Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 17 (2025) 100567

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Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/hazadv

Global perspectives on industrial wastewater management: A bibliometric

analysis of research output
Motasem Y.D. Alazaiza a,* , Tharaa M. Alzghoul b , Madhusudhan Bangalore Ramu a ,
Salem S. Abu Amr c , Mohammed F.M. Abushammala d , Dia Eddin Nassani e
a
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, A’Sharqiyah University, Ibra 400, Oman
b
Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tafila Technical University, Tafila 66110, Jordan
c
International College of Engineering and Management, P.O. Box 2511, C.P.O Seeb, P.C. 111, Oman
d
Department of Civil Engineering, Middle East College, Knowledge Oasis Muscat, PB No 79, Oman
e
Department of Civil Engineering, Hasan Kalyoncu University, Gaziantep 27500, Turkey

A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T

Keywords: As the population and urbanization continue to grow, we expect an increase in industrial demand, which will
Bibliometric analysis lead to higher water consumption and, consequently, the generation of substantial amounts of industrial
Industrial wastewater treatment wastewater (IWW). This presents significant environmental challenges that necessitate effective treatment so­
Research trends
lutions. This study addresses the gap in the existing literature by conducting a bibliometric analysis of 1,714
VOSviewer
research papers on IWW treatment published in the Scopus database from 2015 to 2024. The findings indicate
that over 59.7 % of these publications emerged within the past five years, with a peak of 244 papers published in
2022, reflecting an increased recognition of the necessity for effective IWW treatment approaches. The Journal of
Water Process Engineering is identified as the leading journal in this domain. The analysis reveals that the
majority of research is concentrated in the fields of chemistry and chemical engineering, with India and China
contributing the highest outputs, at 11.79 % and 10.44 %, respectively. The University of Chinese Academy of
Sciences is highlighted as a significant contributor, with seven publications and 74 citations, underscoring its
prominence in IWW research. The studies indicate a focused interest in addressing various pollutants from in­
dustrial wastewater, including chemical oxygen demand (COD), dyes, and heavy metals. Furthermore, this body
of research highlights a significant shift from traditional treatment methods toward integrated strategies that
combine multiple techniques to enhance efficacy and sustainability in IWW treatment. Electrocoagulation,
adsorption, and activated carbon are identified as the predominant treatment methods being explored for specific
types of IWW, particularly textile and tannery wastewater. This research significantly contributes to the un­
derstanding of contemporary trends and advancements in IWW treatment, emphasizing the critical role of
innovative methodologies in effectively addressing pollutant removal and promoting environmental
sustainability.

1. Introduction to clean water and sanitation—has grown more important given esti­
mates that more than a billion people may experience water shortages
Water resources and quality are under a lot of strain due to the by 2025 (Amdeha, 2023). According to the World Health Organization
world’s ongoing population expansion and urbanization (Christian (WHO), around 1.6 million deaths in 2018 were attributed to water
et al., 2023; Hamaideh et al., 2024). This issue is not limited to devel­ pollution, highlighting the critical need for clean water management
oping countries; even developed nations experience persistent water (Amdeha, 2023; Naidu et al., 2021; Sanganyado, 2022). Industries such
shortages exacerbated by pollution from industrial activities (Christian as petroleum refining (Jiad and Abbar, 2024), textile manufacturing
et al., 2023; Hamaideh et al., 2024; Amr et al., 2024). Furthermore, the (Christian et al., 2023), dairy industry (Faraj et al., 2024), pharmaceu­
United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) ensuring access ticals (Al-Qodah et al., 2024; Al-Zghoul et al., 2023), paint industry

* Corresponding author.
E-mail address: my.azaiza@gmail.com (M.Y.D. Alazaiza).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazadv.2024.100567
Received 3 November 2024; Received in revised form 1 December 2024; Accepted 14 December 2024
Available online 16 December 2024
2772-4166/© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
M.Y.D. Alazaiza et al. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 17 (2025) 100567

