An international team of researchers has developed a new electrochemical water treatment system capable of removing persistent textile dyes from wastewater, offering a potential solution for cleaner industrial effluent management.
The study led by researchers from South Ural State University in collaboration with international scientists, introduces a flow through electrochemical process that generates reactive particles on specially designed electrodes to break down dye molecules without the use of additional chemical reagents.
Textile dyes are widely used in the fabric industry due to their strong adhesion to fibres. However, once released into wastewater, these dyes remain highly stable, reduce light penetration in water bodies and pose significant risks to aquatic ecosystems because they resist natural degradation.
According to the researchers the newly developed system is designed to operate under conditions similar to real industrial wastewater treatment facilities. As contaminated water flows through the reactor, an electric current produces reactive particles on the electrode surface, which efficiently degrade dye molecules.
“The main feature of this development is its flow through design. The water isn’t simply contained in a laboratory vessel it flows through the reactor. This brings the system closer to the real world conditions of industrial effluent treatment,” said Vladislav Fadeev, a researcher at South Ural State University.
The research team also developed a multilayer electrode featuring a holmium modified active layer, which improved both the efficiency of dye removal and the durability of the treatment system during repeated use.
Laboratory experiments showed that the dye solution became completely colourless within 90 minutes. The system maintained nearly unchanged performance after 15 consecutive treatment cycles, demonstrating its stability and potential for long term industrial application.
Researchers believe the technology could pave the way for compact wastewater treatment systems capable of removing persistent organic pollutants from industrial effluents. Future research will focus on testing the system with real textile wastewater and further refining the technology for large scale implementation.