ObjectiveAs the world's largest producer and consumer of chemical nickel plating, China generates a massive annual volume of chemical nickel plating wastewater. The toxicity of nickel poses significant threats to ecological environments and human health. However, as an important resource, nickel is widely used in various fields such as alloys, batteries, electronics, chemicals, military, and aerospace, and the demand for nickel is expected to grow continuously in the future. In the context of the “dual carbon” goal, the treatment and disposal of chemical nickel wastewater needs to be considered from the perspective of total process pollution prevention and control, taking into account nickel pollution prevention, pollutant removal and resource recovery.MethodsThis paper summarizes the sources and characteristics of chemical nickel plating wastewater, analyzes the improvement directions of clean production in chemical nickel plating enterprises. In the chemical nickel wastewater treatment, this paper systematically analyzes the mechanism and application of traditional technology, new technology and combined technology, and summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of these technologies in application. In the resource recovery of chemical nickel wastewater, this paper systematically analyzes and introduces the recovery technology mechanism and application of phosphorus resources, nickel resources and water resources, and classifies and explains the recovery technology of wastewater with different nickel concentrations.ResultsThe improvement paths for clean production of chemical nickel plating in enterprises are clarified, including improving the utilization rate of nickel, reducing nickel emissions, and applying intelligent technologies. The advantages and disadvantages of various technologies in the treatment of chemical nickel plating wastewater are summarized, and it is found that new and combined technologies can significantly improve treatment efficiency and effectiveness. Different resource recovery technologies for wastewater with different nickel concentrations are sorted out, providing references for engineering applications.ConclusionThrough multi-faceted research on the treatment and resource recovery of chemical nickel plating wastewater, this paper provides references and guidance for the treatment and resource recovery of chemical nickel plating wastewater under the "dual carbon" goals, and looks forward to the future development of chemical nickel plating wastewater treatment, promoting the further optimization and application of related technologies.