Scientia et Technica Año XXVIII, Vol. 29, No. 02, abril-junio de 2024. Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira. ISSN 0122-1701 y ISSN-e: 2344-7214

Biosorption and bioremediation of wastewater of

textile origin: A sustainable solution for the industry.

Biosorción y biorremediación de aguas residuales de origen textil: Una solución sostenible

para la industria.

S. Patiño-Jiménez ;D. M. Ocampo-Serna

DOI: https://doi.org/10.22517/23447214.25501

Review article

Abstract— Today, the textile industry stands out for its

global economic contribution. However, its expansion

brings growing concern due to environmental impact and

massive generation of highly polluted wastewater. These

waters, originating from the textile industry, host a wide

range of harmful organic compounds, including dyes,

persistent chemicals, heavy metals and other elements,

representing a significant environmental challenge and a

significant risk to aquatic ecosystems and human health.

This article focuses on the application of bioremediation

and biosorption as essential methods to address the problem

of water pollution from the textile industry. These methods

have emerged as promising and sustainable solutions to this

growing concern, offering significant progress in water

pollution mitigation and a hopeful outlook for the

sustainable development of the textile industry. Its proper

and continued implementation can lead to more responsible

and environmentally friendly practices to degrade and

eliminate pollutants using microorganisms effectively.

Index Terms— Bioremediation, Biosorption, Contaminants,

Textile industry, Wastewater.

Resumen— En la actualidad, la industria textil destaca por su

contribución económica a nivel mundial. No obstante, su

expansión conlleva una creciente inquietud debido al impacto

ambiental y la generación masiva de aguas residuales altamente

contaminadas. Estas aguas, provenientes de la industria textil,

albergan una amplia gama de compuestos orgánicos nocivos,

incluyendo colorantes, sustancias químicas persistentes, metales

pesados y otros elementos, representando un desafío ambiental

considerable y un riesgo significativo para los ecosistemas

acuáticos y la salud humana. Este artículo se enfoca en la

aplicación de la biorremediación y la biosorción, como métodos

esenciales para abordar la problemática de la contaminación del

agua derivada de la industria textil. Estos métodos han surgido

This manuscript was submitted on November 30, 2023, accepted on July 04,

2023 and published on July 22 2024. This work was supported by the

Environmental Studies in Water and Soil Research Group of the University of

Caldas. . Stefany Patiño Jiménez Stefany Patiño Jiménez has a Master's degree

in Chemistry and a researcher associated with the GEAAS group at the

University of Caldas. (email: Stefany.patino@ucaldas.edu.co).

como soluciones prometedoras y sostenibles frente a esta

preocupación creciente, ofreciendo avances significativos en la

mitigación de la contaminación del agua y un panorama

esperanzador para el desarrollo sostenible de la industria textil. Su

implementación adecuada y continuada puede conducir a

prácticas más responsables y respetuosas con el medio ambiente

para degradar y eliminar contaminantes utilizando

microrganismos de manera efectiva.

Palabras claves— Agua residual, Biorremediación, Biosorción,

Contaminantes, Industria textil.

INTRODUCTION

ndustrial wastewater has become a global concern in recent

decades due to its significant contribution of hard-to-remove

substances in water treatment processes. The textile and food

industries are among the first sources responsible for water

pollution due to their numerous processes involving the

generation of a significant proportion of these wastes, releasing

a variety of pollutants [1], including fats, detergents, colorants,

dyes, artificial sweeteners, synthetic substances and other

chemicals, which do not adhere completely to fabrics or food,

they are discharged as effluents and are harmful to both the

environment and human health.

In the context of a global economy increasingly aware of the

need to adopt environmentally friendly practices [2], the

emoval of pollutants from wastewater has become an

inescapable priority.

Based on a bibliographic review, wastewater of textile origin

will be explored, considering its main components, the methods

commonly used for its treatment and biosorption and

bioremediation are proposed as sustainable alternatives to

obtain more environmentally friendly discharges.