(Nair et al., 2021), leather industry (Khilji et al., 2022), and pulp and advancements within specialized fields (Mao et al., 2021; Durán-Sán­
paper industry (Patel et al., 2021) are among the largest consumers of chez et al., 2020). Co-citation analysis, which examines citation re­
water, resulting in substantial amounts of wastewater that contain a lationships among documents, further enriches this approach by
variety of pollutants. For instance, the textile industry alone is known to enabling researchers to identify and analyze quantitative relationships
generate approximately 20 % of global wastewater (Amdeha, 2023). The within their areas of interest (De Battisti and Salini, 2013). Such ana­
industrial capacity for manufacturing increased from 1.2 billion tons in lyses yield valuable bibliometric data that provide an overview of
2000 to 2.3 billion tons in 2017, largely due to the fourth industrial research efforts, helping to uncover new research fronts (Zheng et al.,
revolution (Amdeha, 2023; Naidu et al., 2021; Sanganyado, 2022). This 2017). Ultimately, bibliometrics can be divided into two primary cate­
growth has correspondingly led to a rise in industrial effluents, further gories: one focusing on research activity levels, which highlights sig­
contaminating water sources with toxic heavy metals, phenolic com­ nificant subjects, nations, and journals, and the other that uses social
pounds, and other persistent pollutants (Badawi et al., 2023; Kamali network analysis and relationship indicators to explore interconnections
et al., 2019). among keywords, countries, and institutions (De Battisti and Salini,
Industrial effluents exhibit a wide range of characteristics that 2013; Ramos-Rodríguez and Ruíz-Navarro, 2004). These categories
depend on the products manufactured and the chemicals used in the collectively elucidate central and peripheral themes in a field and
production process (Dvořák et al., 2016; Amr et al., 2023). These ef­ illustrate how they evolve over time (De Battisti and Salini, 2013). As a
fluents often contain high concentrations of organic and inorganic pol­ result, bibliometric analysis aids researchers in better comprehending
lutants, dissolved and suspended solids, poisonous compounds, the state of knowledge, identifying important publications, and evalu­
non-biodegradable materials, and different colors, all of which are ating trends in a given scientific subject, all of which point to areas that
harmful to human health and the environment (Bilińska et al., 2020; require more investigation. These analyses provide details on the main
Ayangunna et al., 2016). With industrial activities consuming enormous ideas and dynamic procedures of a certain field of research (Vasseghian
amounts of fresh water and discharging large volumes of untreated et al., 2023; Jamrah et al., 2024).
effluent, effective wastewater management strategies are essential to Despite valuable bibliometric studies conducted on IWW treatment,
mitigate these impacts and promote sustainable development (Ashrafi limitations exist. Some researchers have restricted their focus to specific
et al., 2015; Badawi et al., 2021; An et al., 2023). The intensity of regions or topics, such as EC (Huang et al., 2024), adsorption (da Silva
pollution is especially alarming in developing nations, where the pro­ Santos et al., 2021), C/F (Noor and Ngadi, 2024), membrane bioreactor
duction of raw materials generates higher pollution levels compared to (Segredo-Morales et al., 2023), textile wastewater (Halepoto et al.,
finished products (Amr et al., 2023; An et al., 2023; Tong and Elimelech, 2022), tannery wastewater (Li et al., 2022; Zhao et al., 2022), dairy
2016; Nazari et al., 2023). These nations often lack the necessary wastewater (Faraj et al., 2024; Praful and Pattnaik, 2023), and phar­
treatment technologies, leading to severe environmental degradation maceutical wastewater treatment (Al-Qodah et al., 2024; Wang et al.,
and public health crises (An et al., 2023; Tong and Elimelech, 2016; 2023). Our research aims to perform a temporal bibliometric analysis of
Nazari et al., 2023). However, the treatment of industrial wastewater the publications on IWW within this framework, specifically covering
(IWW) is complex due to the diverse compounds present at varying the period from 2015-2024. This study is novel in its comprehensive
concentrations (Badawi et al., 2023; Badawi et al., 2021), and each type approach, quantitatively examining characteristics such as the most
of wastewater can differ significantly, even within the same industry active authors and countries, the top journals by publication output, the
(Badawi et al., 2021). Currently, researchers are exploring various number of publications, affiliations, subject areas, co-authorship net­
treatment technologies, such as adsorption (Liu et al., 2021), electro­ works among countries, and the identification of emerging thematic
coagulation (EC) (Al-Zghoul et al., 2023; Amr et al., 2023), membrane areas and research gaps in the field. The papers analyzed were exclu­
filtration (Liu et al., 2021), advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) (Islam sively sourced from the Scopus database, ensuring a robust and sys­
et al., 2023), coagulation/flocculation (C/F) (Amr et al., 2024), and tematic evaluation of IWW treatment literature. By focusing on recent
membrane bioreactors (Dvořák et al., 2016), focusing on optimizing publications, this study aims to supplement and expand upon the find­
performance (Liu et al., 2021), understanding treatment dynamics (Liu ings described in earlier research, providing a clearer picture of the
et al., 2021), and targeting specific pollutants (Islam et al., 2023). Be­ current trends and advancements in IWW treatment.
sides, after appropriate treatment, wastewater is regarded as a signifi­
cant resource for reuse and recycling, providing economic advantages 2. Materials and methods
(Amdeha, 2023; Naidu et al., 2021).
The field of IWW treatment faces significant challenges due to a lack 2.1. Data source and search strategy
of quantitative methods that systematically summarize existing litera­
ture. This gap complicates the identification of research hotspots and The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-
future trends from a macro perspective. Therefore, emerging new trends Analyses (PRISMA) method was used in this study to review the litera­
and directions that may eventually aid in the creation of useful and the ture (Durán-Sánchez et al., 2020). Regarding the sort of meta-analysis,
development of economical and practical applications in the future we did not incorporate meta-analysis procedures into the analysis, but
(Baarimah et al., 2024; Shokri and Fard, 2023). Bibliometrics emerges as rather adhered to PRISMA recommendations. One of the useful methods
a vital tool evaluations of scientific activity that are both quantitative for building a sizable and reproducible database in systematic literature
and qualitative (Zheng et al., 2015; Wallin, 2005; Purba et al., 2024). reviews is bibliometric analysis (Durán-Sánchez et al., 2020). When
Bibliometrics employs mathematical and statistical techniques to doing bibliometric analysis, it is important to clearly define the study’s
examine the exterior characteristics of literature, including books, pa­ goals and provide thorough explanations of how the relevant materials
pers, and patents, as well as their references, which include citations and were found. One may argue that bibliometric analysis’s widespread
co-citations (Purba et al., 2024; Mao et al., 2021; Fard et al., 2023). This acceptability and success can be attributed to its capacity to provide a
analysis reveals quantitative patterns within specific subject areas, comprehensive overview of the research industry, outputs, organiza­
allowing for the evaluation of research productivity across individuals, tions, and trends (Biberci, 2023; Donthu et al., 2021; Firdaus et al.,
institutions, and countries (Mao et al., 2021; Fard et al., 2023). The 2019). In order to comprehend the relationship between journal cita­
knowledge gathered from bibliometric analysis helps researchers tions and provide a perspective on the current or emerging field of
discover new study directions in addition to improving our compre­ research, they may be utilized extensively for the evaluation and anal­
hension of the state of the field (Mao et al., 2021; De Battisti and Salini, ysis of vast amounts of scholarly data (Firdaus et al., 2019). According to
2013). academics, bibliometric analysis and its consequences might support
Moreover, bibliometric analysis is essential for forecasting future future study and development (Zheng et al., 2017). Bibliometric

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M.Y.D. Alazaiza et al. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 17 (2025) 100567

approaches are used in many different fields because of these features converted into Comma-Separated Values (CSV) files. To guarantee the
(Hallinger and Suriyankietkaew, 2018; Müßigmann et al., 2020). This authenticity and dependability of the data, a number of filtering tech­
study used bibliometric analysis to monitor the trends and advance­ niques were used during the source selection process. Procedures
ments of IWW treatment research. The Scopus database for the years including eliminating redundancies and implementing inclusion and
2015–2024 was used to analyze publications. Because the Scopus exclusion criteria according to language, document type, and source
database covers many academic disciplines and has a wealth of pub­ were put into place throughout these stages. Following the segmentation
lished articles in the literature sector, it was chosen (Vasseghian et al., and search of the information, the source name, authors, and affiliations
2023; Donthu et al., 2021). A literature search was conducted using the were carefully examined annually. The quality of the discovered papers
following query string and the provided keywords: “(TITLE-ABS-KEY was also taken into account in the document title, abstracts, and key­
((“Treatment*”) AND (“Industrial” OR “Industry”) AND (“Wastewaters” words sections. Regretfully, the data filterization procedure required
OR “Effluent*” OR “Sewage”) AND PUBYEAR > 2014 AND PUBYEAR < that any inaccurate or incomplete entries be appropriately removed in
2025 AND (LIMIT-TO (DOCTYPE, “ar”)) AND (LIMIT-TO (SRCTYPE, order to bring the data.
“j”)) AND (LIMIT-TO (LANGUAGE, “English”))). Fig. 1 below provides
an illustration of the search approach. 2.3. Data analysis
According to the keywords, our initial search produced 2672 publi­
cations in the form of books, book chapters, conference papers, review The practice of creating, drawing, and presenting bibliometric maps
articles, and articles, as shown in Fig. 1. We then went ahead and nar­ for readability is common in bibliometric research. This method appears
rowed down this corpus to just include journal articles written in En­ to make working with literature and identifying the connections be­
glish. Following this screening procedure, 1714 publications were tween certain sources easier (Durán-Sánchez et al., 2020). We down­
chosen. loaded the data for VOSviewer software processing as we needed to see
the results and familiarize ourselves with the bibliometric results’ out­
2.2. Data extraction and filtering lines. The open-source, user-friendly VOSviewer software is used for
networking and bibliometric data visualization (Durán-Sánchez et al.,
Data was extracted, organized in the Scopus database, and then 2020). There are certain aspects in which it is different from other

Fig. 1. Research methodology.

