A Review of Advanced Oxidation Processes Applied to the Removal of Reactive Dyes: Efficiency, Removal Conditions, Advantages, Disadvantages, and Industrial Effluents Applications

The textile industry significantly contributes to water pollution due to extensive dye usage, particularly reactive dyes, which are highly soluble, chemically complex, and poorly biodegradable. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have emerged as effective alternatives for their removal. This review summarizes reactive dye properties and critically examines AOP applications in both synthetic and real textile effluents. Evaluated configurations include ozonation, Fenton's reagents, UV-based systems, electrochemical processes, and cavitation, which generate hydroxyl radicals (OH^•) and, in newer approaches, sulfate (SO₄ ^•-) and chlorine (Cl^•) radicals. In synthetic effluents, AOPs achieve over 90% removal of color, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total organic carbon (TOC), whereas real effluent performance decreases because of matrix complexity; combined systems often exceed 80% efficiency. Stepwise evaluation from model solutions to actual wastewater aids in understanding reaction mechanisms and optimizing conditions. With appropriate optimization and integration into conventional treatments, AOPs show strong potential as industrially viable technologies for advanced textile wastewater remediation.