Diana Marcela Ocampo Serna is a Doctor in Chemical Sciences, researcher

and professor at the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences at the University of

Caldas. (email: diana.ocampo@ucaldas.edu.co).

Scientia et Technica Año XXVIII, Vol. 29, No. 02, abril-junio de 2024. Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira.

Different databases were used using keywords such as

wastewater, conventional methods, and filtering the search to

the last, decade and which will present information of technical

and scientific relevance.

II.

CHARACTERIZATION OF WASTEWATER OF TEXTILE

ORIGIN:

The wastewater generated by the textile industry presents a

series of characteristics due to its dyeing, printing and finishing

processes of textiles that require special attention.[3]Firstly,

these waters usually contain a wide variety of chemical

substances in their composition, such as colorants, dyes,

surfactants, finishing products and bleaching agents and heavy

metals, depending on the specific production processes used in

the industry and the types of manufactured textile products.

Some of the main components present in textile wastewater

are:

Dyes

They are one of the most prominent contaminants in textile

wastewater. They can be of natural or synthetic origin, and their

presence in water can cause environmental problems due to

their chromatic intensity and potential toxicity. The textile

industry uses and consumes different dyes, pigments and dyes,

the estimated annual production of synthetic dyes is 700,000

tons [4]. According to estimates, up to 50% of the dyes used in

the textile industry end up in discharged water due to their low

degree of fixation in textiles [5].

Synthetic dyes are usually complex organic compounds that

contain chemical groups such as azo, anthraquinone or

phthalocyanine, among others. Since the synthesis of the first

synthetic dyes, approximately 10,000 dyes have been produced,

of which 30% are azo dyes, a group widely used in the textile

industry, which represents around 70% of total production [3].

Azo dyes: Azo dyes are a class of synthetic dyes widely used

in the textile industry due to their versatility and availability in

a wide range of colors [6]. However, some azo dyes can be

problematic, as they contain azo groups (N=N), which can be

reduced to aromatic amines under anaerobic conditions. These

aromatic amines can be toxic and carcinogenic to aquatic

organisms and human health.

Reactive dyes: Reactive dyes, although they are highly

efficient in fixing to textile fibers, form covalent bonds between

the dye and the fiber due to the presence of their metal

complexes [7], can also generate a significant contaminant load

in wastewater. This is because during the

fixation process, only a portion of the dye adheres to the fibers,

while excess dye and auxiliary chemicals are released into

wastewater. These auxiliary chemicals, such as metal salts and

cross-linking agents, can contribute to water pollution and

sludge formation.

TABLE I

PRESENCE OF DYES IN TEXTILE WASTEWATER EFFLUENTS ACCORDING TO

THEIR FIXATION [15]

Colorant

Type

Fiber

Class

Fixation

degree

% in

effluents

Acids

Polyamide

85-95

5-20

Basics

Acrylic

95-100

0-5

Azoics

Cellulose

70-95

5-30

Scattered

Polyester

90-100

0-10

Reagents

Cellulose

50-90

10-50

Disperse dyes: Disperse dyes, which are nonionic and used to

dye synthetic fibers such as polyester, can present challenges in

wastewater treatment due to their low water solubility. These

dyes tend to be resistant to biological degradation [8] and can

persist in wastewater even after.

Conventional treatment. Additionally, fine particles of

dispersed dye can contribute to water turbidity and make it

difficult for sunlight to penetrate receiving water bodies.

Basic dyes: Basic dyes are salt-based and cationic in form;

Mainly used in acrylic fibers, they can be problematic in

wastewater due to their cationic charge [9]. These dyes can

interact with particles suspended in water and form insoluble

complexes, which can contribute to turbidity and sludge

buildup in treatment systems.

These compounds make the clarification and disinfection

processes of wastewater difficult during its treatment due to the

intense color they provide and their difficulty in degrading them

using conventional methods. [3]The amount of dyes present in

the water effluents depending on their fixation can be seen in

table I.