3
M.Y.D. Alazaiza et al. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 17 (2025) 100567

software programs, such as CiteSpace, SciMAT, Gephi, and Bib Excel contributions before the year concludes. This data not only highlights a
(Vasseghian et al., 2023; Zahoor et al., 2022). VOSviewer software was generally positive trend in research activity but also emphasizes the
used for data processing and analysis since it has text-mining skills and growing importance and focus on IWW treatment methodologies. By
can handle networks of very large sizes (Hallinger and Suriyankietkaew, situating these findings within the context of identified research gaps,
2018). VOSviewer software was used to create bibliometric maps, which we can better understand how they contribute to advancing knowledge
show the relationships between the chosen articles and aid in the dis­ in this field. It is essential to distinguish these contributions from
covery of relationships, trends, and patterns in the literature (Kasavan existing literature, as they reflect emerging themes and innovative ap­
et al., 2021). One of the program’s advantages is its ability to dynami­ proaches that warrant further exploration.
cally alter the labels being used, which fits the algorithm’s goal of dis­ The distribution of publications on IWW treatment reveals signifi­
playing co-occurrences (Kasavan et al., 2021). cant patterns in research production across various scientific fields,
The investigation focused on four main areas: the article database, highlighting areas of both strength and opportunity. Notably, “chemical
the author keywords used in the papers and journals where the articles engineering” emerges as the dominant field, accounting for 66.69 % of
were published, and the countries of origin. For bibliometric studies, the published studies. This prominence underscores the critical role that
these elements are crucial because they provide a thorough picture of chemical engineers play in developing and optimizing treatment pro­
the state of the research (Van Eck and Waltman, 2013; Usmani et al., cesses, designing efficient systems, and ensuring compliance with
2021; Rai et al., 2020). Publications, average normalized citations, and environmental regulations.
total link strength (TLS) were all considered while determining the In addition, the field of “chemistry” contributes 22.29 % of the
analysis’s parameters. These metrics are helpful in assessing the effect research, emphasizing the vital importance of understanding chemical
and visibility of the item (Rai et al., 2020). reactions and properties in IWW treatment. Insights into the chemical
Only journal articles were among the 1714 papers that were found composition of wastewater and the interactions during treatment pro­
throughout the search. 356 distinct publication sources or venues pro­ cesses are essential for formulating effective purification strategies,
vided these materials. The literature on the topic was authored by 4481 thereby addressing gaps in current methodologies. Furthermore, the
writers from 2635 different institutions throughout the globe. Signifi­ “energy” domain, representing 11.03 % of the publications, highlights
cant contributions to the literature were made by authors from 99 the intersection between IWW treatment and energy resource manage­
different nations. A total of 12679 citations demonstrated the cumula­ ment. This area focuses on the energy consumption associated with
tive impact of these 1714 publications, highlighting their significance in various treatment methods and the potential for energy recovery from
the academic community. The study of author-supplied keywords effluent, emphasizing the necessity for sustainable practices in IWW
revealed a complex tapestry of 3122 distinct phrases, providing more management. Overall, these findings illustrate the interdisciplinary na­
insight into the research emphasis of the literature. The main biblio­ ture of IWW treatment research and its connection to broader environ­
metric conclusions drawn from the review of the literature on IWW mental challenges.
treatment are briefly summarized in Table 1.
3.2. Preeminent journals for research on the IWW treatment
3. Results and discussion
The analysis of the top sources publishing research on IWW treat­
3.1. Trend of annual publications ment highlights significant insights into the field’s landscape. The top 15
sources that have published a lot of material about the IWW treatment
Fig. 2a shows how the number of published papers on IWW and the are included in Table 2, together with information about their publi­
six major Scopus subject categories has changed over time. A total of cation counts, total citations, TLS, h-index, and SCImago Journal Rank
1,714 research papers in this area published between 2015 and July (SJR). The majority of the papers on IWW treatment are found in a few
2024 were found through a search of the Scopus database. Of them, high-profile scholarly journals. According to the statistics, there is a
“articles,” which include 1714 articles and 64.1 % of all publications, is noticeable concentration of research output in high-impact journals,
the most prevalent form. “Book chapters” (9.8 %), “review articles” indicating that these sources are essential for expanding our under­
(7.9 %), “conference articles” (10 %), and others (like “book” and “not standing of this area.
journal”) comprise the others. The other categories were not further Notably, the “Journal of Water Process Engineering” leads with 49
taken into consideration because "articles" made up the majority of publications and 800 citations, demonstrating a strong influence within
publications. the field, with an average of 16.33 citations per paper. In contrast, the
The annual publication trends, illustrated in Fig. 2b, reflect the dy­ “Desalination of Water Treatment” journal has 45 publications but only
namic nature of research activity in IWW treatment methodologies over 125 citations, resulting in an average of approximately 2.75 citations per
the past decade. Starting with 112 published papers in 2015, there was a article, indicating a more specialized impact despite its significant
steady increase to 138 in 2016. Subsequent years exhibited fluctuations, output. The “Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering” stands
with 119 publications in 2017, 154 in 2018, and a notable rise to 167 in out with 37 publications and an impressive 1,551 citations, yielding an
2019. The upward trend continued, peaking at 208 publications in 2021 average of 41.89 citations per publication, which reflects its widespread
and reaching 244 articles in 2022. However, a slight decline was recognition and influence in the research community. Other notable
observed in 2023, with 231 papers published. As of 2024, 153 articles journals, such as “Chemosphere” and “Environmental Science and
have already been published, indicating the potential for further Pollution Research,” have published 32 and 28 articles, respectively,
with citation counts of 1,263 and 401. This suggests that these journals
Table 1 not only contribute a substantial volume of research but also provide
Key bibliometric findings summarized. valuable knowledge that resonates within the scientific community.
Furthermore, journals like “Science of the Total Environment” and
Description Findings
“Separation and Purification Technology” have made their mark with 21
Countries 99
and 20 publications and citation averages of 17.57 and 20.9, respec­
Authors` Affiliations 2635
Publication Venues 356 tively. The “Journal of Environmental Management” and “Journal of
Author Keywords 3122 Cleaner Production” also contribute significantly, with 19 publications
Authors 4481 and 234 citations, and 18 publications and 474 citations, respectively.
Total Citations 12679 Lastly, “Water Science and Technology” has 17 publications with 148
Publications 1714
citations, indicating a steady, albeit less influential, contribution to the

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M.Y.D. Alazaiza et al. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 17 (2025) 100567

Fig. 2. (a) The percentage of document type reports for research on IWW treatment; (b) The annual of IWW treatment research-related publication every year, as
determined by the Scopus database until September 2024 (n = 1714).

field. Overall, this analysis underscores the diverse contributions and 3.3. Country IWW treatment collaboration network
varying impacts of these journals in advancing research on IWW treat­
ment methodologies. The current bibliometric study provides a comprehensive overview
Journals with 12 papers published in this field of study between of the leading nations contributing to research on IWW treatment. As
2015 and 2024 were identified as the primary sources. Fifteen of the detailed in Table 3, key data such as publication counts and associated
sources that were found satisfied these requirements, as shown in Fig. 3. citation metrics highlight the significant roles of various countries.
These 15 periodicals serve as the primary information sources for IWW China and India emerge as frontrunners in this field, with 202 and 179
treatment research and are essential to the development of the subject. published papers, respectively, and citation totals of 3,598 and 3,248.
Overall, this analysis illustrates a robust network of high-impact This substantial output positions both countries as major players in IWW
journals dedicated to IWW treatment, emphasizing the importance of treatment research, reflecting their robust research infrastructure and
these platforms in disseminating pivotal research findings. The varying active scholarly engagement.
citation counts reflect both the influence and the specific focus areas of Following closely are Iran and Turkey, which contributed 65 and 62
each journal, suggesting that researchers should consider these factors publications, respectively, garnering total citations of 637 and 568.
when selecting publication venues for their work. These figures indicate a growing interest and investment in wastewater
treatment research within these nations. Brazil, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia

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M.Y.D. Alazaiza et al. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 17 (2025) 100567

