Previous Publications (Before Stanford Appointment)

Below is a curated list of research publications from Dr. Yu's academic and professional journey prior to joining Stanford.

† equal contribution, * corresponding author, ◊ student mentored.

  1. Che S, Liu H, Zhang S*, Yu Y*. (2025) Bird’s Eye View: Current Understanding and Future Perspectives of the Biodefluorination of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). Water Res. X  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wroa.2025.100356 (Open access)

  2. Jin B, Zhao W, Zhu Y, Liu Z, Yu Y, Che S, Liu J, Men Y.* (2025). Anaerobic microbial defluorination of polyfluoroalkylether substances (ether PFAS): Transformation pathways and roles of different microorganisms. ChemRxiv. 2025; doi:10.26434/chemrxiv-2025-wfkg9  (submitted to Environ. Sci. Technol.)

  3. Kalt M, Udressy C, Yu Y, Colliquet A◊, Fenner K*. (2025) Preserving the Biotransformation Potential of Activated Sludge in Time: Towards Reproducible Incubation Experiments for Persistence Assessment. Environ. Sci. Technol. DOI:10.1021/acs.est.4c08657  (Open access)

  4. Marti T, Schweizer D, Yu Y, Schärer M, Probst S, Robinson S* (2024) Machine learning reveals signatures of promiscuous microbial amidases for micropollutant biotransformations. ACS Environ. Au. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenvironau.4c00066 (Open access)

  5. Yu Y, Xu F, Zhao W, Thoma C, Che S, Richman J, Jin B, Zhu Y, Xing Y, Wackett L, Men Y*. (2024) Electron-bifurcation and fluoride efflux systems implicated in defluorination of perfluorinated unsaturated carboxylic acids by Acetobacterium spp. Science Advances. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ado2957 (Open access)

  6. Che S, Guan X, Rodrigues R, Yu Y, Xie Y, Liu C*, Men Y*. (2024) Synergistic Material-Microbe Interface towards Deeper Anaerobic Defluorination. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2400525121 (Open access)

  7. Yu Y, Trottman N, Schärer M, Fenner K, Robinson S*. (2024) Substrate promiscuity of xenobiotic-transforming hydrolases from stream biofilms impacted by treated wastewater. Water Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2024.121593 (Open access)

  8. Seller-Brison C, Brison A, Yu Y, Robinson S, Fenner K*. (2024) Triggering adaptation towards catabolic degradation of trace organic chemicals in activated sludge. Water Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2024.122431 (Open access)

  9. Zhang D*, Liu D, Jing J, Jia B, Tian Y, Le Y, Yu Y, Hu Q-N. (2024) Unveiling the Chemical Complexity of Food-Risk Components: A Comprehensive Data Resource Guide in 2024. Trends Food Sci. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2024.104513 (Open access)

  10. Jin B, Liu H, Shun C, Gao J, Yu Y, Liu J, Men Y*. (2023) Substantial defluorination of polychlorofluorocarboxylic acids triggered by anaerobic microbial hydrolytic dechlorination. Nature Water. DOI: 10.1038/s44221-023-00077-6 (Open access)

  11. Li M, Durkin D.P, Waller G, Yu Y, Men Y, Ye T, Chen H*, Shuai D*. (2023) Transformation of graphitic carbon nitride by reactive chlorine species: "weak" oxidants are the main players. Environ. Sci. Technol. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c06381

  12. Han P*, Rios-Miguel AB, Tang X, Yu Y, Zhou LJ*, Hou LJ, Liu M, Zhao Q, Sun D, Jetten M, Welte C, Men Y*, Lücker S. (2023) Benzimidazole fungicide biotransformation pathways and products by comammox Nitrospira bacteria. J. Hazard. Mater. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130558

  13. Yu Y, Che S, Ren C, Jin B, Tian Z, Liu J, Men Y*. (2022) Microbial defluorination of unsaturated per- and polyfluorinated carboxylic acids under anaerobic and aerobic conditions: a structure specificity study. Environ. Sci. Technol. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c05509 (Open access)

