Abstract The increasing generation of organic waste driven by global population growth and industrialization necessitates sustainable management solutions. Anaerobic digestion (AD) stands out as an effective technology, converting organic waste into biogas and nutrient-rich digestate. This review integrates a bibliometric analysis of 841 peer-reviewed articles with detailed experimental insights from the 50 most-cited studies published between 2020 and 2024, focusing specifically on sludge microstructure’s role in enhancing AD performance. Bibliometric results highlight dominant research themes such as microbial community dynamics (32%), operational parameters (24%), biochar integration (22%), and co-digestion strategies (22%). Approximately 65% of experimental studies are predominantly at laboratory scale, with limited pilot-scale validation, underscoring a significant gap in the validation of laboratory findings at pilot and industrial scales. Experimental studies further demonstrate that sludge microstructure significantly influences microbial activity, and biogas yields through targeted pretreatment, biochar supplementation, optimal operational conditions, and strategic co-digestion. The integration of bibliometric and experimental evidence offers a novel dual-perspective approach that not only maps prevailing research trends but also connects them directly to measurable performance outcomes. This comprehensive framework clearly identifies critical knowledge gaps and offers actionable research priorities aimed at improving the scalability, economic viability, and environmental sustainability of AD technologies.
Li et al. (Sat,) studied this question.
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