Education

Positions

• Emeritus Professor, School of Life Sciences, CUHK
• Associate Director, Environmental Science Programme, CUHK

Research Interests

• Photocatalytic Treatment for Environmental/ Water Purification
• Environmental Technology
• Environmental Microbiology / Biotechnology

Representative Publications

• Xia Dehua, An Taicheng, Li Guiying, Wang Wanjun, Zhao Huijun, Wong Po Keung. 2016. Synergistic photocatalytic inactivation mechanisms of bacteria by graphene sheets grafted plasmonic Ag-AgX (X= Cl, Br, I) composite photocatalyst under visible light irradiation. Water Research 99:149-161
• Ng Tsz Wai, Zhang Lisha, Liu Jianshe, Huang Guocheng, Wang Wei, Wong Po Keung. 2016. Visible-light-driven photocatalytic inactivation of Escherichia coli by magnetic Fe₂O₃-AgBr. Water Research 90:111-118.
• Sun Hongwei, Li Guiying, An Taicheng, Zhao Huijun, Wong Po Keung. 2016. Unveiling the photoelectrocatalytic inactivation mechanism of E. coli: Convincing evidence from responses of parent and anti-oxidation single gene knockout mutants. Water Research 88:135-143.
• Huang Guocheng, Xia Dehua, An Taicheng, Ng Tsz Wai, Yip Ho Yin, Li Guiying, Zhao Huijun, Wong Po Keung. 2015. Dual roles of capsular extracellular polymeric substances in the photocatalytic inactivation of Escherichia coli: Comparison of E. coli BW25113 with its isogenic mutants. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 81:5174-5183
• Xia Dehua, Shen Zhurui, Huang Guocheng, Wang Wanjun, Yu Jimmy C., Wong Po Keung. 2015. Red phosphorus: An earth-abundant element photocatalytst for “green” bacterial inactivation under visible light. Environmental Science & Technology 49:6264-6273
• Xia Dehua, Ng Tsz Wai, An Taicheng, Li Guiying Li, Li Yan, Yip Ho Yin, Zhao Hunjun, Lu Anhuai, Wong Po Keung. 2013. A recyclable mineral catalyst for visible-light-driven photocatalytic inactivation of bacteria: Natural magnetic sphalerite. Environmental Science & Technology 47:11166-11173.
• Wang Jun-Jian, Liu Xin, Ng Tsz Wai, Xiao Jie-Wen, Chow Alex T., Wong Po Keung. 2013. Disinfection byproducts formation from disinfecting pure bacterial cells and pipeline biofilms. Water Research 47:2701-2709.
• Gao Minghui, An Taicheng, Li Guiying, Nie Xin, Yip Ho-Yin, Zhao Huijun, Wong Po Keung. 2012. Genetic studies of the role of fatty acid and coenzyme A in photocatalytic inactivation of Escherichia coli. Water Research 46:3951-3957.
• Wang Wanjun, Yu Ying, An Taicheng, Li Guiying, Yip Ho Yin, Yu Jimmy C., Wong Po Keung. 2012. Visible-light-driven photocatalytic inactivation of E. coli K-12 by bismuth vanadate nanotubes: Bactericidal performance and mechanism. Environmental Science & Technology 46:4599-4606.
• Chen Yanmin, Lu Anhuai, Li Yan, Zhang Lisha, Yip Ho Yin, Zhao Huijun, An Taicheng, Wong Po Keung. 2011. Naturally occurring sphalerite as a novel cost-effective photocatalyst for bacterial disinfection under visible light. Environmental Science & Technology 45:35689-2695.

