The Need and Challenges of Decolorization of Textile Waste in Textile Recycling: Review

The textile industry significantly contributes to global environmental pollution, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable waste management solutions. Among these, decolorization of textile waste is a crucial step in recycling processes, enabling the removal of dyes and pigments to facilitate effective fiber recovery and reuse. This review manuscript explores the role of decolorization within the framework of a circular economy, examining the challenges associated with various dye types and the techniques used for their removal. While conventional methods often rely on harsh, toxic chemicals, growing attention is being directed toward advanced approaches such as advanced oxidation processes (e.g., UV and ozone treatment, Fenton oxidation), photocatalytic decolorization, supercritical CO₂-based methods, and enzymatic decolorization. These innovative techniques offer promising alternatives but also present technical and economic challenges. The review emphasizes the need for the development of efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly decolorization technologies to support scalable textile recycling and advance the transition to a more sustainable textile industry.