<p>With the rapid development of global industrialization, water resource shortage and water pollution have become key factors restricting sustainable development, making the treatment, recycling and reuse of sewage a crucial issue. As a new type of membrane material, inorganic ceramic membranes exhibit great application potential in this field. This review first systematically sorts out the classification, preparation processes and structural characteristics of inorganic ceramic membranes, and clarifies the performance differences of typical membrane materials based on latest experimental data. Second, it focuses on the application mechanisms and performance of inorganic ceramic membranes in three major types of wastewater treatment, integrating pilot-scale application cases and emerging integrated technologies to reflect practical application value. Third, it targeted analyzes the core challenges in practical applications and corresponding technical countermeasures, and deeply discusses the mechanism of modification/functionalization in improving anti-fouling performance and separation efficiency. Finally, this review looks forward to the development trends of inorganic ceramic membrane technology combined with policy orientation and market demand, including the development of nano-composite membrane materials, optimization of preparation processes, and further integration with biological/advanced oxidation technologies. It is expected to provide systematic theoretical support and practical guidance for the optimization and large-scale application of inorganic ceramic membrane technology in wastewater treatment.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>