Table 2 including Spain, Pakistan, South Korea, and the United States,
The top 15 sources by citation count for IWW treatment study. contribute 33, 30, 29, and 29 publications, respectively, with citation
Source TLS Documents Citations H- SJR counts of 459, 407, 785, and 512. This indicates a competitive landscape
index where multiple nations are making valuable research contributions,
Journal of Water Process 630 49 800 89 1.278 albeit with varying levels of impact.
Engineering Finally, the United Kingdom, Morocco, and Mexico, with 26, 25, and
Desalination and Water 574 45 125 83 0.256 23 publications, have accumulated 896, 289, and 260 citations,
Treatment respectively. The disparities in citation counts among these nations
Journal of Environmental 550 37 1551 127 1.355
Chemical Engineering
suggest differing levels of academic influence and recognition within the
Chemosphere 541 32 1263 311 1.806 global research community. Overall, this analysis highlights the dy­
Environmental Science and 411 28 401 179 1.006 namic and diverse contributions of nations to the field of IWW treatment
Pollution Research research.
Science of the Total 278 21 396 353 1.998
Because of this approach’s great treatment efficiency, IWW treat­
Environment
Separation and Purification 294 20 418 202 1.533 ment has become a global research priority (Costa et al., 2021). A bib­
Technology liometric examination of the published literature is necessary to have a
Journal of Environmental 317 19 234 243 1.771 thorough grasp of the state of research in this area at the moment.
Management One common paradigm in this field is research cooperation, which is
Journal of Cleaner 213 18 474 309 2.058
Production
described as the cooperative generation of scientific knowledge (Han
Water Science and 157 17 148 157 0.554
Technology
International Journal of 29 16 95 101 0.598 Table 3
Environmental Science Leading 15 countries in terms of IWW treatment publications between 2015 and
and Technology 2024.
Chemical Engineering 187 15 359 309 2.852
Nation TLS Publications Citations
Journal
Water (Switzerland) 106 13 86 102 0.724 India 47 202 3598
Environmental Research 171 12 134 179 1.679 China 55 179 3248
Sustainability (Switzerland) 126 12 147 169 0.672 Iran 14 65 637
Turkey 8 62 568
Brazil 6 57 1298
also demonstrate notable contributions, with 57, 52, and 45 publica­ Egypt 26 52 693
Saudi Arabia 53 45 643
tions, respectively. Brazil’s citation count of 1,298 highlights its strong
Malaysia 20 36 303
impact relative to its publication output, while Egypt and Saudi Arabia Spain 10 33 459
have accumulated 693 and 643 citations, respectively. This trend un­ Pakistan 27 30 407
derscores the diverse research capabilities across different regions and South Korea 29 29 785
suggests that these countries are increasingly addressing the challenges United States 23 29 512
United Kingdom 23 26 896
associated with IWW management.
Morocco 0 25 289
Additionally, Malaysia’s 36 publications, along with 303 citations, Mexico 5 23 260
reflect the relevance of its research output in this area. Other countries,

Fig. 3. Co-occurrence map of journals with over 12 articles treating IWW published between 2015 and 2024.

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M.Y.D. Alazaiza et al. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 17 (2025) 100567

et al., 2014). Collaborations can take place between nations, in­ Other institutions, such as the “Environmental Science and Tech­
stitutions, and individual writers, among other levels (Han et al., 2014). nology Research Center” and the “Department of Environmental Science
Using VOSviewer software, a network diagram was created to analyze at the University of Gujrat,” each with four publications, show varying
the network of global partnerships. The participating nations are citation counts of 25 and 15, respectively. This indicates differing levels
depicted as labeled nodes in this image, and the lines connecting the of impact, with the former suggesting relevance in specific areas of IWW
nodes indicate the relative contributions of each country to the total treatment. The “Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research” has
project. The thickness of the lines indicates the intensity of the collab­ also published four articles, achieving 68 citations, which underscores
orative relationships, and the size of the nodes indicates the number of the significance of its research output. Conversely, the “Center of
citations that the articles from each country have received (Van Eck and Excellence in Environmental Studies at King Abdulaziz University” and
Waltman, 2010). the “Department of Environmental Engineering at Karabuk University,”
As shown in Fig. 4, the network analysis showed that 15 nations have both with four publications, report lower citation counts of 12. This may
shown a strong interest in studying IWW treatment. The nations with the suggest that their research is still developing in terms of visibility and
most significant roles—shown by the thicker connecting linkages and influence.
higher node sizes—are probably leading the way in this area of study. Overall, the analysis reveals a diverse landscape of research in IWW
The worldwide scope of study endeavors and the key figures propelling treatment, with varying levels of publication output and citation impact.
the development of IWW treatment procedures might be represented by The “University of Chinese Academy of Sciences” leads in both quantity
this data. and quality, while “Tianjin University” stands out for its high citation
All things considered, this analysis shows how research efforts in rates, providing valuable insights for future study collaborations and
IWW treatment are distributed globally and emphasizes the disparities funding decisions in the area.
in the level of influence that various nations have had in this new field of These institutions align with the countries that demonstrate signifi­
study. The data indicates that while India and China lead the field, other cant contributions, reflecting the strong connection between
nations are making significant contributions, reflecting a collaborative geographical origin and affiliations in this research field. This pattern
international effort to address the pressing challenges of wastewater can be attributed to the countries’ support for scientific research and
management. This growing body of knowledge presents opportunities innovation in IWW treatment, as well as the presence of collaborative
for future research collaborations and policy development aimed at networks among institutions within each country.
enhancing IWW treatment technologies worldwide.
To identify the leading institutions engaged in research on IWW
3.4. Network of co-citation authors in IWW treatment research
treatment, a comprehensive map was developed based on 1,714 publi­
cations available in the Scopus database, as illustrated in Fig. 5.
One well-known bibliometric method that makes it possible to map
Instead than naming particular universities or research organiza­
the body of existing literature in a systematic manner is co-citation
tions, the initial data mostly gave affiliations in terms of departments or
author network analysis (Hallinger and Suriyankietkaew, 2018). The
colleges. In order to appropriately represent the universities or research
underlying conceptual frameworks and thematic links within a study
institutes involved, this data had to be rearranged, as shown in Table 4.
subject are revealed by this technique, which makes it easier to identify
Among the top affiliations, the “University of Chinese Academy of
studies that are commonly referenced together. We used the VOSviewer
Sciences,” stands out with seven publications and 74 citations, indi­
software to do a thorough co-citation network analysis for this investi­
cating a strong research presence in the field. Following closely is the
gation. We were able to get important information on the groupings and
“Department of Chemical Engineering at Adama,” which has produced
connections between the articles in the area of interest thanks to our
five publications with 49 citations, reflecting significant contributions to
analytical method. The findings of this in-depth analysis are shown in
the area. The “Department of Applied Chemistry at Razi University in
Table 5, which provide a comprehensive picture of the article’s current
Kermanshah,” has four publications and 22 citations, suggesting that
status in this field. As indicated by their numerous publication outputs,
while its output is moderate, it has added valuable insights to the
the writers found using this co-citation network analysis have proven to
discipline. Notably, the “School of Environmental Science and Engi­
be exceptionally committed and knowledgeable in furthering the aca­
neering at Tianjin University,” also with four publications, boasts an
demic work in this field. This material is intended to draw attention to
impressive 273 citations, highlighting the high regard and influence of
the significant personalities and foundational works that have influ­
its research.
enced the theoretical underpinnings and scholarly conversation

Fig. 4. A network visualization showing the main countries participating in the study on IWW treatment.

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M.Y.D. Alazaiza et al. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 17 (2025) 100567

Fig. 5. A network visualization showing the main universities involved in the study examining the treatment of IWW.

