This study addresses the environmental impact generated by dye-contaminated wastewater from the textile industry in Peru, where a significant percentage of industrial effluents are discharged without adequate treatment. Azo dyes present in textile wastewater are resistant to conventional treatment methods and represent potential risks to ecosystems and human health. To contribute to sustainable wastewater management, this research evaluates the application of heterogeneous photocatalysis using a composite catalyst based on titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and bismuth oxide (Bi₂O₃). A laboratory-scale photoreactor was designed and constructed to conduct controlled degradation experiments under ultraviolet irradiation. The experimental results demonstrated a maximum color removal efficiency of 76.67% within 60 minutes of treatment, confirming the effectiveness of the TiO₂–Bi₂O₃ composite for dye degradation in synthetic textile wastewater. These findings suggest that the proposed photocatalytic system represents a promising and environmentally friendly alternative for improving industrial wastewater treatment processes in the textile sector.

Keywords

Textile wastewater, photocatalysis, titanium dioxide, bismuth oxide, dye removal.