Waste Water Treatment and Future Perspectives

Section: Reviews
Keywords: WHO, Pesticides, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), perfluoro-octanoic acid (PFOA), total organic carbon, wastewater treatment, industrial effluents, nanomaterials, environmental sustainability
Subjects: Applied Chemistry
Disciplines: Chemical Sciences

Industrial wastewater management presents a significant environmental challenge in the twenty-first century, driven by rapid industrialization and escalating waste generation. This review analyzes different categories of wastewater, their properties, and treatment methods, while also discussing future directions in wastewater management. This study classifies wastewater into several primary categories: storm run-off, domestic, agricultural, and industrial wastewaters, emphasizing organic and inorganic industrial effluents. Analysis indicates that around 80% of ailments are waterborne, as reported by WHO, highlighting the essential requirement for effective treatment solutions. The review examines various treatment methodologies, encompassing traditional approaches such as primary and secondary treatments, as well as advanced technologies like photocatalysis, membrane filtration, and electrochemical processes. Significant findings demonstrate the efficacy of electrochemical methods in the treatment of phenolic compounds, achieving notable removal rates with various electrode materials, including Ti/Pt/Ir and TiO₂-RuO₂-IrO₂. Polymer-based adsorption in textile wastewater treatment exhibits effective dye removal, whereas reverse osmosis achieves high efficiency (98–99%) in the removal of heavy metals from industrial effluents. Future perspectives emphasize the potential of emerging technologies, especially agricultural waste-derived nanomaterials for pollutant removal and the incorporation of plant biotechnologies for sustainable treatment solutions. The research highlights significant gaps, particularly in the areas of photocatalyst design enhancement, reactor optimization, and the elucidation of competitive adsorption mechanisms within complex wastewater systems. This review offers an extensive overview of existing wastewater treatment technologies and highlights essential areas for future research and development in sustainable water management practices.