Table 4 Table 5
Top 9 universities according to authors’ affiliation. Co-occurrence map of researcher cooperation from 2015 to 2024.
Affiliation Country TLS Documents Citations Author Publications Author Citation

University of Chinese Academy Beijing, China 3 7 74 Dobrosz-Gómez I. 7 Zheng W. 131

of Sciences Gómez-García M.Á. 7 Akansha J. 128
Department of Chemical Adama 5 5 49 Asaithambi P. 7 Iloms, E. 126
Engineering, School of Yesuf M.B. 7 Nidheesh, P. V. 114
Mechanical, Chemical, and Gogate P.R. 7 Aadil, M. 97
Materials Engineering Alemayehu E. 6 Cai, Q.Q. 88
Department of Applied Iran 11 4 22 Govindarajan R. 6 Azari, A. 83
Chemistry, Faculty of Lucas M.S. 6 Vélez-Pérez, L.S. 78
Chemistry, Razi University, Peres J.A. 6 Yang, Y. 72
Kermanshah, da Silva Jorge N. 5 EL-Mekkawi, D.M. 71
School of Environmental Tianjin, 7 4 273 Banu J.R. 5 Kumari, U. 68
Science and Engineering, China Pugazhendi A. 5 Manni, A. 68
Tianjin University Agrawal R.S. 5 He, R. 67
Environmental Science and Iran 6 4 25 Haan T.Y. 5 Gholipour, A. 66
Technology Research Center,
Department of
Environmental Health highlights prolific authors, it may inadvertently exacerbate the Matthew
Engineering Effect, whereby well-known authors receive more recognition and ci­
Department of Environmental Gujrat, Pakis 4 4 15
Science, University of Gujrat,
tations, further enhancing their visibility in the academic community. In
Hafiz Hayat Campus our analysis, we identified the 14 most referenced authors in IWW
Academy of Scientific and Ghaziabad, 2 4 68 treatment research, as well as 14 key contributors who have published at
Innovative Research India least five articles in this domain.
Center of Excellence in Jeddah, Saudi 2 4 12
Leading the list are Dobrosz-Gómez I., Gómez-García M.Á., Asai­
Environmental Studies, King Arabia
Abdulaziz University thambi P., Yesuf M.B., and Gogate P.R., each with seven publications,
Department of Environmental Karabuk 2 4 12 demonstrating a substantial research output. Interestingly, these authors
Engineering, Faculty of were not among the most highly cited in the reviewed literature.
Engineering, Karabuk Following closely are Alemayehu E., Govindarajan R., Lucas M.S., and
University
Peres J.A., each with six publications, underscoring their significant
contributions to the academic discourse surrounding IWW treatment.
surrounding the subject of the study. Additionally, authors such as da Silva Jorge N., Banu J.R., Pugazhendi
The 1714 articles in the dataset under investigation reflect the work A., Agrawal R.S., and Haan T.Y., each with four published works,
of 4481 distinct authors. It’s interesting to see that certain authors have represent a cohort of researchers who have consistently advanced our
written for many journals, indicating a particular interest in this area. understanding of the challenges and optimization strategies in waste­
Table 5 displays the relevant information for the most well-known water treatment applications.
writers together with the number of publications and citations their The author with the highest citation count is Zheng W., with a total of
work has received. It is essential to recognize that while this approach 131 citations. Akansha J. follows closely with 128 citations, while Iloms,

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M.Y.D. Alazaiza et al. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 17 (2025) 100567

E. (126 citations), Nidheesh, P. V. (114 citations), and Aadil, M. (97 95.3 % and 97.8 % at nitrate concentrations of 200 mg/L and 2000
citations) round out the top cited authors. These findings suggest that mg/L, respectively. According to research, Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles are
while the field of IWW treatment embraces a collaborative, multi-author formed on the electrode surface during self-activation and are essential
approach, certain researchers have emerged as particularly influential, for the nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) because they minimize
significantly impacting both publication outputs and citation counts. hydrogen evolution events and promote an atomic hydrogen-mediated
route. With its high yields and Faradaic efficiency, the self-activated
3.5. The most cited publications in IWW treatment Ni(OH)2@Ni cathode may be readily scaled up to process large
amounts of IWW and effectively convert nitrate into ammonia. This
The scientific mapping of citation analysis is a crucial method for research presents an innovative and efficient method for treating
identifying the intellectual relationships between publications, partic­ nitrate-laden IWW, producing ammonia as a valuable byproduct, thus
ularly when one study is referenced in another (Donthu et al., 2021). advancing wastewater management and resource recovery (Zheng et al.,
This approach facilitates the analysis of citation trends and patterns and 2021).
aids in identifying the most significant research publications within a The research with 128 citations is the second most cited on the list.
certain academic area (Bang et al., 2023). In order to do this, the study The article published in Chemosphere in 2020 with the title “Treatment
used citation analysis to look at the published publications. Table 6 of dairy industry wastewater by combined aerated electrocoagulation
displays the top 15 publications with the highest number of citations and phytoremediation process” was written by Akansha et al. (2020).
based on the Scopus database. Adherence to the Scopus database is the This study examined the efficacy of treating wastewater from the dairy
sole criterion utilized to rate these articles. This citation analysis offers sector using aerated EC in conjunction with phytoremediation. The
insightful information about the most significant and important works in impacts of several factors, such as electrode type, pH, and voltage, were
the field of IWW treatment research. studied using iron and aluminum electrodes. The results indicated that
The following information summarizes the top seven papers with EC was most effective at neutral pH, with efficiency increasing as
more than 83 citations that were found using a search of the Scopus voltage was raised. With an initial pH of 7 and a voltage of 5 V, the Al–Fe
database: “Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia Using a Self- electrode combination produced a maximum chemical oxygen demand
Activated Ni Cathode: From Basics to Scale-Up for Industrial Wastewater (COD) removal efficiency of 86.4 % after 120 min. When comparing
Treatment.” The most cited publication, with 131 citations. In 2021, EC-treated wastewater to raw wastewater, a significant increase in
Zheng et al. published this work in the journal Environmental Science & Canna indica was seen. A 97 % clearance rate of COD was achieved
Technology (Zheng et al., 2021). This study demonstrates the effec­ when EC and phytoremediation were combined. Tests for bacterial
tiveness of an in situ activated pristine nickel (Ni) electrode for nitrate toxicity also showed that wastewater, whether treated or not, encour­
reduction to ammonia in both laboratory and pilot-scale settings. The aged the development of bacteria. These results highlight how well the
self-activated Ni cathode exhibited remarkable activity, selectivity, and combined treatment approach manages effluent from the dairy industry.
stability, achieving ammonium nitrogen (NH+ The third most referenced paper, authored by Iloms, E., is titled
4 –N) conversion yields of

Table 6
The top 15 most-cited articles.
First Author Year Title Source Citations Refs.

