Search Results (422)

Substantial dye wastewater from the textile industry poses serious ecological threats. Spent mushroom substrate (SMS) offers a cost-effective and eco-friendly decolorization option, yet traditional methods are hindered by prolonged processing times. This study introduces a column decolorization (CD) method using Auricularia cornea SMS, demonstrating markedly higher efficiency and practicality. The CD method achieved over 50% decolorization for 10 of 12 tested dyes, outperforming conventional approaches for six dyes. Analyses via SEM, FTIR, and isotherm measurements indicated that the high efficiency stems from the SMS microstructure and functional groups, with mechanisms including electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding, and π-π conjugation, following Langmuir monolayer adsorption. The process requires no specific conditions, avoids extraction steps, and reduces treatment time to 4% of traditional methods. HPLC analysis further revealed partial biodegradation of Malachite Green, reducing its cytotoxicity. This work provides the first systematic comparison of SMS decolorization methods and a mechanistic analysis, supporting SMS application in dye wastewater treatment. Full article

Synthetic azo dyes are the largest class of industrial colorants having widespread application in textile, food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Moreover, they are persistent and toxic, threatening aquatic environments as well as human health. Disperse red 1 (DR1), a mono-azo dye belonging to the disperse dye group and widely used in polyester dyeing, cosmetics, and other applications, is of particular concern due to its mutagenic potential and resistance to conventional treatment processes. The present study investigated an integrated DR1 removal strategy using thermotolerant Bacillus licheniformis Tol1 as well as its EPS-stabilized biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). With a maximum tolerable concentration of 0.5 g L⁻¹, B. licheniformis Tol1 showed a maximum decolorization of 70.86% (0.2 g L⁻¹, 55 °C). However, response surface methodology (RSM) based on the Box–Behnken design showed an actual decolorization efficiency of 73.13%. The artificial neural network (ANN) model predicted an accuracy of R² = 0.9933, confirming the robustness and reliability of the experimental findings. To enhance dye removal efficiency, Tol1 EPS-stabilized AgNPs were synthesized via a green method and characterized using UV-Vis, SEM-EDAX, TEM, AFM, FTIR, DLS and zeta potential. Characterization of AgNP confirmed the formation of spherical stable AgNPs with an average size of 19.99 ± 0.38 nm, indicating polydisperse colloids nature with moderate electrostatic stability. A sunlight/H₂O₂-assisted process (photocatalytic experiments) demonstrated DR1 decolorization (80.72 ± 1.72% within 5 h under sunlight) following pseudo-first-order kinetics (k = 0.271 h⁻¹). Furthermore, FTIR analysis confirmed the degradation of the chemical structure of DR1 through the disappearance of the characteristic azo (–N=N–) bond, indicating cleavage of the dye molecule. Overall, the present study provides a dual biological–nanotechnological approach for DR1 decolorization using single bacteria as well as its polysaccharide-stabilized AgNP, a sustainable eco-friendly future approach. However, further studies on complete mineralization, transformation products, toxicity evaluation, detailed catalyst reusability, and silver (Ag) leaching are needed to facilitate the practical implementation for wastewater treatment. Full article

Threatening environmental resources such as water, air and soil, and thus indirectly threatening biodiversity, through rapid, uncontrolled and non-ecological industrial production systems must be prevented through appropriate purification methods. In this research, the sorption of Reactive blue 19 anthraquinone dye from aqueous solution was carried out in a batch system using nano zinc–manganese ferrite carbonate (ZnMn–Fe₂O₄–CO₃) synthesized by the co-precipitation method. Various factors affecting the sorption activity of the material were examined, and the most suitable conditions were determined to be pH 2 and ZnMn–Fe₂O₄–CO₃ concentration of 0.25 g/L, whereby an equilibrium sorption capacity of 1463.10 mg/g was achieved. The ZnMn–Fe₂O₄–CO₃ removal efficiency was found to be 88.48% in effluent from a textile manufacturing industry. Utilizing FTIR, SEM, EDS, XRD, TGA and BET methods, the material’s morphological and structural characteristics were thoroughly investigated and reported. Regarding the kinetic and isotherm models that were analyzed, the Langmuir and pseudo-second-order (PSO) models provided the best fit to the aforementioned sorption system. Thermodynamic data confirmed the spontaneity of the sorption reaction and the exothermic nature of the process. An extensive study of ZnMn–Fe₂O₄–CO₃ demonstrated its high efficiency in removing RB19 dye, as well as the safety and simplicity of the synthesis, the cost-effectiveness of the sorption process, and the possibility of regeneration and reuse over multiple cycles. These findings highlight the potential of ZnMn–Fe₂O₄–CO₃ for advanced water and wastewater purification technologies targeting anthraquinone dyes. Full article

