial sector in the UK.

Her current focus is on microbial aspects of the anaerobic digestion process in order to identify the practical benefits this could give in terms of engineering control of these systems. The fundamental knowledge and understanding gained can be applied both to bioenergy and biofuels production, and in biotechnology for bioproducts. Within this line of research, fatty acid production and extraction from mixed-culture fermentation is being investigated via a number of BBSRC NIBB and Newton Fund projects.

Biomethanisation of CO2 in anaerobic digester is another main research area, supported by IB Catalyst H2AD project ‘Biomethanisation of CO2 in Anaerobic Digestion Plants’ and BBSRC Carbon Recycling Network project ‘Developing the Potential for CO2 Capture and Utilisation in Hybrid Anaerobic Digesters’.

She also retains a great interest in wastewater treatment and pollution remediation. The work carried out on this theme includes adsorption for metal removal, biological nutrient removal and bioelectrochemical systems.

Prizes

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) (2012)

Doctor Yue Zhang

Research interests

Connect with Yue

Research

Research interests

Research projects

Completed projects

Publications

Supervision

Current PhD Students

External roles and responsibilities

Biography

Prizes