Zheng, W. 2021 Self-Activated Ni Cathode for Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia: Environmental Science and 131 (Zheng et al., 2021)
From Fundamentals to Scale-Up for Treatment of Industrial Wastewater Technology
Akansha, J. 2020 Treatment of dairy industry wastewater by combined aerated Chemosphere 128 (Akansha et al.,
electrocoagulation and phytoremediation process 2020)
Iloms, E. 2020 Investigating industrial effluent impact on municipal wastewater treatment International journal of 126 (Iloms et al., 2020)
plant in vaal, South Africa environmental research and
public health
Nidheesh, P. 2020 Treatment of mixed industrial wastewater by electrocoagulation and indirect Chemosphere 114 (Nidheesh et al.,
V. electrochemical oxidation 2020)
Aadil, M. 2021 Fabrication of MnO2 nanowires and their nanohybrid with flat conductive FlatChem 97 (Aadil et al., 2021)
matrix for the treatment of industrial effluents
Cai, Q.Q. 2020 Potential of combined advanced oxidation – Biological process for cost- Chemical Engineering Journal 88 (Cai et al., 2020)
effective organic matters removal in reverse osmosis concentrate produced
from industrial wastewater reclamation: Screening of AOP pre-treatment
technologies.
Azari, A. 2023 Magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes-loaded alginate for treatment of International Journal of 83 (Azari et al., 2023)
industrial dye manufacturing effluent: adsorption modelling and process Environmental Analytical
optimisation by central composite face-central design. Chemistry
Vélez-Pérez, 2020 Industrial acid mine drainage and municipal wastewater co-treatment by dual- International Journal of Hydrogen 78 (Vélez-Pérez et al.,
L.S. chamber microbial fuel cells. Energy 2020)
Yang, Y. 2020 Activated sludge microbial community and treatment performance of International Journal of 72 (Yang et al., 2020)
wastewater treatment plants in industrial and municipal zones. Environmental Research and
Public Health
EL-Mekkawi, 2020 Solar photocatalytic treatment of industrial wastewater utilizing recycled Journal of cleaner production 71 (EL-Mekkawi et al.,
D. M. polymeric disposals as TiO2 supports. 2020)
Kumari, U. 2020 Facile method to synthesize efficient adsorbent from alumina by nitric acid Journal of hazardous materials 68 (Kumari et al., 2020)
activation: Batch scale defluoridation, kinetics, isotherm studies and
implementation on industrial wastewater treatment.
Manni, A. 2020 New low-cost ceramic microfiltration membrane made from natural magnesite Journal of Environmental 68 (Manni et al., 2020)
for industrial wastewater treatment. Chemical Engineering
He, R. 2023 Tunable Bi-bridge S-scheme Bi2S3/BiOBr heterojunction with oxygen vacancy Separation and Purification 67 (He et al., 2023)
and SPR effect for efficient photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) and industrial. Technology
Gholipour, A. 2020 A novel pilot and full-scale constructed wetland study for glass industry Chemosphere 66 (Gholipour et al.,
wastewater treatment. 2020)
Venugopal, V. 2021 Seafood industry effluents: Environmental hazards, treatment and resource Journal of Environmental 64 (Venugopal and
recovery. Chemical Engineering, Sasidharan, 2021)

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M.Y.D. Alazaiza et al. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 17 (2025) 100567

“Investigating Industrial Effluent Impact on Municipal Wastewater and FTIR analyses, highlighting the potential of this nanohybrid for
Treatment Plant in Vaal, South Africa,” published in the “International environmental remediation (Aadil et al., 2021).
Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,” with 126 cita­ In the Chemical Engineering Journal, the study “Potential of com­
tions (Iloms et al., 2020). This study evaluated the effects of industrial bined advanced oxidation–Biological process for cost-effective organic
wastewater containing hazardous heavy metals on the water quality of matter removal in reverse osmosis concentrate produced from industrial
the Vaal River, focusing on the Leeuwkuil wastewater treatment plant wastewater reclamation: Screening of AOP pre-treatment technologies,”
(WWTP) from January to September 2017. The researchers monitored written by Cai et al. (2020), has received 88 citations. The viability of
river samples, WWTP inflow and effluent, as well as physicochemical using AOPs in conjunction with biological treatment to eliminate
parameters and heavy metal concentrations from five industrial sources. organic pollutants from genuine reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC) is
The results revealed significant differences in pH, total dissolved solids assessed in this study. UV/H2O2, UV/Persulfate (PS), Fenton, and Flu­
(TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO), COD, biological oxygen demand (BOD), idized Bed Reactor (FBR)-Fenton processes were the four AOPs evalu­
and electrical conductivity (EC), with industrial samples exhibiting ated. The most economical pre-treatment choice was the FBR-Fenton
higher values. Elevated amounts of aluminum, copper, lead, and zinc method, which had a chemical cost of S$0.519/m3. The FBR-Fenton
were found in industrial effluents using inductively coupled plasma procedure achieved a COD removal efficiency between 30.9 % and
optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), with seasonal variations seen 59.8 % by considerably increasing the BOD5/COD ratios in ROC by 4.2
for zinc and aluminum. Although the WWTP adhered to most South to 10 times under ideal circumstances (10 mM H2O2, 1.25 mM Fe2+, pH
African Green Drop Standards, the concentrations of copper, zinc, and 3, and a hydraulic retention duration of 1 h). The FBR-Fenton technique
lead in the treated effluent exceeded permissible limits, posing risks to was combined with a biological activated carbon (BAC) column that had
river health and biodiversity. The study concluded that the WWTP’s a 120-minute empty bed contact period to improve treatment. This in­
capacity was inadequate for effectively reducing heavy metal concen­ tegrated system continuously eliminated organics from ROC during a
trations due to the high levels of non-biodegradable content in the 120-day period, yielding in an effluent COD level of 26 mg/L and an
influent. Recommendations included improving the pre-treatment of average COD removal efficiency of 69 %. According to analysis, the
industrial effluents, continuous water quality monitoring, and main­ FBR-Fenton procedure successfully eliminated 83 % of the humic com­
taining WWTP infrastructure to mitigate pollution in the Vaal River. pounds that were the predominant organic species in ROC while
Further research on heavy metals in sediments was also suggested to simultaneously enhancing biodegradability. Finding the best AOP for
assess ecological risks (Iloms et al., 2020). ROC pre-treatment, combining certain AOPs with BAC for continuous
In 2020, Nidheesh et al. published a noteworthy study in “Chemo­ flow therapy, and examining how AOPs affect BAC performance were
sphere” titled “Treatment of Mixed Industrial Wastewater by Electro­ the objectives of the study. Planctomycetes was the predominant
coagulation and Indirect Electrochemical Oxidation,” which has been phylum under high salinity circumstances, according to microbiological
cited 114 times (Nidheesh et al., 2020). This research addresses the characterization of the BAC media. The FBR-Fenton procedure encour­
challenges associated with treating mixed IWW, emphasizing the aged its growth, which improved the removal efficiency of COD.
effectiveness of electrochemical techniques, specifically EC and indirect Lastly, Azari et al. published a study in the “International Journal of
electrochemical oxidation. The authors investigated the removal effi­ Environmental Analytical Chemistry” that focuses on the use of mag­
ciencies for color and COD under various conditions. Their findings netic multi-walled carbon nanotubes loaded with alginate for treating
revealed that both treatment methods performed optimally at neutral industrial dye manufacturing effluent (Azari et al., 2023). This research,
pH levels. Notably, the study compared two connection configurations: which has received 83 citations. In this work, magnetic multi-walled
monopolar (MP) and bipolar (BP). The results indicated that the MP carbon nanotubes loaded with alginate (CNT-Alg-Fe3O4) are used to
configuration outperformed the BP setup, achieving a COD removal of evaluate the removal of dyes from raw textile effluent. The goal is to use
55 % and a color removal of 56 % at a voltage of 1.5 V over one hour, response surface methodology-based central composite face-centered
while the BP configuration yielded lower efficiencies of 43 % COD and design (RSM-CCF) to optimize important parameters including pH,
48 % color removal. Furthermore, when employing indirect electro­ adsorbent dose, and contact duration. Energy-dispersive X-ray spec­
chemical oxidation with graphite electrodes at a pH of 7.7 and a voltage troscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), vibrating-sample
of 4 V, the researchers found that the addition of sodium chloride magnetometer (VSM), FTIR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD)
significantly enhanced the removal efficiencies, achieving 55 % COD were among the methods used to characterize the adsorbents. A high
and an impressive 99.8 % color removal. The study concluded that the match between the model and the experimental data was shown by the
indirect electrochemical oxidation process, combined with EC using results, which showed a low p-value (7.9714e-13), a relative standard
aluminum electrodes, presents promising and cost-effective options for deviation (RSD) of 1.121, and a coefficient of determination larger than
treating mixed IWW (Nidheesh et al., 2020). 0.953. The removal effectiveness achieved 98.43 % with an adsorption
Another important study, conducted by Aadil et al. and published in capacity of 138.97 ADMI/g under ideal circumstances, which included a
“FlatChem,” focuses on the fabrication of manganese dioxide (MnO2) pH of 3, an adsorbent dosage of 10 g/L, and a contact period of around
nanowires and their hybridization with MXene to treat IWW (Aadil 85.55 min. The adsorption process is monolayer and chemical in char­
et al., 2021). This research has garnered 97 citations and emphasizes the acter, as shown by data fitting with the Langmuir isotherm (R2 = 1, X2 =
development of a stable MXene nanohybrid to overcome performance 0.012) and pseudo-second-order kinetics (R2 = 0.993, X2 = 0.015). The
limitations associated with MXene’s tendency to restack and oxidize. dye removal process was spontaneous and endothermic, according to
The study employed various characterization techniques to confirm the thermodynamic characteristics (ΔH◦ > 0, ΔS◦ > 0, and ΔG◦ < 0). Ten
structural integrity and properties of the nanohybrid. The photocatalytic successive studies using the same adsorbent revealed a decline in
and antibacterial activities of the nanohybrid were assessed using removal effectiveness of around 11.94 %. This study demonstrates how
Staphylococcus aureus bacteria and crystal violet dye under solar light well CNT-Alg-Fe3O4 treats wastewater from textiles, which is a signifi­
conditions. Remarkably, the H2O2-supported MXene/MnO2 nanohybrid cant component of IWW, particularly in the dyeing and finishing
exhibited superior photocatalytic activity, achieving approximately processes.
91.5 % dye degradation after 50 min with a rate constant of 0.045 As shown in Table 5, these highly referenced published papers
min− 1, demonstrating its effectiveness compared to pure MnO2 and the emphasize the use of various treatment techniques for various forms of
MXene/MnO2 hybrid. According to the results, the MXene/MnO2 IWW, such as dairy wastewater (Akansha et al., 2020), municipal
nanohybrid is a powerful photocatalyst that may break down dangerous wastewater (Vélez-Pérez et al., 2020; Yang et al., 2020), food sector
organic dyes and stop microorganisms from growing in industrial waste. effluents (Shrivastava et al., 2022), and textile wastewater (Azari et al.,
Successful synthesis and integration were verified through SEM, PXRD, 2023; Aghilesh et al., 2021). This body of research highlights a