  14. Liu Z, Chen Z, Gao J, Yu Y, Men Y, Gu C, Liu J*. (2022) Accelerated Degradation of Perfluorosulfonates (PFSAs) and Perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs) by UV/Sulfite+Iodide: Reaction Mechanisms and System Efficiencies. Environ. Sci. Technol. DOI:10.1021/acs.est.1c07608 (2022 Environmental Science and Technology Best Paper Award, 2nd joint runner-up, Open access)

  15. Gao J, Liu Z, Bentel M, Yu Y, Men Y, Liu J*. (2022) Defluorination of ω-hydroperfluorocarboxylates (HPFCAs): distinct reactivities from perfluoro and fluorotelomeric carboxylates. Environ. Sci. Technol. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04429

  16. Che S, Jin B, Liu Z, Yu Y, Liu J, Men Y*. (2021) Structure-specific aerobic defluorination of short-chain fluorinated carboxylic acids by activated sludge communities. Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett. DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.1c00511 (Open access)

  17. Liu Z, Bentel M, Yu Y, Ren C, Gao J, Pulikkal V, Sun M, Men Y, Liu J*. (2021) Near-Quantitative Defluorination of Perfluorinated and Fluorotelomer Carboxylates and Sulfonates with Integrated Oxidation and Reduction. Environ. Sci. Technol. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c00353 (Open access)

  18. Zhou LJ, Han P*, Zhao M, Yu Y, Sun D, Hou L, Tang X, Klümper U, Gu JD, Wu QL, Wagner M, Men Y.(2021) Biotransformation of lincomycin and three fluoroquinolone antibiotics by the ammonia oxidizers AOA, AOB and comammox: a comparison on removal rate, pathway, and mechanism. Water Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117003

  19. Yu Y, Zhang K, Li Z, Ren C, Chen J, Lin Y-H, Liu J, Men Y*. (2020) Microbial cleavage of C‒F bonds in two C6 per- and polyfluorinated compounds via reductive defluorination. Environ. Sci. Technol. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c04483

  20. Bentel M, Liu Z, Yu Y, Gao J, Men Y, Liu J*. (2020) Enhanced degradation of perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) by UV/Sulfite treatment: reaction mechanisms and system efficiencies at pH 12. Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett. DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00236

  21. Han P, Yu Y† (co-first author), Zhou LJ, Tian Z, Li Z, Hou L, Liu M, Wu QL, Wagner M, Men Y*. (2019) Specific micropollutant biotransformation pattern by the comammox bacterium Nitrospira inopinata. Environ. Sci. Technol. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b01037

  22. Bentel M, Yu Y, Xu L, Kwon H, Li Z, Wong B, Men Y, Liu J*. (2019) Degradation of perfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acids (PFECAs) with hydrated electrons: structure-reactivity relationship and environmental implications. Environ. Sci. Technol. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b05869 (ACS Editors' Choice, Open access)

  23. Zhou LJ, Han P*, Yu Y, Wang B, Men Y, Wagner M, Wu QL*. (2019) Cometabolic biotransformation and microbial-mediated abiotic transformation of sulfonamides by three ammonia oxidizers. Water Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2019.05.031

  24. Bentel M, Yu Y, Xu L, Li Z, Wong B, Men Y, Liu J*. (2019) Defluorination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) with hydrated electrons: structural dependence and implications to PFAS remediation and management. Environ. Sci. Technol.  DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b06648 (Open access)

  25. Yu Y, Han P, Zhou LJ, Li Z, Wagner M, Men Y*. (2018) Ammonia monooxygenase-mediated cometabolic biotransformation and abiotic transformation of micropollutants in an AOB/NOB coculture. Environ. Sci. Technol.  DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b02801

  26. Xing Y, Yu Y, Men Y*. (2018) Occurrence and fate of emerging organic contaminants in wastewater treatment plants with an enhanced nitrification step. Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol. DOI: 10.1039/C8EW00278A