Reduction, detoxification and recycling of solid waste by hydrothermal technology: A review

Solid waste containing heavy metals, halogens and other hazardous substances can cause harm to humans and environment. It is a central issue that how to treat solid waste effectively and harmlessly. Hydrothermal technology is a prominent method to treat solid waste and has attracting worldwide attentions. In the hydrothermal reaction, water acts as a reaction medium, which is clean and environmentally friendly. The high temperature and high pressure environment prompt various reactions occurring quickly and efficiently. The closed environment of the hydrothermal reactor is conducive to avoid secondary pollution. In this paper, the concept and principle of hydrothermal technology are introduced, and the applications on the treatment of solid waste are summarized from three angles of reduction, detoxification, and recycling. At the end of the paper, we look forward to the future development of the hydrothermal technology applied on the solid waste treatment.