Electrolytic Manganese Residue as a Secondary Resource: A Retrospective Bibliometric Analysis (2009–2023)

Electrolytic manganese residue (EMR) is a major industrial byproduct, but its potential as a secondary resource lacks a quantitative assessment. This study provides a retrospective analysis of 239 articles published between 2009 and 2023, a period that covers the transition of EMR from a waste disposal challenge to a resource recovery priority. Technical data shows that EMR composition varies by site, with high concentrations of silicon, manganese, and ammonia nitrogen. China is the primary contributor to this field, reflecting its 90% share of global manganese production, with Chongqing University as the most active institution. Keyword analysis identifies “heavy metals,” “ammonia nitrogen,” and “extraction electric field” as the main research areas. Approximately 41% of the literature is concentrated in 11 journals, notably Construction and Building Materials, suggesting a trend toward using EMR in civil engineering. While stabilization methods have improved, high operational costs for removing ammonia nitrogen and heavy metals limit large-scale recovery. Future research will likely focus on cost-effective strategies to reduce these pollutants to facilitate industrial reuse. Furthermore, bibliometric trends indicate scholarly interest but do not confirm the industrial readiness or economic feasibility of specific technologies.