Sustainable Approaches to Dye Degradation: A Review of Eco-Sustainable Techniques, Recent Strategies, and Emerging Solutions

The rapid expansion of the textile industry, while contributing significantly to global economic growth, has also intensified environmental concerns due to the large-scale discharge of dye-contaminated wastewater. Developing effective and sustainable treatment strategies for diverse and persistent dyes remains a major challenge. This review presents a comprehensive assessment of recent progress in dye remediation, encompassing conventional treatment limitations, bioremediation approaches, nanomaterial-assisted systems, hybrid technologies, and nanobioaugmentation, along with considerations of circular economy principles, regulatory frameworks, and future research directions. A combined bibliometric and systematic review methodology was employed to ensure a structured evaluation of the field. Relevant studies published between 2010 and January 2025 were collected from major scientific databases using defined keyword combinations. After duplicate removal and a two-stage screening process, a refined set of high-quality studies was analyzed, and bibliometric tools were used to identify key research trends and emerging themes. The analysis indicates that integrated approaches, particularly those combining nanomaterials with biological or advanced oxidation processes, offer strong potential for practical application due to improved efficiency and adaptability. While microbial systems provide environmentally benign solutions, their slower kinetics may limit scalability. In parallel, machine learning techniques, including the artificial neural network, support vector machine, response surface methodology, and fuzzy logic, have enhanced process optimization and predictive capability, though their reliability depends on data quality. The integration of multidisciplinary strategies, reinforced by life-cycle assessment, plays a critical role in enabling sustainable and scalable dye wastewater treatment within a circular economy context.