What is the term for a substance that flows out of a process?

The term "effluent" specifically refers to a liquid waste or sewage that flows out from a process, particularly in the context of wastewater treatment and industrial processes. This term is commonly used to describe the discharge of pollutants or treated water into a water body after it has undergone treatment.

Effluent is significant in environmental engineering and regulatory compliance, as it is essential to monitor and control the quality of effluents being released to prevent environmental contamination. In various industrial settings, understanding effluent quality can help ensure that operations comply with environmental laws and health guidelines.

While byproduct, discharge, and refuse may all relate to substances produced by a process, they do not capture the specific context of liquid waste flowing out, which is the crucial aspect of the term effluent. Byproducts refer generally to secondary products generated during a process, discharge can be a broader term that includes any waste or excess material sent away from a system, and refuse typically pertains to garbage or waste material that is not specific to liquid outputs.