Abstract: This paper introduces the origins, characteristics of waste water out of printing and dyeing industry and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the traditional physico -chemical and biochemical treatment technologies. The classification, mechanism, advantages and drawbacks of the membrane separation technology are described by focusing on the applications and existing problems of the membrane separation technologies such as micro -filtration, ultra -filtration, nano -filtration, reverse osmosis, and double-membrane. We also point out the development direction of the membrane separation technologies for the printing and dyeing wastewater treatment.