Yanna Liang

Professor and Chair
College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
Department of Environmental & Sustainable Engineering
Yanna Liang - CV
Yanna Liang

Contact

ETEC 113D2
518-437-4979
[email protected]
Education

Postdoc Bioenvironmental Engineering, Utah State University, 06-12/2006

PhD Environmental Engineering, Utah State University, 2006

MS Environmental Engineering, Utah State University, 2003

BE Environmental Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, 1992

About

Dr. Yanna Liang joined the University at Albany as Professor and Chair in the newly minted Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering in Summer 2017. Before Dr. Liang started her academic career in 2007 at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), she worked for the Environmental Protection Agency in China and the United States for more than eight years. She has secured more than $16 million external research funding as a PI, co-PI or senior personnel from Federal (e.g., NSF, DOE, EPA, DOD, USDA, NIEHS) and state agencies, industry and foundation. She has published over 120 peer-reviewed journal papers and invited book chapters and presented her research through more than 110 conference presentations. Dr. Liang is a registered professional engineer, a board-certified environmental engineer, an ABET Program Evaluator, an ASCE ExCEED Teaching Fellow, and has won various awards from ASCE, AWRA, and AWMA.

A Message from Dr. Liang: 

Throughout my career, I have grown to be passionate about sustainability. This is such an important and serious term and concept, and I believe that every scientific field and every corner of our society should apply the principle of sustainable development. This passion has been a driving force for my research over the years. At this new position, I wish to contribute to the training, educating and equipping of the next generation of scientists and engineers to be critical thinkers, problem solvers, lifelong learners and life changers. The sustainable principles they will learn here will guide their decision-making and help them to be responsible citizens. After all, we have only one earth, one home, at least for now. Thus, now is the time for us to treasure our beautiful environment.

My research interests are tied strongly to sustainable environment and energy. Besides working on conventional environmental research topics, such as remediation of organic and inorganic contaminants, water and wastewater treatment, I am passionate about research and development on renewable energy. In addition, to be proactive on protecting our environment, I am interested in understanding the fate and transport of emerging contaminants in different environmental matrices. Specifically, my research interests are:

  1. Biodegradation and phytoremediation of organic contaminants in subsurface and groundwater
  2. Innovative material design for environmental clean-up
  3. Microbial ecology in engineered and natural systems
  4. Fate and transport of engineered nanoparticles and emerging contaminants in aquatic and soil environments
  5. Microbial electrochemical cells for CO2 reduction
  6. Biochemical and thermochemical conversion of renewable feedstocks to biofuels and bio-products
  7. Water reuse and wastewater treatment

For more information about Dr. Liang's research, please visit her Sustainable Design Lab page.

Research

Sustainable Design Lab
Research Interests
  • Microbial ecology in engineered and natural systems
  • Fate and transport of engineered nanoparticles and emerging contaminants in aqueous and soil environments
  • Microbial electrochemical cells for CO2 reduction
  • Biochemical conversion of lignocellulosic feedstocks to biofuels
  • Pretreatment, hydrolysis and fermentation
  • Thermochemical conversion of renewable feedstocks to biofuels and bioproducts
  • Proper utilization of industrial and agricultural wastes or by-products for producing value-added commodities through holistic approaches
  • Water reuse and wastewater treatment
  • Bioremediation and biodegradation of organic contaminants in subsurface and groundwater
Publications

Yanna Liang's Google Scholar Page

  1. Ilango, A., Kharel, M., Zhang, W., Liang, Y. 2026. PFAS Uptake by Plants in Soils Amended with Biosolids Derived from Wastewater with Industrial Input. ACS Environmental Au. Accepted.

