Research progress on heavy metal wastewater treatment in the integrated circuit industry: From pollution control to resource utilization

The integrated circuit (IC) industry is a strategic emerging sector that plays a significant role in global technological advancement. However, its development has also led to the generation of substantial amounts of heavy metal wastewater. Currently, the hazardous wastewater from the IC industry primarily employs a centralized treatment model characterized by “unidirectional direct current and end-of-pipe treatment,” which emphasizes meeting discharge standards while neglecting resource recovery. This approach presents several challenges, including lengthy processes, high costs, large volumes of sludge, and elevated risks of secondary pollution. This paper systematically reviews recent progress in IC heavy metal wastewater treatment technologies, analyzing their fundamental principles, key advantages, and persistent limitations. It proposes a novel resource utilization strategy: “wastewater classification treatment and differentiated utilization.” This paradigm shift enables flexible, scenario-specific adaptation based on water quality characteristics, moving beyond mere pollution control. The discussion further explores future pathways for implementing deep resource recovery within the IC sector. The analysis herein aims to provide theoretical insights and methodological frameworks for sustainable heavy metal wastewater management in the IC industry. This paper underscores that advanced resource recovery is indispensable for the sector’s environmentally sustainable development, offering new perspectives to overcome critical environmental bottlenecks constraining IC industry progress.