Recent advances in new generation dye removal technologies: novel search for approaches to reprocess wastewater

TLDR

Dyes are hazardous pollutants that threaten aquatic life and human health, necessitating careful wastewater treatment before discharge, and recent scientific advances have produced a range of dye‑removal techniques. This review surveys the latest methods for removing dyes from water and wastewater. The authors examined all available techniques and recent studies published between 2010 and 2014. Key dye‑removal approaches—adsorption, oxidation, flocculation–coagulation, membrane filtration, and biological treatment—are highlighted, with their performance, special features, advantages, and limitations summarized, and chemical oxidation, adsorption, and biological methods identified as the most frequently investigated.

Abstract

Dyes are an important class of organic pollutants and are well known for their hazardous effects on aquatic life in general and human beings in particular. In order to reduce the negative effects of dye contaminated wastewater on humans and the environment, the wastewater must be treated carefully before discharge into main streams. Advances in science and technology have led to the evolution of several techniques for the removal of dyes from industrial and domestic effluents. In this review, the more recent methods for the removal of dyes from water and wastewater have been discussed. Wastewater treatment techniques such as adsorption, oxidation, flocculation–coagulation, membrane filtration and biological treatment have been highlighted. In addition, efforts were made to review all the available techniques and recently published studies from 2010–2014. Furthermore, the performance and special features of these technologies have been summarised. Advantages and limitations of each technique are also presented. A thorough literature survey revealed that chemical oxidation, adsorption, and biological treatments have been the most frequently investigated techniques for dye removal over the past few years.