Wheat straw-based microbial electrochemical reactor for azo dye decolorization and simultaneous bioenergy generation

Innovative sustainable solutions for detoxifying textile industry effluents using advanced oxidation and biological methods

Textile dye wastewater poses significant environmental and public health challenges, particularly in regions with inadequate treatment infrastructure, necessitating a comprehensive evaluation of detoxification technologies. Existing methods often focus on decolorization and chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction but fail to address persistent toxicity and incomplete mineralization, leaving harmful byproducts in treated effluents. This review critically consolidates advancements of past 15 years, emphasizing the integration of Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) and biological technologies as solutions to these challenges. A key contribution is the introduction of the Net Toxicity Outcome (NTO) metric, a novel framework that quantifies and compares detoxification efficacy across diverse effluent compositions and toxicity endpoints, providing an evidence-based approach for selecting optimal treatment technologies. Analysis reveals that standalone treatments, such as UV-assisted ozonation, often exacerbate toxicity due to byproduct formation, whereas integrated approaches, including bio-photo-Fenton methods and anaerobic biofilm reactors coupled with ozonation, achieve superior detoxification. To bridge gaps in current practices, the review proposes a multi-level ecological assessment framework, enabling evaluations from molecular responses to ecosystem-level impacts. By aligning technological advancements with ecological safety and sustainability, the study offers actionable insights for researchers, industry stakeholders, and policymakers, ensuring scalable solutions for cleaner textile production and sustainable wastewater management.

3D electro-Fenton augmented with iron-biochar particle electrodes derived from waste iron bottle caps and sugarcane bagasse for the remediation of sodium dodecyl sulphate

The present work demonstrates a novel strategy of synthesizing iron-biochar (Fe@BCSB) composite made with the waste iron bottle cap and sugar cane bagasse for implementation in the three-dimensional electro-Fenton (3DEF) process. The catalytic ability of the Fe@BCSB composite was explored to remediate the sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) surfactant from wastewater at neutral pH. At the optimum operating condition of Fe@BCSB dose of 1.0 g L-1, current density of 4.66 mA cm-2, and Na2SO4 dose of 50 mM, nearly 92.7 ± 3.1% of 20 mg L-1 of SDS abatement was attained during 120 min of electrolysis time. Moreover, the Fe@BCSB showed significant recyclability up to six cycles. Besides, other organics were successfully treated with more than 85% abatement efficiency in the proposed Fe@BCSB-supported 3DEF process. The total operating cost obtained during SDS treatment was around 0.31 US$ m-3 of wastewater. The phytotoxicity test revealed the positive impact of the 3DEF-treated effluent on the germination of the Vigna radiata. The electron paramagnetic resonance conveyed •OH as the prevailing reactive species for the oxidation of SDS in the 3DEF process. Further, about 81.3 ± 3.8% of SDS and 53.7 ± 4.1% of mineralization efficacy were acquired from the real institutional sewage.

The Role of Fungal Fuel Cells in Energy Production and the Removal of Pollutants from Wastewater

Pure water, i.e., a sign of life, continuously circulates and is contaminated by different discharges. This emerging environmental problem has been attracting the attention of scientists searching for methods for the treatment of wastewater contaminated by multiple recalcitrant compounds. Various physical and chemical methods are used to degrade contaminants from water bodies. Traditional methods have certain limitations and complexities for bioenergy production, which motivates the search for new ways of sustainable bioenergy production and wastewater treatment. Biological strategies have opened new avenues to the treatment of wastewater using oxidoreductase enzymes for the degradation of pollutants. Fungal-based fuel cells (FFCs), with their catalysts, have gained considerable attention among scientists worldwide. They are a new, ecofriendly, and alternative approach to nonchemical methods due to easy handling. FFCs are efficiently used in wastewater treatment and the production of electricity for power generation. This article also highlights the construction of fungal catalytic cells and the enzymatic performance of different fungal species in energy production and the treatment of wastewater.