Physicochemical methods for process wastewater treatment: powerful tools for circular economy in the chemical industry

Abstract

In the chemical industry, a typical problem is the appropriate treatment of the process wastewaters. The biological treatment cannot be usually applied because of the high content of organochemical compounds. However, phsycicochemical methods can significantly contribute to the proper treatment of the process wastewater and usually also allows the recovery of the polluting materials. This phenomenon opens the application area of physicochemical methods for the treatment of process wastewater and can contribute not only to the aims of the circular economy but also to the zero liquid discharge. Besides literature studies, authors’ own results and innovations have been also presented. The treatment strategy for pharmaceutical process wastewater is reviewed in detail, which also serves to point out that hybrid methods can be usually efficient to solve the primary goal–maximum recovery and reuse of polluting materials.

A Critical Review of Green Approach on Wastewater Treatment Strategies

“…Traditionally, wastewater treatment plants use chemical and energy-intensive processes to treat wastewater, which can have negative impacts on the environment. However, the green approach on wastewater treatment strategies uses technologies that are designed to reduce the environmental impact of wastewater treatment (Guo et al, 2019;Tóth et al, 2022). Wastewater treatment is the process of removing pollutants and contaminants from water before it is discharged into the environment.…”

Deployable and Retrievable 3D-Printed Zeolite–Polymer Composites for Wastewater Treatment: A Review

“…The exploration of innovative adsorbents for effective elimination of contaminants has emerged as a highly researched domain. 26 Additionally, ion exchange, employing materials like polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP), among others, is also employed in wastewater treatment processes. Zeolite, a hydrated crystalline material composed of aluminosilicate and alkali and alkaline earth metals, has been extensively employed in the field of wastewater treatment.…”

“…Physicochemical properties include the physical properties of substances and their solvation properties by chemical reaction. ,,, Physicochemical wastewater treatment methods include adsorption, filtration, ion exchange, electrolysis, photocatalysis, and other related processes. The exploration of innovative adsorbents for effective elimination of contaminants has emerged as a highly researched domain . Additionally, ion exchange, employing materials like polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP), among others, is also employed in wastewater treatment processes.…”

“…Wastewater treatment processes can be classified into biological, chemical, physical, and physicochemical approaches. , Physicochemical processes play an essential role in effectively treating wastewater while allowing polluting materials recovery. − This approach represents a potent strategy for managing industrial and domestic waste, while at the same time enabling resource recovery. Physicochemical properties include the physical properties of substances and their solvation properties by chemical reaction. ,,, Physicochemical wastewater treatment methods include adsorption, filtration, ion exchange, electrolysis, photocatalysis, and other related processes. The exploration of innovative adsorbents for effective elimination of contaminants has emerged as a highly researched domain .…”

Photoluminescence and Photocatalytic Properties of MWNTs Decorated with Fe-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles

“…Among the pollutants discharged into water, organic dyes used in activities performed by the textile, paper or cosmetic industries are a class of major environmental pollutants due to their high toxicity [ 1 ]. Annually, approximately 7 × 10 7 tons of dyes, such as azo, sulfide, direct, reactive, basic and acid dyes, are fabricated [ 2 ]. For example, Rhodamine B is an azo dye widely used in the textile, plastic and leather industries, which, in high concentrations, can constitute a health risk due to its carcinogenic and neurotoxic effect [ 3 ].…”