Research Grants

2016-2018Research Grant Council-General Research Fund (GRF)A Comparative Study of Natural Magnetic Minerals for Efficient and Cost-Effective Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Disinfection of BacteriaHK$ 942,5472015-2019National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)Environmental Geochemical Transformation Mechanism of Typical Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Antibiotic-Resistance Genes onto the Mineral Interface under the Light Irradiation (CUHK Principal Investigator)RMB 740,0002015-2017 ITSP Tier 3 Scheme An Integrated Technology of Simultaneous Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Dye Degradation and Hydrogen Production HK$ 1,399,032 (plus HK$ 469,452 for two internships)2014-2015ITSP Tier 3 SchemeApplication of Natural Magnetic Sphalerite for Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic DisinfectionHK$ 1,249,999 (plus HK$ 263,651 for an internship)2014-2017Agricultural and Food Research Initiatives (AFRI) Fund, US Department of Agriculture, USAImpacts of Prescribed Fire on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Production and Contaminant Phototransformation Reactions in Coastal Plain (CUHK Principal Investigator)US$ 499,3242014-2017National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)Environmental Behavior of Typical Phenolic BFRs and its Enhancement Degradation Mechanism by Isolated Bacteria (CUHK Principal Investigator)RMB 1,000,0002014-2017NSFCStudy on the Control of Environmental Benign Degradation Pathway for PAEs by New Bismuth Series Photocatalysts under Solar Light (CUHK Principal Investigator)RMB 820,0002011-2014Research Grant Council-General Research Fund (GRF)Visible-light-driven Photocatalytic Disinfection of Bacteria by Natural SphaleriteHK$ 1,090,1832010-2013GRFBalancing of Bacteria and Disinfection Byproducts Contamination in Municipal Water SupplyHK$ 775,4772008-2011National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaFormation of Byproducts from Cellular Materials during Bacterial Disinfection (CUHK Principal Investigator)RMB 350,0002007-2009Guangdong Technology FundStudy on the Production of Disinfection Byproducts(s) of Various Drinking Water Disinfection Processes (CUHK Principal Investigator)RMB 50,0002006-2009Research Grant Council- Competitive Earmarked Research Grant (CERG)Development of Immobilized Photocatalyst for Disinfection of Pathogenic Bacteria under Visible LightHK$ 982,0002005-2007CERGBiosynthesis of Tetrodotoxin (TTX) from TTX-producing Bacteria: A Study on the Synthetic Pathways in vivo and the Cloning of the Bacterial TTX-producing Genes (Co-investigator)HK$ 972,0492005-2008Research Grant Council- Central Allocation Vote (RGC-CAV)Bioactive Substances from Marine Microbes (CUHK Principal Investigator)HK$ 3,470,0002003-2005CERGFuzzy Air Quality Indices for Management of Indoor Air Quality in Air Conditioned Buildings (Co-investigator)HK$ 324,0002003-2005CERGConversion of Industrial Biomass Wastes into metal SorbentsHK$ 781,0712003-2006CERGIntegrated Photochemical-Biological Treatment of Dye-containing Effluent of Textile and Dyeing IndustryHK$ 1,353,0002002-2005Industrial Technology FundDevelopment of Advanced Photocatalytic Nano-coating Technologies for Environmental and Health Industries (Deputy Project Coordinator)HK$ 6,600,0002001-2004RGC-CAVBioactive Substances from Marine Bacteria (CUHK Principal Investigator)HK$ 3,500,0002000-2002CERGA Novel Process for Removing and Recovering Metal Contaminants Using Intergrated Biosorption and Electrodeposition (Co-investigator)HK$ 517,8171999-2001CERGIntegrated Chemical-biological Treatment of Dye-containing Effluent of Textile and Dyeing IndustryHK$ 720,5001999-2002RGC-CAVAutomatic Microbial Identification System (Co-investigator)HK$ 2,980,0001998-2000CERGRemoval and Recovery of Metal Ions from Electroplating Effluent by a Combined Chemical-biomagnetic SystemHK$ 955,0001995-1997CERGStudy of Magnetite-immobilised Bacterial-cell System for Removal and Recovery of Metals from Electroplating EffluentHK$ 781,0001992-1994CERGRemoval and Recovery of Nickel Ion (Ni2+) from Electroplating Effluent by Bacterial Cells Immobilised in MagnetitesHK$ 542,0001992-1995Croucher Foundation Research GrantEffects of Oil and Oil Dispersants on Marine Plankton in Hong Kong WatersHK$ 1,302,0001991-1993CERGApplication of Microbial Technology in Degradation and Decolorization of Synthetic DyesHK$ 570,0001990-1993Croucher Foundation Research GrantEffects of Heavy Metals on Marine Planktonic Organisms in Tolo HarbourHK$ 603,0001988-1991CERGRemoval of Heavy Metals from Wastewater by Immobilized Microbial CellsHK$ 500,000

Awards

• 2015, Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Output Award (Science and Technology) in the category of Natural Sciences (Second Class), Ministry of Education, China

Professional Activities

• Visiting Professor (Nankai University of China, Tianjin, China)
• Visiting Professor (South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China)
• Visiting Professor (Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China)
• Visiting Professor (Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, China)
• Adjunct Professor (Clemson University, South Carolina, USA)
• Member, CAS/SAFE A International Partnership Program for Creative Research Teams of Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Associate Editor (Journal of Environmental Sciences, Elsevier Science Ltd., USA)
• Coordinating Editor (Environmental Geochemistry and Health, Springer, Germany)
• Member, Editorial Board, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety (Elsevier Science Ltd., USA)
• Member, Water Pollution Control Appeal Board Panel, Hong Kong SAR Government, Hong Kong
• Member, ISO 1400 Technical Committee, Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA), Hong Kong
• Member, HKQAA-5S Scheme Technical Committee, HKQAA, Hong Kong