Auxiliary chemicals

The textile industry uses a wide range of auxiliary chemicals

in manufacturing processes, such as sizing agents, bleaches,

dispersants, surfactants, leveling agents and dye fixing agents

[10]. These chemicals may be present in wastewater in the form

of unused substances or as byproducts of chemical reactions.

Sizing Agents: Sizing agents, also known as finishing agents,

are used to improve the aesthetic and functional properties of

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textiles, such as softness, wrinkle resistance and iron ability

[11]. These agents contain polymeric compounds and

surfactants [12], such as silicones and cationic compounds,

which contribute to the contaminant load and negatively affect

water quality.

Whiteners: Bleaches are used in the textile industry to remove

stains and discolorations from textiles. Bleaches often contain

hydrogen peroxide or compounds that release active oxygen

during the bleaching process [13]. If not properly removed

during rinsing, these bleaches are released into wastewater.

Dispersants: Dispersants are used to prevent the formation of

precipitates and the deposition of impurities on textiles during

dyeing and finishing processes. These chemicals help keep

particles dispersed in the water, preventing their accumulation

on textiles. However, some dispersants are not completely

removed during washing processes [14] and rinse, remaining as

contaminants in wastewater.

Fixing agents: Fixing agents are used to improve the fixation of

dyes in textiles, ensuring greater color fastness [11]. These

agents contain metal salts and reactive compounds, which

directly affect water quality and aquatic ecosystems.

It is important to note that the impact of auxiliary chemicals on

wastewater depends on several factors, such as the

concentration used, the application method, treatment processes

and proper effluent management.

Oils and fats

Lubricating oils and greases used in textile machinery and in

spinning, weaving or finishing processes can be carried away

by washing water and end up in wastewater. [4] These

compounds can generate a layer on the surface of the water,

making it difficult for oxygen to enter and negatively affecting

aquatic life.

Finishing oils: Finishing oils, such as mineral oils and

synthetic oils, are used in the textile industry to improve the

properties of textiles, such as waterproofing. These oils make it

difficult to remove suspended solids and reduce the efficiency

of biological treatment processes.

Lubricating greases: Lubricating greases, such as petroleum-

based greases or synthetic greases, are used in textile machinery

to reduce friction and wear. During machinery maintenance and

cleaning processes, these greases can be released into

wastewater. These greases are difficult to remove by

conventional wastewater treatment processes and tend to form

oily films on the water surface, clogging treatment systems and

affecting oxygen transfer in receiving water bodies.

Emulsifying oils: Emulsifying oils are used to form stable

water-in-oil or oil-in-water emulsions. These emulsions are

used in dyeing and finishing processes, as well as in the

production of textile products, such as synthetic fibers. These

oils can cause phase separation problems in wastewater

treatment systems and make contaminant removal difficult.

Release oils: Mold release oils are used to facilitate the

extraction of textiles from the molds during manufacturing

processes. These oils may contain compounds such as paraffins,

waxes and lubricants. If not removed properly, they form greasy

films on the surface of the water.

Suspended solids

Suspended solids, such as textile fibers, dust or sediment, can

be present in textile wastewater, contributing to the clogging of

equipment and pipes, reducing system efficiency and increasing

maintenance costs. These particles also reduce the transfer of

oxygen from air to water, affecting biological treatment

processes such as aerobic digestion and the activity of

microorganisms responsible for degrading organic matter. [5]

Additionally, they generate a decrease in the clarity of the water

and an increase in its turbidity, which interferes in the filtration

processes, separation of solids, and leads to an increase in

sedimentation, favoring the formation of sludge in the different

stages of wastewater treatment. the self-purification capacity of

the receiving bodies.