The discharge of azo-dye-containing wastewater from textile and related industries represents a major environmental challenge because of the persistence, toxicity, and poor bio-degradability of synthetic dyes. Congo red dye (CR), one of the most widely used azo dyes, poses serious ecological and public health risks when released into aquatic ecosystems. Although numerous biological adsorbents have been investigated for dye removal, the development of sustainable fungal-based nanocomposites with high adsorption efficiency, optimized operational conditions, and verified environmental safety remains limited. Therefore, the present work describes the development and evaluation of a novel Aspergillus terreus–silver oxide nanoparticle (Ag₂O NPs) myco-nanocomposite as a promising eco-friendly biosorbent for CR dye removal from aqueous solutions and real wastewater. Aspergillus terreus (GenBank accession PX920301) isolated from dye-contaminated wastewater, the adsorption efficiencies of dried mycelia, and the myco-nanocomposite were compared. Myco-nanocomposite was characterized using ultraviolet visible spectroscopic analysis (UV/Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). A. terreus–Ag₂O NPs myco-nanocomposite exhibited the highest ad-sorption efficiency 92.73%, adsorption capacity (qe) 118.7 mg/g and lowest CR dye residual by 3.81 mg/L, while A. terreus non-autoclaved dried mycelia recorded 78.28% CR removal, adsorption capacity (qe) 100.2 mg/g and CR dye residual by 11.39 mg/L. Adsorption parameters were optimized using a four-factor Box–Behnken experimental design, producing a highly significant quadratic model (R² = 0.986). The highest optimized conditions were obtained at run 17 in which 100 mg L⁻¹ CR dye, pH 8, 0.05 g adsorbent dosage, and 48 h contact time, with removal efficiency of 96.88%, followed by run 14 using 50 mg L⁻¹ CR dye, pH 6, 0.05 g adsorbent dosage, and 48 h contact time, with removal efficiency of 95.79%. Phytotoxicity and microbial toxicity assays demonstrated that the treated wastewater was environmentally safer than untreated CR dye, exhibiting no inhibitory effects on representative bacteria, yeast, and filamentous fungi while improving wheat seedling growth. Furthermore, application of the myco-nanocomposite to real industrial wastewater achieved 94.92% decolorization. This study provides a sustainable myco-nanocomposite of A. terreus–Ag₂O NPs which represents a promising green technology for the remediation of dye-contaminated industrial effluents and supports the development of environmentally sustainable wastewater management strategies and applicability of reusing treated wastewater. Full article

The textile industry generates dye-containing wastewater characterized by intense coloration, high salinity, elevated oxygen demand, and recalcitrant pollutants. Although conventional treatment technologies can remove color and reduce organic load, decolorization alone does not guarantee detoxification because toxic transformation products may persist or be generated during incomplete degradation. This review emphasizes the synergistic interaction between oxidative and reductive enzymes and microorganisms as a promising strategy for promoting extensive pollutant transformation and potentially enhancing mineralization. Particular attention is given to the complementary roles of laccases (LAC), azoreductases (AZOR), ligninolytic peroxidases, bacteria, fungi, and microbial consortia in sequential degradation pathways that can improve detoxification efficiency. Mechanisms including azo bond cleavage, aromatic amine transformation, and subsequent microbial degradation are discussed to demonstrate how integrated systems can overcome the limitations of enzyme- or microorganism-based treatments alone and may facilitate complete pollutant removal under appropriate conditions. The review also explores biomass-derived biocatalysts produced through solid-state fermentation of agro-industrial residues, demonstrating opportunities to integrate wastewater remediation with biomass valorization and circular bioeconomy principles. Finally, operational challenges, toxicity assessment, reactor design, enzyme immobilization, scale-up, and techno-economic considerations are discussed, and future research priorities are identified to support the development of sustainable and industrially applicable enzymatic–microbial detoxification technologies. Full article

