Photocatalysis: an effective tool for photodegradation of dyes—a review

The disposal of dye-contaminated wastewater is a major concern around the world for which a variety of techniques are used for its treatment. The photocatalytic treatment of dye-contaminated wastewater is one of the treatment methods. Semiconductor-assisted photocatalytic treatment of dye-contaminated wastewater has gained pronounced attention recently. This review outlines the recent advancements in the photocatalytic treatment of dye-contaminated wastewater. The photocatalytic degradation of dyes follows three types of mechanisms: (1) dye sensitization through charge injection, (2) indirect dye degradation through oxidation/reduction, and (3) direct photolysis of dye. Several experimental parameters like initial concentration of dyes, pH, and catalyst dosage significantly affect the photocatalytic degradation of dyes. The photocatalytic materials can be categorized into three generations. The single-component (e.g., ZnO, TiO₂) and multiple component semiconductor metal oxides (e.g., ZnO–TiO₂, Bi₂O₃–ZnO) are categorized as first-generation and second-generation photocatalysts, respectively. The photocatalysts dispersed on an inert solid substrate (e.g., Ag–Al₂O₃, ZnO–C) are classified as third-generation photocatalysts. Finally, we reviewed the challenges that affect the photocatalytic degradation of dyes.