Heavy metals

In the production process of the textile industry, some dyes

and chemicals contain heavy metals, which have a significant

impact, making conventional wastewater treatment difficult and

can be toxic even at low concentrations [4]. Among the most

common heavy metals in the textile industry, copper (Cu)

stands out, which causes an increase in turbidity, alters the color

and modifies the pH of wastewater, lead (Pb) which interferes

with coagulation processes. and flocculation, making the

formation of flocs and the separation of particles difficult,

cadmium (Cd) that accumulates in the tissues of aquatic

organisms and interferes with the precipitation and adsorption

processes, Mercury (Hg) which is extremely toxic, bio

accumulative, and adsorption on activated carbon or chemical

precipitation, for efficient removal. And finally, chromium

(Cr), which can exist in its trivalent (Cr (III)) or hexavalent (Cr

(VI)) form, which is a toxic and carcinogenic agent, [15] whose

presence in textile wastewater can cause serious problems.

environmental, and require special treatments such as chemical

reduction or specific adsorption for effective removal.

Organic and inorganic compounds

In addition to dyes and auxiliary chemicals, textile

wastewater can contain a variety of organic and inorganic

compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs),

amines, formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds

(VOCs) that tend to evaporate easily and generate unpleasant

odors in wastewater and other chemicals with high

concentrations of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus,

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due to the use of fertilizer chemicals in the stamping and

finishing processes. These nutrients promote excessive growth

of algae and aquatic plants in receiving water bodies, causing

eutrophication problems.

These predominant polluting substances in the production

process of the textile industry are usually toxic and persistent in

the environment, degrading the aesthetic quality of the

receiving bodies [16], increasing biochemical properties,

affecting aquatic ecosystems, the metabolism of fauna, the

development of photosynthesis, preventing the growth of flora,

promoting resistance, bioaccumulation, toxicity and

representing a risk to human health due to the increase in

carcinogenic and mutagenicity factors [17].

Another relevant characteristic of industrial wastewater is its

high organic load, due to the presence of persistent compounds

that consume dissolved oxygen, generating the death of many

organisms present in water sources.

In addition to chemical contaminants, these effluents can

contain high levels of suspended solids, unbalanced pH, high

chemical demand (COD) and biochemical demand (BOD) for

oxygen, decreasing their biodegradability [18].

Given the complexity and diversity of its contaminants,

wastewater of industrial origin, especially from the textile and

food industry, requires exhaustive characterization before

treatment and discharge, through physicochemical and

biological analyzes that determine the concentration and

toxicity of the different contaminants. contaminants present.

The characterization of industrial wastewater allows us to

evaluate the environmental impact of the textile industry and

are fundamental indicators for the design, construction and

efficient operation of treatment plants, because they allow us to

select the most appropriate technologies and establish the

control parameters that guarantee efficient removal of

contaminants.

Some key parameters to consider are the following:

pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of wastewater

wastewater, it is an important parameter, it can vary depending

on the processes and chemicals used [2]. Extreme pH values

negatively affect aquatic organisms and treatment systems,

reducing the efficiency of the coagulation, flocculation and

precipitation processes used.

Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)

BOD is a measure of the amount of oxygen that

microorganisms need to biodegrade organic substances present

in wastewater. BOD is used to evaluate biodegradable organic

load and biological treatment capacity. A high BOD value

indicates a higher biodegradable organic load, which may

require more efficient biological processes.

Chemical oxygen demand (COD)

COD is a measure of the amount of organic substances and

some inorganic substances present in wastewater that can be

chemically oxidized. This parameter indicates the total organic

load and oxygen consumption capacity of the wastewater. A

high COD value indicates a higher organic load and may require

more intensive biological or chemical treatment steps.

Total suspended solids (TSS)

TSS represents the amount of solid particles that are

suspended in the wastewater. These particles can include

organic matter, inorganic particles, textile fibers and other

contaminants. TSS are an indicator of wastewater turbidity and

clarity, and their removal is typically performed in pretreatment

stages such as sedimentation or filtration.

III.

CONVENTIONAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT METHODS

Adsorption

Adsorption is one of the most effective textile wastewater

treatments, because the matter and dyes are transferred to a

surface of highly porous solid particles [19], activated carbon is

one of the most used adsorbents [20]. However, this technique

requires pretreatment of the samples to avoid clogging of the

filters by the suspended solids contained therein.

