The invention provides an environment-friendly brightening agent and a brightening solution based on the environment-friendly brightening agent. The environment-friendly brightening agent is prepared from 1-5 parts of ferric sulfate, 5-10 parts of magnesium sulfate, 25-45 parts of anhydrous citric acid, 1-5 parts of silver nitrate, 20-40 parts of trisodium triphosphate and 5-15 parts of sodium molybdate, and the environment-friendly brightening solution is prepared from 1.75-1.8 kg/L of bath solution, 40 g/L of environment-friendly brightening agent and 20 g/L of aluminum skimmings, wherein the bath solution is prepared from sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid, and the content ratio of sulfuric acid to phosphoric acid is 4:6. By means of the environment-friendly brightening agent and the brightening solution based on the environment-friendly brightening agent, no harmful gas is produced in the polishing process; compared with a traditional triacid polishing process, the polishing effect is superior to that of the triacid polishing process, energy consumption is lower than that of the triacid polishing process, recycled acid liquor can be fully utilized, and energy conservation and environment friendliness are achieved; the environment-friendly brightening agent is mainly suitable for being used for polishing production such as surface sanding, wiredrawing, refacing and machine polishing of metal, and the polished metal has high glossiness and a mirror surface effect.