Application of Traditional Chinese Medicine Residue and Its Derivatives in Sewage Treatment

Abstract

As traditional Chinese medicine treatment has received extensive attention in the treatment of novel coronavirus in recent years, output of Chinese medicine residues (CMR) increases. The produced CMR may lead to secondary pollution and waste of resources improperly, but it also can bring huge benefits for environmental protection as a potential resource with high efficiency. This article analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of a variety of CMR treatment methods over these years, investigates and summarizes the previous literature from the aspect of wastewater treatment, then finds that CMR and their derived materials can efficiently and stably absorb some pollutants as new adsorbents after modified treatment. In this article, the pollutants were divided into two main categories: heavy metals and organic matter. Varieties of treatments were proposed and their feasibility of application to wastewater treatment. The mechanism for the pollutant removal is further analyzed, where the adsorption methods include physical and chemical types. Research on the application of the CMR in wastewater is still in its infancy in terms of practical applications, but this research has great potential for development. In the process of recycling and application of the CMR, economic benefits would be brought to society and treatment methods of wastewater would be improved. Future research should be orientated to the study of adsorption treatment of large flow rates and mixed wastewater with multiple pollutants.