A Comprehensive Review of Treatment Technologies and Sustainable Materials in Environmental Chemical Engineering

Abstract

Environmental chemical engineering plays a central role in addressing pollution, resource stress and sustainability challenges across modern society. This review brings together recent developments in advanced treatment methods for water, air and solid waste, along with emerging trends in green chemistry and sustainable materials. Studies show that technologies such as advanced oxidation processes, membrane systems, catalytic remediation, bio-based treatments and hybrid processes are improving the removal of complex contaminants that conventional methods struggle to treat. Progress in air pollution control, including catalytic converters, triboelectric filtration and intelligent monitoring systems, reflects the growing need for cleaner industrial operations. Waste-to-energy routes, chemical and material recovery, and improved recycling technologies demonstrate the shift toward circular resource utilisation. Advances in sustainable polymers, catalytic materials and green chemistry provide new directions for low-impact production. Artificial intelligence is increasingly present across these domains, supporting prediction, optimisation and decision-making for environmental systems. Although the range of innovations is broad, challenges remain in cost, scalability, energy consumption and long-term operational stability. Integrating advanced materials, process intensification and digital optimisation will be important for overcoming these barriers. Overall, the review highlights how recent scientific and technological progress is shaping cleaner processes, better environmental protection and more sustainable industrial practice, while identifying areas that require further study.