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M.Y.D. Alazaiza et al. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 17 (2025) 100567

significant shift from traditional treatment methods–primarily biolog­ Table 7

ical, physical, and chemical approaches—toward integrated treatment Top 60 keywords from the research published on IWW treatment.
strategies that combine multiple techniques to enhance efficacy and Keywords Cluster TLS Occurrence
sustainability to treat IWW (Akansha et al., 2020; Nidheesh et al., 2020;
Wastewater Treatment 1 105 119
Cai et al., 2020; He et al., 2023). Wastewater 1 67 68
In order to increase treatment efficiency, the majority of the research Industrial Wastewater 8 58 80
included in Table 5 concentrated on integrated procedures that involve Electrocoagulation 3 55 49
pre- or post-treatment of wastewater (Akansha et al., 2020; Nidheesh Adsorption 6 53 56
Treatment 1 31 19
et al., 2020; Cai et al., 2020; He et al., 2023). For instance, Akansha et al. Heavy Metals 1 29 25
(2020) investigated the synergistic effects of combining phytor­ Response Surface Methodology 2 25 18
emediation with aerated EC for dairy wastewater treatment. Their Optimization 3 22 23
findings illustrate how integrated approaches can leverage the strengths Textile Wastewater 3 21 20
Activated Carbon 3 20 15
of different methodologies to achieve higher removal rates of contami­
COD 2 20 21
nants, thus addressing the specific challenges posed by diverse waste­ Ceramic Membrane 4 19 14
water compositions. Moreover, the research emphasizes the critical need Ozonation 5 19 12
to address a range of contaminants, including heavy metals (Zheng et al., Ultrafiltration 4 19 12
2021; Iloms et al., 2020), organic compounds (Akansha et al., 2020; Nanofiltration 4 18 11
COD 1 17 20
Iloms et al., 2020; Nidheesh et al., 2020), and dyes (Aadil et al., 2021). Membrane Bioreactor 1 17 11
Techniques such as EC (Akansha et al., 2020) and electrocatalytic Microfiltration 4 17 10
reduction (Zheng et al., 2021) have shown promise in effectively Coagulation 3 16 16
removing these pollutants. For example, studies focused on electro­ COD Removal 8 16 17
Industrial Wastewater Treatment 7 16 29
chemical methods demonstrated significant improvements in contami­
Textile Effluent 5 15 11
nant removal efficiency when optimized parameters such as pH and Artificial Neural Network 2 12 7
voltage were applied. The use of AOPs has also been highlighted as a Cost Analysis 5 12 7
viable strategy, particularly in enhancing the biodegradability of Electro-Fenton 3 12 11
wastewater, which facilitates subsequent biological treatment stages Kinetics 7 12 11
Membrane Fouling 4 12 13
(Cai et al., 2020). Nanomaterials have emerged as an innovative solution
Natural Coagulant 1 12 7
for adsorption techniques, demonstrating their potential to enhance the Advanced Oxidation 7 11 17
removal of complex organic dyes from textile wastewater (Azari et al., Coagulation-Flocculation 1 11 12
2023). Research into magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes loaded Constructed Wetlands 1 11 8
Dye Removal 4 11 8
with alginate indicates high adsorption capacities and efficiencies,
Microbial Community 2 11 8
reinforcing the importance of utilizing advanced materials in waste­ Photo-Fenton 5 11 9
water treatment applications (Zheng et al., 2021; Venugopal and Biodegradability 3 10 7
Sasidharan, 2021). Photocatalysis 6 10 15
The overarching objectives of these studies align with the pressing Toxicity 3 10 8
Circular Economy 1 9 9
need to enhance resource recovery and reduce the environmental
Fenton 3 9 11
impact of IWW. By focusing on integrated and innovative treatment Industrial Effluent 6 9 14
approaches, the research contributes to developing more sustainable Oxidation 7 9 7
wastewater management practices. This approach not only addresses Sustainability 1 9 11
Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant 2 9 13
immediate treatment challenges but also aligns with broader environ­
Industrial Wastewater Treatment 4 8 7
mental goals, such as minimizing pollution and maximizing the recovery Effluent Treatment 6 8 7
of valuable resources from wastewater streams (Zheng et al., 2021; Industrial Effluents 1 8 8
Venugopal and Sasidharan, 2021). In conclusion, the analyzed studies Microalgae 2 8 9
reflect a significant advancement in the field of IWW treatment, Phytoremediation 1 8 9
Resource Recovery 5 8 9
demonstrating the effectiveness of integrated methodologies and inno­
Bacteria 2 7 7
vative materials. As the research continues to evolve, the findings will Anaerobic Digestion 6 6 8
play a crucial role in shaping future wastewater treatment technologies Biological Treatment 1 6 11
and policies, ultimately leading to improved environmental outcomes LCA 5 6 8
Persulfate 7 6 8
and resource sustainability.
Tannery Wastewater 1 6 7
Zero Liquid Discharge 5 6 7
3.6. The IWW treatment`s main research topics Activated Sludge 2 5 8
Chemical Oxygen Demand 6 5 7
According to Biberci (2023), co-occurrence analysis can be useful in Microbial Fuel Cell 8 5 10