  2. Bitaraf, B., Pervez, M-N., Jiang, T., Ioanniti, M., Efstathiadis, H., Yigit, M., Liang, Y. 2026. Fast adsorption of short and long-chain PFAS from water by chemically modified sawdust. ES&T Water. In press.
  3. Pervez, M., Jiang, T., Ilango, AK., Kumaran, Y., Zhang, Y., Zhang, W., Efstathiadis, H., Feldblyum, JI., Yigit, MV., Venkatesan, AK., Liang, Y. 2026. Regenerable Graphene Nanoplatelet Adsorbents for Rapid and Trace-Level PFAS Removal from Water. ACS Omega. In press.
  4. Pervez, M., Jiang, T., Li, B., Bitaraf, B., Ilango, AK., Ioanniti, MM (Graduate student)., Schaeffer, C., Efstathiadis, H., Yigit, MV., Liang, Y. 2025. Cationically Modified PVA-Based Electrospun Nanofiber Membrane for Adsorptive PFAS Removal from Water. ACS Applied Engineering Materials. 4 (1), 93-106.
  5. Jiang, T., Pervez, M., Ilango, A.K., Liang, Y. 2025. Stabilizing Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) through Amending an Adsorbent to Contaminated Soil Planted with Alfalfa. Science of the Total Environment, Volume 1000, 20 October 2025, 180430.
  6. Pervez, M-N., Ilango A., Jiang T., Talukder M., Ehsan M., Cai, Y., Liang, Y. 2025. PFAS in the textile industry: Sources, fate, detection, and pathways toward sustainable remediation and regulation. Chemical Engineering Journal. 522, 168183.
  7. Ehsan, M., Pervez, MN., Alam, SM., Liang, Y., Vincenzo V. 2025. PFAS in biotic and abiotic matrices in coastal and estuarine ecosystems: Temporal and seasonal distribution, discharge and environmental impacts. Journal of Environmental Quality. In press.
  8. Qi, Y., Li, F., Zhang, C., Tang, X., Wang, C., Liang, Y., Sun, H., Xing, B. 2025. Enhancement of the Coadsorption of Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances onto Fe-MOF Derivative in Surface Water through Strengthening Hydrophobic Interactions. ACS ES&T Engineering. In press.
  9. Ilango, A., Mekkat R., Jeyalakshmi V., Pervez, N., Jiang, T., Chand P., Kumaran Y., Sukalingum D., Soos M., Liang, Y., 2025. Enhanced removal of PFAS in water using activated ZIF-8 carbons: high adsorption efficiency, repeatable regenerability and reusability. Chemical Engineering Journal. 507, 160192.
  10. Qi, Y., Yang, Y., Yu, X., Wu, S., Wang, S., Yu, Q., Wang, C., Liang, Y., Sun, H.  2025. Unveiling the Contribution of Hydrogen Radicals to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) Defluorination: Applicability and Degradation Mechanisms. Environmental Science and Technology. In press.
  11. Ehsana, M., Rizab, M., Pervez, N., Liang, Y. 2025. Source identification and distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the freshwater environment of USA. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology. 22 (3), 2021-2046.
  12. Jiang, T., Pervez, N., Ilango, A., Liang, Y., 2025. Enhanced Removal and Destruction of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Mixtures by Coupling Magnetic Modified Clay and Photoreductive Degradation. Journal of Water Process Engineering. 69, 106733.
  13. Ilango, A., Zhang W., Liang, Y., 2024. Uptake of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances by Conservation Reserve Program’s seed mix in biosolids-amended soil. Environmental Pollution, Volume 363, Part 2, 15 December 2024, 125235.
  14. Weilan Zhang, Liang, Y., 2025. Impact of Four Surfactants on the Uptake of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) by Red Fescue Grass. International Journal of Phytoremediation. 27, 13-22.
  15. Bian, Yanhong; Leininger, Aaron; Zhang, Weilan; Liang, Yanna; Ren, Zhiyong Jason. 2024. Co-valorization of food waste and CO2 to produce volatile fatty acids using liter-scale tubular microbial electrosynthesis cells. ACS ES&T Engineering. In press.
  16. Pervez, N., Jiang, T., Mahato, J., Ilango, A., Kumaran, Y., Zuo, Y., Zhang, W., Efstathiadis, H., Feldblyum, J., Yigit, M., Liang, Y. 2024. Surface modification of graphene oxide for fast removal of per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) mixtures from river water. ACS ES&T Water. 4, 7, 2968–2980.
  17. Pervez, N., Jiang, T., Liang, Y. 2024. Structure and mechanism of nanoengineered membranes toward per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) removal from water: A critical review. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 63, 105471.
  18. Jiang, T., Pervez, N., Ilango, A., Ravi Y., Zhang, W., Feldblyum. J., Yigit, M., Efstathiadis, H., Liang, Y. 2024. Magnetic Surfactant-Modified Clay for Enhanced Adsorption of Mixtures of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Snowmelt: Improving Practical Applicability and Efficiency. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 471, 134390.
  19. Qi Y., Yang Y., Cui S., Tang X., Zhang P., Wang C., Liang, Y., Sun H., Ma C., Xing B. 2024. Novel Defluorination Pathways of Perfluoroether Compounds (GenX): α-Fe2O3 Nanoparticle Layer Retains Higher Concentrations of Effective Hydrated Electrons. Environmental Science and Technology. 58, 12, 5567–5577.
  20. Ilango A., Arathala P., Musah R., and Liang, Y. 2024. Experimental and Density Functional Theory Investigation of Surface-Modified Biopolymer for Improved Adsorption of Mixtures of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Water. Water Research, 255, 121458.
  21. Sun S., Sui X., Yu H., Zheng Y., Zhu X., Wu X., Li Y., Lin Q., Zhang Y., Ye W., Liang, Y. 2024, High tribocatalytic performance of FeOOH nanorods for degrading organic dyes and antibiotics. Small Methods. In press.
  22. Nason, S., Thomas, S., Stanley, C., Silliboy, R., Blumenthal, M., Zhang, W., Liang, Y., Jones, J., Zuverza-Mena, N., White, J., Haynes, C., Vasiliou, V., Berger, B. 2024. A Comprehensive Trial on PFAS Remediation: Hemp Phytoextraction and PFAS Degradation in Harvested Plants. Environmental Science: Advances. 3, 304-313.
  23. Ilango, A., Liang, Y. 2023. Surface Modifications of Biopolymers for Removal of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances from Water: Current Research and Perspectives. Water Research. 249, 120927.
  24. Ilango, A., Jiang, T., Zhang, W., Pervez, N., Feldblyum, J., Efstathiadis, H., Liang, Y. 2023. Enhanced adsorption of mixtures of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water by chemically modified activated carbon. ACS ES&T Water. 3, 11, 3708–3715.
  25. Zhang W.L., Liang, Y. 2023. The Wide Presence of Fluorinated Compounds in Common Chemical Products and the Environment: A Review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. In press.
  26. Jiang, T., Pervez, N., Liang, Y. 2023. Effective Stabilization of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Precursors in Wastewater Treatment by Surfactant-Modified Clay. Chemosphere. 341, 140081.
  27. Pervez, M.-N., Jahid, MA., Mishu, MR., Talukder, E., Bounerba, A., Jiang, T., Liang, Y., Zhao, Y., Cai, Y., Naddo, V. 2023. Tuning the surface functionality of polyethylene glycol-modified graphene oxide/chitosan composite for efficient removal of dye. Scientific Reports. In press.
  28. Speer D., Patel T., Ho B., Phillips J., Zhu T., Shangraw J., Demirtas M., Liang, Y., Tutej A. 2023. Enhanced, Continuous, Liquid-liquid Extraction and In-situ Separation of Volatile Fatty Acids from Fermentation Broth. Separation and Purification Technology. 124810.
  29. Ilango, A., Jiang, T., Zhang, W-L., Feldblyum, J., Efstathiadis, H, Liang, Y. 2023. Surface-modified biopolymers for removing mixtures of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from water: Screening and removal mechanisms. Environmental Pollution, 331, 121865.
  30. Jiang, T., Shi, Q., Wei, Z., Shah, K., Efstathiadis H., Meng, X., Liang, Y. 2023. Leaching of Valuable Metals from Cathode Active Materials in Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries by Levulinic Acid and Biological Approaches. Heliyon, In press.

