GREEN CHEMISTRY APPROACHES FOR REDUCING INDUSTRIAL WATER POLLUTION: ECO-FRIENDLY TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES AND SUSTAINABLE WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Industrial effluents represent a major contributor to global water pollution, releasing heavy metals, dyes and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) into aquatic ecosystems. Conventional wastewater treatments often suffer from drawbacks such as incomplete removal of emerging contaminants, high energy consumption, and generation of secondary waste streams. Green chemistry offers a sustainable pathway by designing processes and materials that reduce or eliminate hazardous substances and maximize resource efficiency. This review evaluates a range of eco‑friendly treatment technologies including advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), bio‑adsorption and biosorbents, phytoremediation, membrane filtration, and green nanomaterial‑based catalytic degradation along with their environmental and economic feasibility. The integration of circular economy and zero‑liquid discharge (ZLD) paradigms is also examined. Key challenges remain in cost, industrial scalability, regulatory adoption and techno‑economic viability. The study concludes that the systematic incorporation of green chemistry principles into wastewater management can significantly reduce effluent toxicity, support circular economy goals, and drive more sustainable industrial development.