Methylene blue (MB) dye–contaminated wastewater, particularly from the textile industries, contributes to environmental pollution, posing significant threats to human and aquatic life. Therefore, eco–friendly and low–cost adsorbents for efficient MB removal from contaminated wastewater are needed. This study presents the first comparative investigation of MB removal from water using silk cocoon and silk fibroin (SF) powders from the African wild silkworm Argema mimosae. The silk materials were ball milled at different times for up to 150 min and characterized using the XRD, FTIR, TGA, SEM-EDS, zeta potential analysis, and DLS. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to determine the effects of solution pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, initial dye concentration, and temperature on MB adsorption. The experimental data best fitted the Langmuir and pseudo–second order models for both adsorbents, suggesting monolayer adsorption with a chemisorption rate–limiting step. The maximum adsorption capacities were 78.13 and 81.98 mg g⁻¹ for cocoon and SF powders, respectively. The cocoon and SF powders achieved removal percentages of 86.0% and 93.5%, respectively, within 90 min. Thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption was spontaneous. The findings demonstrate the good potential of A. mimosae silk biomaterials as promising, low–cost, eco–friendly, and sustainable adsorbents for the removal of dyes from contaminated water. Full article

The textile industry is one of the largest consumers of synthetic dyes and a significant source of industrial wastewater contamination. More than 7 × 10⁵ tons of synthetic dyes are produced annually worldwide, and it is estimated that 10–15% of these dyes are released into industrial effluents during manufacturing and textile processing, contributing significantly to aquatic contamination. Due to their complex aromatic structures, many synthetic dyes exhibit high chemical stability and resistance to conventional wastewater treatment processes, leading to persistent environmental pollution. This review discusses the main classes of synthetic dyes used in the textile industry, focusing on their chemical classification, environmental impacts, and associated ecological risks. Dye categories are analyzed both according to their application to textile fibers and their molecular structure, highlighting how these characteristics influence their persistence and toxicity in aquatic environments. Unlike previous reviews that primarily emphasize individual treatment technologies, this work provides an integrated perspective linking dye chemistry, environmental behavior, and the mechanisms, advantages, and limitations of physical, chemical, and biological remediation strategies. The environmental impacts of dye-contaminated effluents include reduced light penetration in water bodies, disruption of aquatic ecosystems, and potential toxic and mutagenic effects on living organisms. In addition, the review examines current remediation strategies for dye removal from textile wastewater, including physical, chemical, and biological treatment methods. Particular attention is given to biological degradation, as well as hybrid systems that combine multiple technologies to improve treatment efficiency. Finally, the advantages, limitations, and future perspectives of these remediation strategies are discussed, emphasizing the need for sustainable and efficient approaches to mitigate the environmental impacts of textile dye pollution. Full article

Wastewater from textile industries that contain methylene blue poses a serious environmental problem due to its stability and toxicity. In the current study, calf starter feed (CSF), goat feed (GF), and lamb grower feed (LGF) were investigated as potential adsorbents for methylene blue removal from aqueous solutions. For structure and surface analyses of the adsorbents, EDX analysis was performed with FTIR and SEM, respectively. Parameters such as pH, adsorbent dosage, dye concentration, and time were varied, and optimum pH values of 6.0 and 7.0 were obtained for CSF and both GF and LGF, respectively. It was noted that adsorption increased with adsorbent concentration; conversely, it decreased with an increase in initial dye concentration. Among all the isotherms examined, the Langmuir isotherm yielded the best correlation, with R² > 0.98. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 12.4, 11.5, and 11.01 mg g⁻¹ for CSF, GF, and LGF, respectively. Kinetic analysis showed that the pseudo-second-order model provided the best fit to the experimental data, suggesting that adsorption may involve surface interaction processes. The findings demonstrate that commercial animal feeds can serve as alternative adsorbents for methylene blue removal and provide the first evidence of their potential application in wastewater treatment. Full article

Limited information is available regarding the effectiveness of UV-C LEDs operating at 280 nm, either alone or combined with hydrogen peroxide, for reducing microbial loads in industrial wastewater streams prior to membrane filtration. Real water samples were collected at an industrial site, before and after ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis treatment processes, and subjected to direct photolysis. The samples were exposed to light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that emit UV-C light at 280 nm, followed by the evaluation of microbial growth to determine disinfection efficacy relative to the UV fluence applied. Additionally, ultrafiltration permeate samples were also subject to indirect photolysis, being exposed to UV-C LEDs with hydrogen peroxide added at different concentrations (10, 20, 40, and 60 mg/L) to assess the most effective combination for microbial inactivation. The lowest tested UV fluence at which all microorganisms in the ultrafiltration permeate were inactivated through direct photolysis to levels below detection was 27 mJ/cm². It was also demonstrated that indirect photolysis does not achieve better disinfection results, likely due to the low absorbance of hydrogen peroxide at 280 nm. The application of direct photolysis prior to membrane filtration is expected to reduce the microbial load entering downstream treatment units, even in challenging matrices such as textile industry effluents, and may therefore contribute to lowering biofouling risk and improving industrial water treatment performance. Full article

