Textile Wastewater Treatment by Membrane and Electrooxidation Processes: A Critical Review
Milena Espinosa, César Afonso, Bárbara Saraiva, Davide Vione, Annabel Fernandes
Abstract
The textile industry is one of the largest consumers of water worldwide and generates highly complex and pollutant-rich textile wastewater (TWW). Due to its high load of recalcitrant organic compounds, dyes, salts, and heavy metals, TWW represents a major environmental concern and a challenge for conventional treatment processes. Among advanced alternatives, electrooxidation (EO) and membrane technologies have shown great potential for the efficient removal of dyes, organic matter, and salts. This review provides a critical overview of the application of EO and membrane processes for TWW treatment, highlighting their mechanisms, advantages, limitations, and performance in real industrial scenarios. Special attention is given to the integration of EO and membrane processes as combined or hybrid systems, which have demonstrated synergistic effects in pollutant degradation, fouling reduction, and water recovery. Challenges such as energy consumption, durability of electrode and membrane materials, fouling, and concentrate management are also addressed. Finally, future perspectives are proposed, emphasizing the need to optimize hybrid configurations and ensure cost-effectiveness, scalability, and environmental sustainability, thereby contributing to the development of circular water management strategies in the textile sector.