The production proeess of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, dyestuffs and other fine chemical industries produces a large amount of refractory organic wastewater, which is often characterized by high salt content, high organic content, high toxicity, and poor biodegradability. Its low-cost and harmless disposal has become a common problem in the field. Subcritical water oxidation technology has the advantages of fast reaction, effective oxidation and no secondary pollution. The reaction mechanism was discussed based on the current research status. The effects of temperature, pressure, catalyst, peroxy multiples on pollutant degradation were discussed. The feasibility of the harmless treatment of refractory organic wastewater by subcritical water oxidation technology was analyzed. The application prospects and development trend of this technology were proposed.