Recent Advances in ZSM-۵-Based Catalysts for Environmental Dye Degradation: Mechanisms, Modifications, and Industrial Applications

Industrial wastewater containing organic dyes remains one of the most persistent environmental challenges due to their chemical stability, high toxicity, and resistance to biodegradation. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), particularly heterogeneous photocatalysis, have emerged as efficient and environmentally friendly approaches for degrading these pollutants. Among various catalytic materials, ZSM-۵ zeolite has attracted significant attention owing to its high surface area, tunable acidity, and excellent ion-exchange capability, which allow the incorporation of transition metals such as Fe, Cu, Zn, Ti, and Ag to enhance catalytic activity. Recent studies demonstrate that metal-doped ZSM-۵ composites exhibit remarkable performance in the degradation of azo and anthraquinone dyes under UV and visible light irradiation. For instance, Fe–ZSM-۵ has proven to be a highly active and reusable catalyst for photo-Fenton reactions, enabling up to ۹۹% removal efficiency with minimal iron leaching. Similarly, TiO₂/ZSM-۵ and Ag–ZnO/ZSM-۵ hybrids show enhanced charge separation and redox reactivity due to synergistic effects between the zeolite framework and semiconductor components. This review summarizes recent advances in the design, synthesis, and performance of ZSM-۵-based catalysts for environmental dye degradation. Emphasis is placed on the mechanisms of photocatalytic and photo-Fenton oxidation, structure–property relationships, and industrial applicability. Moreover, the potential integration of mesoporous modification, bimetallic doping, and natural template strategies are discussed as promising routes toward scalable, sustainable, and high-efficiency catalytic systems. Finally, challenges and future perspectives on integrating ZSM-۵-based catalysts into continuous industrial wastewater treatment systems are addressed.

کلیدواژه ها:

ZSM-۵ zeolite ، photocatalysis ، dye degradation ، metal doping ، advanced oxidation process ، environmental remediation