Explore more of Dr. Liang's publications, including conference proceedings.

Additional Information

Awards & Honors
  • 2025: ACS ES&T Water Best Paper Award for 2024
  • 2024: Fellow of International Association of Advanced Materials
  • 2023: Inventor Recognition Award, University at Albany
  • 2023: Excellence in Research Leadership, University at Albany
  • 2021: Best Paper of International Journal of Coal Science & Technology
  • 2020: Top 2% Scientists
  • 2019: Outstanding Presentation Award of the ACS Spring 2019 National Meeting ENVR Symposium of Innovative & Practical Approaches for the Treatment of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
  • 2019: ABET PEV
  • 2018: ABET IDEAL Scholar
  • 2015: Faculty Mentor of Excellence, Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity, SIUC
  • 2014: Faculty mentor for Kim Jarosz, First place (Physical Science/Engineering), SIUC Undergraduate Research Forum
  • 2013: McNair Outstanding Mentor, SIUC
  • 2009: ASCE ExCEED Teaching Fellow
  • 2009: SIUC Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity Awards
  • 2006: AWRA-Utah section graduate student paper contest, first place
  • 2005: EWRI graduate student technical paper contest, second place
  • 2004-2006: Inland Northwest Research Alliance (INRA) fellow
  • 2004: Air & Waste Management Association (AWMA) Scholarship