Cation exchange

It is a process by which cationic contaminants, such as dyes,

heavy metals and salts, are eliminated [21], this technique uses

strong cationic resins with positively charged functional

groups, such as sulfonic groups (-SO3H) or phosphonic groups

(-PO3H2) or weak cationic resins with carboxylic groups (-

COOH) or amino groups (-NH2) and takes advantage of the

properties of attraction between charged ions to generate that

the undesirable cations of the wastewater and the contaminants

are exchanged for sodium or hydrogen ions of the resin, leaving

other functional groups attached and allowing the collection of

the treated water at the end of the column[22]. As the resin

becomes saturated with cationic contaminants, its exchange

capacity is exhausted, requiring a regeneration process to

continue its operation in the treatment process. This process has

the limitation that it does not work for anionic compounds such

as detergents.

Biological treatment

Wastewater treatment with activated sludge is a widely used

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biological process to remove contaminants and occurs in 2 main

stages: Aerobic Stage: In the aerobic stage, wastewater is mixed

with activated sludge, which is a diverse population of

microorganisms. Aerobics [11]such as bacteria of the genus

Pseudomonas that degrade hydrocarbons, phenols and

synthetic chemicals; Aeromonas efficient in the elimination of

nitrogenous compounds [23], such as ammonium and nitrate,

Bacillus effective in removing fats and oils [24], Acinetobacter

capable of decomposing recalcitrant organic compounds,

among others, protozoa of the genera Paramecium,

Tetrahymena and Vorticella that use their cilia to capture and

engulf bacteria, allowing the biological balance of the system

to be controlled [25], maintaining the appropriate, diverse and

healthy microbial community, favoring the removal of organic

matter and improving the efficiency of the treatment. Finally,

some fungal mycelia of the genus Trichoderma stand out that

produce ligninolytic enzymes and cellulases that help degrade

dyes and Aspergillus capable of degrading recalcitrant organic

compounds and can help in the elimination of textile dyes and

phenolic compounds.

During this aerobic stage it is important to guarantee adequate

temperature, pH, agitation and dissolved oxygen conditions to

ensure a uniform distribution of the interaction between

microorganisms and contaminants.

Once the aerobic stage is completed, the wastewater passes to

the Sedimentation Stage: In this stage, the activated sludge and

biological contaminants form heavier flocs that settle at the

bottom of the sedimentation tank, the clarified water is removed

at the top. top of the tank and undergo a final disinfection stage

before being released into the environment.

Chemical oxidation

Chemical oxidation processes use oxidizing agents such as

ozone that are capable of selectively oxidizing unsaturations

[26] and aromatic structures[9], is an effective technique in

bleaching acid dyes [27], but it only has a slight effect in terms

of reducing total organic carbon [28] or hydrogen peroxide by

the Fenton reaction [29], to break down organic compounds and

remove contaminants from textile wastewater [30].

Photochemical oxidation processes are also used that combine

UV radiation with compounds such as titanium oxide [31],

where UV radiation activates these catalyst compounds,

providing the appropriate conditions to oxidize the dyes

efficiently and without producing odors, sediments or

electrolytic oxidation that allows the hydrolysis of dyes by

controlled potentials or by reagents produced by

electrolysis,[15,32] generating the conversion of organic matter

to less polluting compounds using electric current [33,34].

Conventional wastewater treatment processes are often

ineffective in completely eliminating these pollutants, which

has prompted the search for new treatment alternatives, which

allow wastewater containing dyes to be effectively managed

using eco-technological methods to avoid adverse effects on the

environment. environment, human health and natural water

resources.

Inverse osmosis

Reverse osmosis is a technique used to remove hydrolyzed

reactive dyes [35], auxiliary chemicals producing a high quality

of permeate, and allowing the recovery of treated water.

IV.

ALTERNATIVE WASTEWATER TREATMENT METHODS

Bioremediation and biosorption have emerged as promising

technologies for the treatment of industrial wastewater,

providing sustainable and efficient solutions to the problem of

aquatic pollution.

