Papadopoulou Lefkothea
Zhiwu (Drew) Wang, PhD
Assistant Professor
  • Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
    Manassas, Virginia, USA
    Phone:
    (703) 361-5606 Ext. 119
    E-mail:
    wzw@vt.edu

     

Education

2003 to 2007

Ph.D. degree in Environmental Engineering

Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

1996 to 2000

Bachelor Degree in Environmental (Water Supply & Drainage) Engineering

Harbin Institute of Technology, P.R.China

 

Biography

Dr. Zhiwu Wang is an Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Co-Director of the Center for Applied Water Research and Innovation at Virginia Tech. Dr. Wang’s research, teaching, and outreach activities are focused on the development of sustainable biotechnologies for the treatment of liquid and solid waste. His studies provide insight into engineered bioprocesses specifically designed for biological wastewater treatment and value-added bioproducts recovery, with the overarching goal of advancing the environmental engineering research and serving the technical needs of industry stakeholders.

Research Interest

Dr. Wang is especially interested in developing applications for biofilms, biogranules, and other attached growth technologies to achieve high-rate wastewater treatment through consolidated processes. Current projects in his lab include: aerobic granulation, anaerobic digestion, nutrient removal/recovery, and the conversion of a wide spectrum of waste into methane, ethanol, biodiesel, electricity and bioplastics.

Scientific Activities:

Professional History
  • 2015 to present: Assistant Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, USA
  • 2014 to 2015: Director, Renewable Energy Program, The Ohio State University, USA
  • 2011 to 2014: Visiting Assistant Professor, The Ohio State University, USA
  • 2009 to 2011: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA
  • 2007 to 2009: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Washington State University, USA
  • 2006 to 2007: Project Officer, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Editorial Board
  • 2017 - present: Editorial board member of the Journal of Environmental and Toxicological Studies
  • 2014: Guest Editor for The Scientific World Journal
  • 2013: Editorial board member of the Journal of Environmental Sciences
Professional Memberships
  • International Water Association (IWA)
  • Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP)
  • American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ASABE)
  • Water Environment Federation (WEF)
  • Federal Water Quality Association (FWQA)
  • Virginia Water Environment Association (VWEA)

