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

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.

Automated summary

In the chemical industry, the treatment of process wastewaters is a common problem. The high content of organochemical compounds often makes biological treatment methods unsuitable. However, physicochemical methods can effectively treat process wastewaters and also allow the recovery of pollutants. This study examines the treatment strategy for pharmaceutical process wastewater and highlights the efficiency of hybrid methods in achieving the main goal of maximum recovery and reuse of pollutants.