Bioremediation

Bioremediation is a natural process that takes advantage of the

capacity of certain microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi and

algae [36], to degrade and transform toxic substances into less

harmful compounds or even into harmless products [37]. This

process can occur in natural systems, such as wetlands and

treatment ponds; or controlled systems such as wastewater

treatment plants [38, 39]. In the case of textile wastewater,

bioremediation can be applied in several ways:

Aerobic bioremediation

It is one of the most used techniques, where microorganisms are

introduced into the wastewater and oxygen is provided that

promotes the degradation of contaminants [40]. These aerobic

microorganisms use the organic compounds present in

wastewater as sources of carbon and energy, transforming them

into carbon dioxide, water and biomass [35,26]. This technique

effectively removes compounds such as dyes, surfactants and

other organic contaminants.

Anaerobic bioremediation

It is a technique that is carried out in the absence of oxygen. In

this process, aerobic microorganisms break down organic

pollutants into simpler compounds, such as methane and carbon

dioxide [41]. It is a particularly efficient technique in removing

recalcitrant and toxic compounds such as dyes and persistent

chemicals.

Phytoremediation

It is another bioremediation technique that uses plants to

remove contaminants present in wastewater [42]. Some plants

have the ability to accumulate heavy metals and other toxic

compounds in their tissues [43], allowing its extraction and

decontamination from the water [44]. In addition, plants also

release organic compounds into the soil that tend to promote

microbial activity and favor the degradation of contaminants.

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Biofiltration

It is a technique that uses a layer of microorganisms attached to

a filter medium, such as sand, activated carbon or peat, to

degrade the organic compounds in the dyes [45] and chemical

substances: The wastewater passes through the filter medium

and the microorganisms present in it decompose the

compounds, eliminating them from the water [46]. Biofilters

can be used as a treatment stage in treatment plants or in specific

filtration systems.

Enzymatic Bioremediation

Some enzymes produced by microorganisms have the ability

to accelerate the chemical reactions necessary to break down

dyes and chemicals [47]. These enzymes, such as laccases,

which allow the degradation of aromatic structures, generate

free radicals and peroxides that oxidize the chromophore

groups present in the dyes and break the chemical bonds,

facilitating the elimination of phenolic compounds and azo

dyes; peroxidases that use hydrogen peroxide as a co-substrate

[48], allowing the oxidation and discoloration of the

chromophore groups, modifying its chemical structure and

decreasing the intensity of the color [49], act mainly on phenols

and aromatic amines. Ligninases that degrade lignocellulosic

compounds, breaking the chemical bonds present in the dyes

[49], breaking them into smaller fragments, proteases that

catalyze the degradation of proteins present in textile waste;

these enzymes help break down the peptide bonds in proteins,

turning them into smaller peptides and amino acids [50],

facilitating the elimination of protein residues and reducing the

organic load in waste water, lipases that decompose the lipids

and fats present in textile waste, hydrolyzing the ester bonds of

lipids, releasing fatty acids and glycerol. By breaking down

lipids, lipases help eliminate fatty components present in

wastewater and reduce the formation of unwanted foams.

Membrane bioreactors

Membrane bioreactors (BRM) are systems that combine

bioreactor technology with membrane filtration for the

treatment of textile wastewater. These systems combine the

biodegradation of contaminants by microorganisms with the

physical separation of solids and biomass through

semipermeable membranes, offering high quality of the treated

effluent [51], increased space efficiency due to combined

biological and separation processes, and increased resistance to

charge fluctuations and toxicity shocks.