The Mediterranean region faces severe water scarcity exacerbated by climate change. The reuse of treated industrial wastewater for industrial processes or agricultural irrigation offers a sustainable mitigation strategy, yet its implementation is hindered by low social acceptance and institutional fragmentation. This study aims to enhance treated wastewater reuse (TWWR) uptake within the textile and pharmaceutical sectors in Türkiye and Tunisia through structured stakeholder engagement, hydrological modelling, simulation, and co-design of preferred strategies. Data were collected from regional water authorities, industries, farmers, and civil society, chosen based on their influence, interest, and capacity regarding integrated water management. A Participatory Adaptive Planning framework was applied across three co-designed workshops per site, and interviews. Data were charted using the Natural Assurance Schemes Business Canvas and a conceptual visual support framework. Stakeholders identified key barriers, including legislative gaps in Türkiye and financial capabilities and farmer reluctance in Tunisia. Through the conceptual visual support framework, holistic strategies combining TWWR, water savings, urban treated wastewater quality improvement by tertiary treatment, desalination, and Managed Aquifer Recharge were co-created, simulated and ranked. Technological innovation in wastewater treatment is insufficient without robust “social readiness”. Participatory governance effectively aligns environmental engineering solutions with societal needs, establishing a foundation for resilient and integrated water management action plans. Full article

Industrial wastewater containing refractory organic compounds, heavy metals, and emerging contaminants poses a significant challenge to conventional treatment methods due to their high chemical stability and toxicity. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in Fenton-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for industrial wastewater treatment, with a particular focus on the paradigm shift from homogeneous to heterogeneous catalytic systems. Homogeneous Fenton processes, which rely on Fe²⁺/H₂O₂ reactions, exhibit rapid reaction kinetics but are severely limited by a narrow operational pH range (2–4) and the generation of substantial iron sludge. In contrast, heterogeneous Fenton systems employing immobilized or supported catalysts—such as iron-loaded zeolites, metal–organic frameworks, and carbon-based composites—broaden the applicable pH range to near-neutral conditions (4–8), enable catalyst recovery and reuse over multiple cycles, and enhance process sustainability by reducing iron leaching and sludge production. Integration with external energy inputs—such as photo, electricity, or ultrasound—can further promote radical generation and mass transfer, improving degradation efficiency while reducing chemical consumption. Practical applications in treating wastewater from textile, pharmaceutical, and electroplating industries have demonstrated effective contaminant removal and enhanced biodegradability. However, most current research remains at the laboratory scale, with long-term catalyst stability, operational costs, and scalability representing major barriers to large-scale implementation. Future research should focus on developing stable and regenerable catalysts, advancing pilot-scale studies of integrated systems, and conducting long-term evaluations under real wastewater conditions to promote the development of efficient, low-carbon, and sustainable solutions for industrial wastewater treatment. Full article

Environmental impacts of wastewater from textile and dyestuff industries are of growing concern due to limited freshwater availability and inadequate treatment facilities. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) offer excellent adsorption potential because of their outstanding mechanical and chemical properties, however; their application in textile effluent treatment has not been widely studied. Moreover, laboratory-based studies are often costly and limited to a few variables, making it challenging to reveal the underlying relationships among several physicochemical parameters and CNT treatments. Multivariate statistical analysis (MVSA) offers an effective approach to overcome this challenge. To the best of our knowledge, no studies have integrated laboratory analysis of nanotube-based textile effluent treatment with an MVSA approach. This study aims to evaluate the physicochemical characterization of textile effluent, treat effluent with CNT, and explore the relationship between physicochemical parameters and CNT by integrating laboratory experiments with MVSA. For this purpose, single-walled CNT (SWCNT) and multi-walled CNT (MWCNT) were applied in batch mode adsorption experiments using various dosages and adsorption times. Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), along with physicochemical analyses, were conducted to characterize the effluent and adsorption processes. The FTIR spectrum indicated that the absorption peaks of C=C, C=O, and the acidic f -OH group on CNTs enhance wettability and hydrophilic character, thereby increasing adsorption capacity. Experimental results demonstrated significant reductions in electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, total organic carbon (TOC), and chemical oxygen demand (COD). CNT dosages of 1 to 5 g/100 mL and adsorption times of 2 to 5 h achieved removal efficiencies ranging from approximately 20% to 90% for SWCNT and MWCNT. MVSA indicated that MWCNT was more strongly associated with ionic and physical parameters (turbidity, TDS, EC, and pH), whereas SWCNT was more strongly related to organic load indicators, particularly COD and TOC. Overall, this study highlights the potential of CNT coupled with the MVSA technique as an effective and sustainable approach for textile wastewater treatment and offers valuable insights for researchers working in this field. Full article

