<p>This study addresses the treatment of real textile industry wastewater by comparing sulfate radical-based (UV/PS) and hydroxyl radical-based (UV/H₂O₂) advanced oxidation processes. The main objective of the study is to evaluate and compare these methods in terms of COD, color and aromaticity removal efficiencies, kinetic modeling, electrical energy efficiency, and operating costs. Economic evaluation was carried out under two different operating scenarios: meeting legal discharge standards and achieving maximum treatment efficiency. Kinetic modeling studies have revealed that many degradation parameters confirm to pseudo-first-order kinetics. In the color parameter, a high degree of fit to the BMG kinetic model was observed, particularly in the UV/PS process. For COD removal, the UV/H₂O₂ process (k₁ = 0.5657&#xa0;h^− 1) exhibited slower oxidation kinetics compared to the sulfate radical-based UV/PS process (k₁ = 0.6260&#xa0;h^− 1). Under conditions of maximum treatment efficiency, the UV/PS and UV/H₂O₂ processes achieved very high COD removal rates of 95% and 92%, respectively. Both processes removed more than 99% of the spectral absorption coefficients (SACs) representing color. Aromaticity reduction rates were also very high, with reduction rates of 93% and 98% for UV₂₅₄ and 96% and 97% for UV₂₈₀, respectively, using both UV/PS and UVH₂O₂ processes. In terms of energy efficiency, the UV/PS process (103.77 kWh/m³/order) performed better than UV/H₂O₂ (114.75 kWh/m³/order). However, despite its technical advantages, the high sodium persulfate consumption increased the operating cost of the UV/PS process. Economic analyses showed that, under operating conditions aimed solely at meeting legal discharge standards, the UV/H₂O₂ process was the most economical and sustainable option at 10.18 $/m³.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>