There are several types of membrane bioreactors used to treat

textile wastewater. Some of the most common are activated

sludge membrane bioreactor (MBR), which uses the activated

sludge process for microorganisms in the activated sludge to

biodegrade organic contaminants in wastewater combined with

submerged or ultrafiltration membranes [17], which will retain

suspended solids and microorganisms, allowing the treated

water to pass through them; membrane biofilm bioreactor

(MBBR), in this type of bioreactor, a biofilm is formed on a

support or growth medium suspended in the reaction tank that

provides a surface for the growth of microorganisms [52,53]

that break down pollutants. MBBRs effectively remove organic

contaminants and nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus

present in textile wastewater. Anaerobic Membrane

Bioreactor (AnMBR)

This bioreactor combines membrane technology with

anaerobic processes, where microorganisms decompose

organic contaminants in the absence of oxygen, effectively

reducing chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biogas from

organic contaminants present in the textile wastewater.

However, this technique requires higher investment and

maintenance costs due to the presence of membranes and the

need for regular cleaning and replacement.

Biosorption

The Biosorption technique consists of the passive adsorption

of toxic substances by living, dead or inactive biological

materials, such as microorganisms, bacteria of the

Pseudomonas type, Bacillus, Escherichia coli and Shewanella,

known for their ability to adsorb and reduce heavy metals,

Algae such as Chlorella. and Scenedesmus, cyanobacteria,

such as Spirulina and Microcystis that adsorb and accumulate

heavy metals [54], nitrogen and phosphorus, fungi such as

Aspergillus, Trichoderma and Penicillium efficient in the

adsorption of heavy metals due to their high chitin content,

which facilitates binding with metal ions, yeasts such as

Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida utilis whose cell

surface is rich in functional groups , allow it to interact with

contaminants and adsorb them biological byproducts, enzymes

and lignocellulosic materials, which have the ability to act as

adsorbents for certain types of contaminants present in

wastewater [55], accumulating them inside through chemical

and biological interactions. It allows you to remove dyes, heavy

metals, organic compounds and other organic and inorganic

contaminants [56].This technique can occur by physical

adsorption, where the contaminants physically adhere to the

surface of the biomass due to electrostatic, van der Waals or

hydrogen forces, in a rapid and reversible process, by chemical

adsorption, thanks to the binding of the contaminants with the

hydroxyl, carboxyl, amino or sulfhydryl functional groups,

present in the biomass in a way that is stronger and less

reversible than physical adsorption or bioaccumulation, where

the tissues or cells of living organisms absorb contaminants and

these accumulate in their inside. This process is especially

relevant in the accumulation of heavy metals by certain species

of microorganisms.[57].

The biosorption process in the treatment of textile wastewater

has the advantage of affecting a selective removal of specific

contaminants and biological organisms can be modified or

treated to increase their adsorption capacity, and even allows

the use of biomaterials derived from the agricultural industry or

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forestry. However, it refers to optimal environmental conditions

for the growth and activity of organisms, the possible inhibition

or toxicity of certain contaminants on organisms, and the need

to regenerate or deactivate the biomass used after the

biosorption process.

Annex I summarizes the various methods of textile wastewater

treatment, taking into account some of their advantages and

limitations.

BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES

Conventional biological treatment is very commonly used for

the biodegradation of compounds due to the advantages that the

process is relatively economical, has low operating costs and

can produce a clean effluent after partial or total degradation of

the initial product, although they can be slow (between 12-24

hours) and generate sludge. On the other hand, the use of fungi

manages to remove a high percentage of dyes in sterile

conditions and with operation times between 12 and 24 hours,

guaranteeing a process without the generation of byproduct

[25]. Enzymatic treatment, for its part, is a process with short

residence times of approximately 1 due to the high degradation

kinetics, acting for the conversion of substances.

Bioremediation of textile wastewater has numerous benefits.

Firstly, they are more sustainable alternatives compared to

conventional wastewater treatment methods, such as chemical

oxidation or adsorption on activated carbon [59], which can be

costly and generate undesirable byproducts.

The use of enzymes in the degradation of dyes has several

advantages. Primarily, enzymes have a great capacity to

accelerate chemical reactions and are highly specific in their

action, which means that they can selectively target certain

compounds without affecting other components present in the

wastewater [58], minimizing the generation of unwanted

byproducts and reducing toxicity.