Aerobic ceramic membrane bioreactors (AeCeMBR) have shown great potential in treating wastewater (WW) from the textile industry; however, their operation faces challenges such as process variability, membrane contamination, and the need for accurate prediction of treated water quality under varying conditions. In this study, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and turbidity were selected as key indicators, as they directly reflect organic load removal and solids separation efficiency in MBR systems. The effect of four operational parameters: hydraulic retention time (HRT), organic loading rate (OLR), mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS), and transmembrane pressure (TMP), was investigated using a response surface methodology (RSM) based on a Box–Behnken design. A random forest (RF) model coupled with Monte Carlo simulation (MC) was also developed using 174 experimental data points to enhance predictive power and quantify uncertainty. The RSM model showed strong agreement with experimental results (coefficient of determination (R²) > 0.95), achieving approximately 96% removal for both COD and turbidity, with validation errors of less than 2%. MC simulation (10,000 iterations) was applied to assess the effect of ±10% variance under operating conditions, providing a probabilistic view of system performance. The RF-MC framework demonstrated high predictive accuracy, with strong correlations between predicted and observed values (R² = 0.92 for COD and 0.97 for turbidity) and low uncertainty. Overall, this study proposes an integrated RSM, RF–MC approach for AeCeMBR systems, providing a robust and uncertainty-aware framework for process optimization and performance prediction under changing operating conditions. Full article

Textile dyes are considered emerging pollutants due to their recalcitrant and xenobiotic nature, making them toxic and mutagenic, leading to various environmental impacts. Aspergillus fungi, known for their metabolic diversity and high environmental adaptability, emerge as an alternative for remediating these contaminants. The evolution and trends in research on the application of Aspergillus in the bioremediation of textile dyes were assessed through a scientometric analysis of articles indexed in Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus, using the Bibliometrix tool. A total of 283 documents were identified over 28 years since the first publication, indicating that although the topic is established, research output remains limited. Publications originated from 43 countries, with India as the leading contributor; however, the low rate of international collaboration (12.37%) highlights the need for stronger global partnerships. Research primarily focused on dye decolorization via biosorption and biodegradation, with Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus as the most frequently studied species. Recent trends emphasize lignolytic enzymes, especially laccase, and integrative approaches combining biological and physicochemical processes. The results also reveal the urgent need for comprehensive toxicological assessments beyond phytotoxicity, considering increasing concerns about textile effluent impacts on ecosystems and human health. Full article

The removal of recalcitrant industrial dyes from wastewater has emerged as a critical environmental challenge, particularly in the context of the accelerating decline of global freshwater reserves. Given that these contaminants originate predominantly from the effluents of textile, chemical, and related manufacturing sectors, the deployment of advanced treatment technologies prior to discharge is imperative to mitigate their ecological impact. This study investigates the photocatalytic degradation of indigo carmine using a synthesized MgAl–LDH material. LDH is shown to act as an active photocatalytic component rather than a support, with its remarkably simple synthesis offering a practical alternative to the complex catalysts dominating the current literature. The catalyst’s structural, morphological, and surface characteristics were comprehensively validated through XRD, SEM, EDX, and BET analyses. The catalyst was evaluated under varying hydrogen peroxide doses and across an initial dye concentration range of 5 × 10⁻⁵ to 5 × 10⁻⁴ M. Increasing the H₂O₂ volume (3.5–20 mL, corresponding to H₂O₂ excess ratios of 17.5–100) significantly enhanced the oxidation rate, whereas higher dye concentrations reduced efficiency due to photon competition and partial saturation of catalytic sites. These experiments provided the basis for extracting kinetic parameters and assessing the mechanistic pathways governing the photocatalytic process. The kinetic behavior of indigo carmine degradation was evaluated by fitting the experimental data to zero-order, first-order, and second-order empirical models to identify the rate law that best describes the reaction. Reusability tests showed that MgAl–LDH maintains high activity over multiple cycles, with only a moderate decline, demonstrating its stability and suitability for practical wastewater treatment applications. Full article