Global Research Evolution in Catalytic Water and Wastewater Treatment: A Bibliometric Analysis Toward Sustainable and Resilient Technologies

The increasing global demand for sustainable water purification technologies has accelerated research on catalytic degradation and advanced oxidation processes for the removal of refractory pollutants. This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of global research trends in catalytic water and wastewater treatment from 2010 to 2025, combining quantitative mapping with a qualitative synthesis of emerging technological directions. Bibliographic data were retrieved from the Scopus database and screened using the PRISMA framework, followed by analysis using VOSviewer (v1.6.20) and OriginPro (version 2023, OriginLab Corporation, Northampton, MA, USA) to examine publication growth, citation patterns, international collaboration networks, and thematic evolution. A total of 1550 publications, including 1265 research articles and 285 review papers, were analyzed. The results show a significant increase in research output after 2015, reflecting growing global attention to water sustainability and environmental remediation. China, the United States, and India were identified as the leading contributors, with strong international collaboration networks. Keyword co-occurrence analysis revealed three dominant research themes: photocatalytic degradation and semiconductor engineering, Fenton and Fenton-like advanced oxidation processes, and emerging hybrid catalytic systems involving carbon-based materials and metal–organic frameworks. The analysis also indicates a recent shift toward multifunctional hybrid catalysts designed to improve efficiency, stability, and performance in complex wastewater systems. These findings highlight key scientific developments and suggest future research priorities, including green catalyst synthesis, reactor and process scale-up, AI-assisted catalyst design, and life-cycle sustainability assessment to support the transition from laboratory research to practical water treatment applications.