Additionally, they can operate in mild conditions, such as

moderate temperatures and neutral pH ranges, consuming less

energy and reducing environmental impact compared to other

degradation methods that require extreme conditions.

However, there are also challenges associated with the use of

enzymes, because some can be expensive to produce on a large

scale, limiting their application in the textile industry.

Furthermore, they are usually sensitive to adverse conditions

such as very high concentrations of contaminants, heavy metals

or chemical inhibitors present in wastewater, which is why it is

necessary to carry out research to optimize their production,

stability and efficiency in industrial applications.

VI.

CONCLUSION

Dyes are natural and synthetic compounds that enhance the

beauty of the world with colored products, however, they are

pollutants of some water sources. The textile industry will

continue to be an important focus of attention regarding efforts

to conserve water and the search for more sustainable and green

methods that eliminate as much pollution as possible from final

effluents.

The treatment of these industrial wastewaters is a problem that

has not been satisfactorily resolved by existing

physicochemical and biological methods. This review

compares various methods and outlines some of the advantages

and disadvantages of each method's role in bleaching

contaminated tributaries.

Firstly, physical methods only transfer contaminant molecules

to another phase instead of destroying them and are efficient for

small volumes, then the main drawback of chemical processes

is the need for a pretreatment process, their high cost for the

acquisition of chemical products and the disposal of the sludge

generated. And finally, it is evident that alternative methods

have greater ranges of operability in terms of pH, temperature,

salinity conditions and allow us to observe their potential

regarding the use of clean technologies, biological materials,

such as algae, fungi and bacteria, to adsorb and accumulate

contaminants into your cells without producing byproducts or

secondary contaminants.

These processes have proven to be effective in removing a wide

range of contaminants, including dyes, and present significant

advantages over conventional methods in terms of cost,

efficiency and sustainability.

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ANNEX I

CURRENT AND EMERGING DYE REMOVAL TREATMENTS IN TEXTILE EFFLUENTS [58]

Method

Advantage

Limitation

Physicists

Precipitation, coagulation,

flocculation.

Short time and low cost

Solids separation

Adsorption

They generate high quality

effluents

Slow and non-selective

processes

Activated carbon

Broad dye removal

High implementation cost

Filtration membranes

Removal of all types of dyes

Production of concentrated

sludge

Ion exchange

Regeneration without loss of

absorbent

Not effective for all dyes

Chemicals

Fenton process

Eliminates soluble and insoluble

dyes, high discoloration speeds

Generates sludge, high cost of

reagents

Ozonation

Effective in gaseous state, does not

generate waste or sludge.

Pot life 20 min, not suitable for

disperse dyes

Photochemical Oxidation

Effective, Does not generate sludge

or odors

It requires a radiation source, a

slow process, forms byproducts

and is ineffective at an industrial

level.

Electrochemical oxidation

Degrades a large amount of toxic

compounds, does not require the

addition of chemicals

High energy consumption

generates byproducts through

parallel reactions

Electrokinetics

Economically feasible

High sludge production

Biological

Aerobic Bioremediation

Partial or total discoloration for

all types of dyes

High cost treatment

Anaerobic Bioremediation

Resistant to a wide variety of

complex dyes

Long acclimatization phases

Enzymatic bioremediation

Effective for specifically

selected compounds

Requires isolation and

purification

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Minciencias for financing the project

202010034716 titled “Alternative technologies for the

treatment of wastewater from the textile industry”,

belonging to the CALL FOR PROJECTS

CONNECTING KNOWLEDGE 852-2019

Stefany Patiño Jiménez is an Industrial

Chemistry and Master in Chemistry, she

has worked in the industrial sector,

especially in the area of environmental

chemistry. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-

0002-2497-8081

Diana Marcela Ocampo Serna has a

degree in Biology and Chemistry,

Master in Chemistry and Doctor in

Chemical Sciences, Full Professor of

the Department of Chemistry, leader of

the Environmental Studies in Water and

Soil Research Group.