Abstract: The slurry of slurry balance shield restricts the tunneling efficiency and aggravates the environmental risk. Herein, the research progress of slurry treatment technology and equipment is investigated. Slurry separation is a typical slurry treatment process. The treatment methods and actual effects of slurry separation under different geological conditions such as soft soil, sand layer, pebble layer, and rock layer are reported. It is pointed out that increasing the number of cyclones and reducing the particle size of cyclone separation can improve the efficiency of slurry separation. The commonly used chemical reagents for mud-water separation include flocculant and curing agent. The mechanism of action of flocculant and curing agent is analyzed. It is pointed out that microbial flocculant, microbial induced calcium carbonate technology, and polymer absorbent resin are important research and development directions for the future development of slurry treatment agents. The effect evaluation system of mud-water separation is studied, and a comprehensive evaluation system of mud-water separation effect including separation product evaluation, agent applicability, dehydration effect, and resource potential is constructed. In view of the current difficulties in mud treatment, such as poor applicability of mud treatment equipment and strata, easy secondary environmental pollution caused by chemical agents, limitations in mud resource utilization, and large amount of mud remaining after treatment, it is proposed to strengthen the research and development of efficient and intelligent slurry treatment equipment system and environmentally friendly agents, expand the path of diversified resource utilization, and promote slurry treatment technology and equipment to move towards high efficiency and intelligence.

Key words: shield slurry, mud-water separation, technology and equipment, chemical agents, mud reuse