Future process options for brine sludge management from the chlor-alkali industry

India achieved the goal of a circular economy towards regenerative, value-creating development and growth for long-term prosperity. But at the same time, due to the recent unprecedented urbanization and industrialization, wastes and pollutants generated from these activities are enormous, which causes water, air and soil pollution. For example, brine sludge is one of the large quantities of waste from the chlor-alkali industry. This paper reviews different environmental impacts of waste minimization of brine sludge from the chlor-alkali industry with current treatment and utilization technologies. Various materials developed like paver blocks, bricks, non-toxic radiation shielding materials, cement-free materials, etc., using brine sludge as resource material, which can be helpful for broad application spectrum. Conventional softening, Ion exchange, and membrane technologies are available to remove solute from brine sludge. For the salt content in brine sludge, resins' uses are most economical and immensely practical. Due to high-quality recovery with power generation and environmentally friendly brine treatment, membrane-based technologies like membrane distillation, forward osmosis, and electrodialysis can be preferred. In the future perspective, recent membrane technologies like pressure-retarded osmosis and reverse electrodialysis are used to generate power from the salinity gradient between waste brine and freshwater. Graphical abstract