Abstract: As a green, low-energy water treatment approach, the freezing process has attracted growing attention in recent years for high-salinity organic wastewater treatment and resource recovery. This paper systematically reviews the mechanisms of physical separation and freeze-induced chemical acceleration, summarizes the development status of mainstream processes such as progressive freeze concentration (PFC) and suspension freezing (SFC), and elucidates the latest advances in external-field-assisted freezing processes. Building on this, we provide an in-depth analysis of the efficiency and mechanisms by which the freezing process accelerates chemical reactions to mitigate heavy-metal toxicity and remove organic contaminants. Finally, we evaluate the engineering application potential of the freezing process in industrial wastewater treatment, seawater desalination, and sludge management. In the context of the “dual-carbon” goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, future work should prioritize the development of low-carbon refrigeration systems and the exploration of green, intelligent freezing-process technologies to enable efficient purification and resource-oriented utilization of industrial wastewater.

Key words: freezing process, physical separation, reaction acceleration, high-salinity wastewater, resource utilization