Abstract: The characteristics of oily wastewater are reviewed. Some routine treatments for oily wastewater, such as air-floating method, flocculation method, electrolytic method, membrane separation method, biologic method, etc. are presented and their advantages and shortcomings are discussed. At the same time new treatments for oily wastewater, such as electro-catalysis and combination technologies are introduced. The progress and application prospect of electro-catalysis are emphasized. Finally the merits of electro-catalysis for the disposal of oily wastewater are analyzed and the problems to be resolved for industrial application of electro-catalysis for the disposal of oily wastewater are pointed out.