Publications

  1. Cui Y.W., Zhang H.Y., Ji S.Y. and Wang Z.W. (2016) Kinetic Analysis of the Temperature Effect on Polyhydroxyalkanoate Production by Haloferax mediterranei in Synthetic Molasses Wastewater,Journal of Polymers and the Environment (Accepted)
  2. Wang L.L., Li W.Z., Wang Z.J., Wang Z.W., Sui C., Li Y. (2016) Effect of digestate application depth on soil nitrogen volatilization and vertical distribution, International Journal of Agricultural & Biological Engineering (Accepted)
  3. Wang Z.W.*, Xu F.Q, Manchala, K.R., Sun Y.W., and Li Y.B. (2016) Fractal-like kinetics of the solid-state anaerobic digestion, Waste Management, 53: 55-61
  4. Xu F.Q, Wang Z.W., and Li Y.B. (2016) Converting Solid Waste into Renewable Energy with Solid-State Anaerobic Digestion, Resource Magazine, 23(4): 4-5
  5. Xu F.Q., Li Y.B.* and Wang Z.W.* (2015) Mathematical modeling of solid-state anaerobic digestion, Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, 51: 49-66
  6. Sheets J.P, Yang L.C., Ge X.M, Wang Z.W., and Li Y.B., (2015) Beyond land application: Emerging technologies for the treatment and reuse of anaerobically digested agricultural and food waste, Waste Management, 44: 94-115
  7. Morrell-Falvey, J.L., Elkins, J.G. and Wang, Z.W.*, (2015) Determination of the cellulase activity distribution in Clostridium the rmocellum and Caldicellulosiruptor obsidians is cultures using a fluorescent substrate. Journal of environmental sciences, 34: 212-218
  8. Xu F.Q., Wang Z.W. and Li Y.B., (2014) Predicting the methane yield of lignocellulosic biomass in mesophilic solid-state anaerobic digestion based on feedstock characteristics and process parameters, Bioresource Technology, 173:168–176
  9. Xu F.Q., Wang Z.W.*, Tang L. and Li Y.B., (2014) A mass diffusion-based interpretation of the total solids effect on solid- state anaerobic digestion of cellulosic biomass, Bioresource Technology, 167:178-185
  10. Li X.K, Wang S.T., Wang Z.W., and Ma J. (2013) In-depth characterization of secondary effluent from a conventional municipal wastewater treatment plant in northern China for tertiary  treatment, Water Science and Technology, 69(7):1482-1488
  11. Wang Z.W.* and Li Y.B., (2013) A theoretical derivation of the Contois equation for kinetic modeling of microbial growth on insoluble substrate, Biochemical Engineering Journal, 82(15) 134-138
  12. Wang Z.W., Lee S.H., Elkins J.G., Li Y.C., Hamilton-Brehm S., Morrell-Falvey, J.L. (2013) Continuous live cell imaging of cellulose attachment by microbes under anaerobic and thermophilic conditions using confocal microscopy, Journal of Environmental Sciences, 25(5): 1-8
  13. Ma J.W., Frear C., Wang Z.W., Yu L., Zhao Q.B., Li X.J., Chen S.L. (2012) A simple  methodology for rate-limiting step determination for anaerobic digestion of complex substrates and effect of microbial community ratio, Bioresource Technology, 134: 391-395
  14. Wang Z.W., Elkins J.G., Morrell-Falvey J.L. (2011) Spatial and temporal dynamics of cellulose degradation and biofilm formation by Caldicellulosiruptor obsidiansis and Clostridium thermocellum, AMB Express 1:30-40
  15. Borole A.P., Reguera G., Ringeisen B., Wang Z.W., Feng Y.J. and Kim, B.H. (2011) Electro-Active Biofilms: Current Status and Future Research Needs, Energy and Environmental Science 4: 4813- 4834
  16. Wang Z.W, Hamilton-Brehm S.D., Elkins J.G., Lochner A., Morrell-Falvey J.L. (2010) Mathematical modeling of hydrolysate diffusion and utilization in cellulolytic biofilms of the extreme thermophile Caldicellulosiruptor obsidiansis, Bioresource Technology 102(3):3155-3162
  17. Wang Z.W., Ma J.W. and Chen S.L. (2010) Bipolar effects of settling time on active biomass retention in anaerobic sequencing batch reactors digesting flushed dairy manure, Bioresource technology 102(2):697-702
  18. Frear C., Wang Z.W.*, Li C.L. and Chen S.L. (2010) Biogas potential and microbial population distributions in flushed dairy manure and implications on anaerobic digestion technology, Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology 86(1):145–152
  19. Wang Z.W., Xie S. Liu Y. and Hung Y.T. (2009) Resistance of Aerobic Granules to Cr3+-Containing Wastewater, International Journal of Environmental Engineering Science 1(2):169-178
  20. Wang Z.W. and Chen S.L. (2009) Potential of biofilm-based biofuel production, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 83(1):1-18
  21. Li Y., Liu Y. and Wang Z.W. (2009) Stoichiometric analysis of dissolved organic carbon flux into storage and growth in aerobic granules culture. Biotechnology Journal 4(2): 238-246
  22. Wang Z.W., Liu Y. Tay J.H. (2007) Biodegradability of extracellular polymeric substances produced by aerobic granules. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 74(2): 462-466
  23. Wang Z.W. and Liu Y. (2007) Mechanism of calcium accumulation in acetate-fed aerobic granule. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 74(2): 467-473
