Effluent　organic　matter　(EfOM)　refers　to　the　residual　refractory　organic　materials　in　effluent　after　the　primary　and　secondary　biological　treatment　of　sewage.　The　presence　and　characteristics　of　EfOM　in　wastewater　are　of　great　interest　with　respect　to　discharge　quality　and　the　efficiency　of　advanced　treatment　facilities.　This　paper　summarized　the　characterization　methods　of　EfOM　including　the　molecular　weight　distribution,　hydrophobic/hydrophilic　fractionation,　and　excitation/emission　matrix　(EEM).　The　characteristic　transformation　of　EfOM　in　the　treatment　processes　has　been　summarized.　At　present,　efficient　and　applicable　advanced　wastewater　treatment　processes　including　ozonation　and　membrane　filtration.　Nevertheless,　there　still　needs　urgent　solution　to　reducing　their　operation　costs.