Catalytic Treatment of Industrial Wastewater Effluents via Integrated Biorefinery Bacterial Systems

Textile industry is a major global contributor to water pollution, characterized by the discharge of complex effluents containing persistent azo dyes, salts, and heavy metals. Conventional physico chemical treatment methods are often costly, energy-intensive, and generate significant secondary sludge. This project proposes an innovative, sustainable alternative through the development of an integrated biorefinery bacterial system that combines catalytic biodegradation with resource recovery. This research focuses on establishing the foundational basis for this system. Through a comprehensive review of literature from journals, this phase synthesizes the current state of knowledge on bacterial dye-degradation pathways, key enzymatic catalysts (e.g., laccases, azoreductases), and the principles of biorefinery integration. Based on this synthesis, we have formulated the central hypothesis: that a specifically constructed bacterial consortium, operating in a sequential anaerobic-aerobic process, can efficiently decolorize and detoxify simulated textile wastewater while generating valuable by-products. This project outlines the rigorous methodology for the subsequent isolation and screening of potent, dye degrading bacteria from textile sludge, and the design of a sequential bioreactor system. The successful completion of Project work I provide a critical theoretical and strategic framework for the experimental development of a sustainable, catalytic wastewater treatment technology that aligns with circular economy principles.