  24. Wang Z.W., Li Y., Zhou J.Q. and Liu Y. (2006) The influence of short-term starvation on aerobic granules. Process Biochemistry 41: 2373-2378
  25. Wang Z.W., Liu Y. and Tay J.H. (2006) The role of SBR mixed liquor volume exchange ratio in aerobic granulation. Chemosphere 62: 767-771
  26. Wang Z.W., Liu Y. and Tay J.H. (2005) Distribution of EPS and cell surface hydrophobicity in aerobic granules Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 69(4): 469-473
  27. Liu Y. and Wang Z.W. (2008) Uncertainty of preset-order kinetic equations in description of biosorption data. Bioresource Technology 99(8): 3309-3312
  28. Liu Y., Wang Z.W., Qin L., Liu Y.Q. and Tay J.H. (2005) Selection pressure-driven aerobic granulation in a sequencing batch reactor. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 67(1): 26-32
  29. Liu Y., Wang Z.W. and Tay J.H. (2005) A unified theory for upscaling aerobic granular sludge sequencing batch reactors. Biotechnology Advances 23(5): 335-344
  30. Liu Y., Wang Z.W., Liu Y.Q., Qin L. and Tay J.H. (2005) A generalized model for settling velocity of aerobic granular sludge. Biotechnology Progress 21(2): 621-626
  31. Liu Y., Liu Y.Q., Wang Z.W., Yang S.F. and Tay J.H. (2005) Influence of substrate surface loading on the kinetic behavior of aerobic granules. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 67(4): 484- 488
  32. Ivanov V., Tay S.T.L., Liu Q.S., Wang X.H., Wang Z.W., and Tay J.H. (2005) Formation and structure of granulated microbial aggregates used in aerobic wastewater treatment. Water Science and Technology 52(7): 13-19
Book Chapters
  1. Wang Z.W. and Liu Y. (2011) Dissolved oxygen biological process for sludge reduction. In: “Biological sludge minimization and biomaterials/bioenergy recovery technologies”, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., NY.
  2. Shen L., Wang Z.W., Fang S.Q. and Liu Y., (2008) Bisorption isotherms and thermodynamics. In: “Fundamentals and applications of biosorption isotherms, kinetics and thermodynamics”, Nova Science Publishers, NY.
  3. Shen L, Liu Y and Wang Z.W., (2008) Biosorption kinetics. In: “Fundamentals and applications of biosorption isotherms, kinetics and thermodynamics”, Nova Science Publishers, NY.
  4. Wang Z.W. and Liu Y. (2007) Aerobic granulation at different SBR cycle times. In: “Wastewater purification: aerobic granulation in sequencing batch reactor”, Taylor & Francis Group LLC – CRC Press, Florida
  5. Wang Z.W. and Liu Y. (2007) Roles of SBR volume exchange ratio and discharge time in aerobic granulation. In: “Wastewater purification: aerobic granulation in sequencing batch reactor”, Taylor & Francis Group LLC - CRC Press, Florida
  6. Wang Z.W. and Liu Y. (2007) Internal structure of aerobic granule. In: “Wastewater purification: aerobic granulation in sequencing batch reactor”, Taylor & Francis Group LLC - CRC Press, Florida
  7. Wang Z.W. and Liu Y. (2007) Biodegradability of extracellular polymeric substances produced by aerobic granules. In: “Wastewater purification: aerobic granulation in sequencing batch reactor”, Taylor & Francis Group LLC - CRC Press, Florida
  8. Wang Z.W., Li Y. and Liu Y. (2007) Calcium accumulation in acetate-fed aerobic granule. In: Wastewater purification: aerobic granulation in sequencing batch reactor”, Taylor & Francis Group LLC - CRC Press, Florida
  9. Li Y., Wang Z.W. and Liu Y. (2007) Diffusion of substrate and oxygen in aerobic granule. In: “Wastewater purification: aerobic granulation in sequencing batch reactor”, Taylor & Francis Group LLC - CRC Press, Florida
  10. Liu Y., Wang Z.W. (2007) Selection pressure theory for aerobic granulation in sequencing batch reactor. In: “Wastewater purification: aerobic granulation in sequencing batch reactor”, Taylor & Francis Group LLC - CRC Press, Florida
  11. Liu Y., Wang Z.W. (2007) Essential roles of cell hydrophobicity in aerobic granulation. In: “Wastewater purification: aerobic granulation in sequencing batch reactor”, Taylor & Francis Group LLC - CRC Press, Florida
  12. . Liu Y., Wang Z.W. (2007) Essential roles of extracellular polymeric substances in aerobic granulation. In: “Wastewater purification: aerobic granulation in sequencing batch reactor”, Taylor & Francis Group LLC - CRC Press, Florida
  13. Liu Y., Wang Z.W. and Liu Q.S (2007) Influence of starvation on aerobic granulation. In: “Wastewater purification: aerobic granulation in sequencing batch reactor”, Taylor & Francis Group LLC - CRC Press, Florida
  14. Liu Y., Wang Z.W. and Liu Q.S (2007) Improved stability of aerobic granules by selecting lowgrowing bacteria. In: “Wastewater purification: aerobic granulation in sequencing batch reactor”, Taylor & Francis Group LLC - CRC Press, Florida
  15. Wang Z.W. and Liu Y. (2007) Modeling of heavy metal biosorption by aerobic granules. In: “Focus on Colloid and Surface Research”, ed. Columbus F., Nova Science Publishers, Inc., New York

 

 

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