Hybrid fungal-wetland systems for advanced textile wastewater treatment: a comprehensive review

Abstract

Textile wastewater is one of the most serious environmental concerns threatening ecosystem integrity and public health. Conventional treatment technologies are often costly, energy-intensive, and inefficient at removing complex textile effluents, prompting the search for more sustainable and nature-based solutions. Among these, mycoremediation and constructed wetlands have emerged as promising low-cost and environmentally friendly alternatives. This review covers existing knowledge and recent breakthroughs in the use of fungal-based remediation and constructed wetland systems for textile wastewater treatment. Particular emphasis is placed on the fungal enzymatic degradation mechanisms, including the roles of ligninolytic enzymes, as well as the design of fungal bioreactors that enhance pollutant removal efficiency. Furthermore, the principles of the constructed wetland system, its configuration, and the factors influencing its efficacy have been explored. Finally, the synergistic potential of hybrid systems that integrate fungal bioreactors with constructed wetlands was investigated. This review provides insights and future directions for mycoremediation and constructed wetland research that can be implemented in future studies.