determining research subjects and evaluating the dynamics of research

fronts within a certain field of study. Using VOSviewer to apply the According to the findings of the keyword overlap study, “wastewater
Scopus data we had collected to our research, we established a minimum treatment,” “wastewater,” and “industrial wastewater” are the phrases
keyword count of seven. Therefore, 60 strings were retrieved via this most often used in the field of IWW treatment research. “Wastewater
stage out of 3122 author keywords. treatment,” “wastewater,” “industrial wastewater,” “electro­
A list of terms that reached or beyond the study’s predetermined coagulation,” “adsorption,” “treatment,” “heavy metals,” “response
threshold is shown in Table 7. It should be noted that the authors’ surface methodology,” “optimization,” and “textile wastewater” were
keywords, not the index keywords, were the main focus of this investi­ among the top 10 keywords associated with IWW treatment. The TLS
gation. The top 60 keywords are shown in Table 7 in descending order values showed that “wastewater treatment” (105), “wastewater” (67),
based on their TLS. The ranking of these keywords was determined using “industrial wastewater” (58), “electrocoagulation” (55), and “adsorp­
a rigorous scientific research that took into consideration factors tion” (53), were the highest values. The relative significance of these
including cumulative link strength, the number of links pointing to each fundamental ideas in the realm of IWW treatment is demonstrated by
keyword, and the frequency of their occurrence.

11
M.Y.D. Alazaiza et al. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 17 (2025) 100567

these findings. IWW management.

The top 60 keywords in the Scopus database are displayed in Table 7. The network diagram that follows, which is shown in Fig. 6, reveals
The following potential and related fields are reflected in the keywords the keyword co-occurrences in the context of the research papers per­
employed in the field of IWW treatment: First, “textile wastewater,” taining to the IWW treatment.
“textile effluent,” “industrial effluent,” “textile wastewater,” and “tan­ The nodes in Fig. 6’s schematic stand in for the elements, and their
nery wastewater” all refer to the primary source of contaminated water positions and shapes demonstrate how likely it is that the elements will
produced by different industrial operations. These wastewaters contain co-occur. By examining the term co-occurrence network map, eight
contaminants that can be harmful to the environment, yet they are distinct clusters of different colors can be identified, each of which
treatable (Chen et al., 2020; Deng et al., 2021; Kuleyin et al., 2021; represents a distinct topic within the subject matter under study. Each of
Alazaiza et al., 2023; Alazaiza et al., 2024). These terms are inter­ the latter’s clusters, shown by the various colored nodes in the picture,
connected, as each one represents a specific type of polluted water looks at a distinct discipline in the IWW treatment. The thickness of the
arising from particular industries. For instance, “textile wastewater” and connections between the entities indicates the strength of a connection,
“tannery wastewater” are specific cases of “industrial wastewater” that while the size of the nodes in the diagram indicates the frequency of
require specialized treatment to remove chemical and biological occurrence.
pollutants. The network map utilized in this investigation displays eight sizable
Secondly, “wastewater treatment,” “heavy metals,” “COD,” “dye groupings, as seen in Fig. 6. Stated differently, the first cluster in the
removal,” “toxicity,” and “biodegradability” refer to the main goals of network map of this study, shown by the red highlight, stands for
treating polluted water. In wastewater treatment, the goal is to remove “sustainability in IWW treatment: techniques and approaches for envi­
harmful substances, including heavy metals and dyes, while reducing ronmental and public health.” Green-colored terms in the second cluster
COD to minimize toxicity levels. Effective treatment methods focus on emphasize “innovative approaches in the optimization of IWW treat­
removing these pollutants to enhance the biodegradability of the ment processes.” The blue-colored third term cluster stands for
effluent. Ultimately, the aim is to ensure that the treated water is safe for “advanced techniques for the treatment of textile wastewater.” The color
release back into the environment, minimizing its effect on ecosystems yellow, which represents the fourth cluster of terms, offers “membrane
and human health. Thirdly, the terms “electrocoagulation,” “coagula­ techniques for efficient dye removal in IWW treatment.” Purple, which
tion,” “electro-fenton,” “natural coagulant,” “advanced oxidation pro­ stands for the fifth cluster of terms, is associated with “sustainable ap­
cesses,” “coagulation/flocculation,” “photo-fenton,” “photocatalysis,” proaches to textile effluent treatment and resource recovery.” Light blue
“fenton,” and “oxidation” refer to the chemical processes employed in is used to symbolize the sixth cluster of keywords, which is about
treating IWW. These processes are designed to remove pollutants “synthetic approaches in adsorption and photocatalysis for effective
through various chemical reactions, improving water quality and facil­ industrial effluent treatment.” Orange stands for the seventh cluster of
itating further treatment. terms, which is about “kinetic studies and AOPs in IWW treatment.” The
Fourthly, the terms “adsorption,” “activated carbon,” “ceramic color brown, which stands for the ninth cluster of terms, was associated
membrane,” “ozonation,” “ultrafiltration,” “nanofiltration,” “micro­ with “enhancing COD removal in IWW through microbial fuel cell
filtration,” “membrane fouling,” and “persulfate” describe the physical technology."
processes used in wastewater treatment. These methods focus on the The first cluster of these sets focuses on wastewater treatment pro­
physical removal of contaminants, utilizing techniques like filtration cedures that are necessary for public health and environmental protec­
and adsorption to achieve effective treatment outcomes. Fifthly, the tion because they eliminate pollutants from water impacted by human
terms “membrane bioreactor,” “constructed wetlands,” “microbial activity. It encompasses wastewater from residential, commercial, and
community,” “microalgae,” “phytoremediation,” “bacteria,” “anaerobic industrial sources, often containing harmful pollutants that require
digestion,” “biological treatment,” “activated sludge,” and “microbial effective treatment. Processes include biological, chemical, and physical
fuel cell” refer to the biological processes utilized for treating IWW. approaches to reduce pollutants, with heavy metals like lead and mer­
These processes harness the natural metabolic activities of microor­ cury necessitating specialized treatment. COD serves as a key measure of
ganisms to break down organic matter, enhancing the degradation of organic pollution, while membrane bioreactors enhance treatment ef­
pollutants and promoting sustainable treatment solutions. ficiency through biological processes and membrane filtration. Natural
Sixthly, the terms “Response surface methodology,” “optimization,” coagulants assist in particle removal, and constructed wetlands provide
“artificial neural network,” and “kinetics” are phrases that refer to cost-effective treatment solutions. The circular economy concept pro­
methods for improving IWW treatment procedures. A statistical tech­ motes sustainability through waste reduction and resource reuse. Phy­
nique called response surface methodology (RSM) is used to plan studies toremediation utilizes plants to clean pollutants, and biological
and assess how different factors affect treatment results (Faraj et al., treatment effectively degrades organic matter. Tannery wastewater, rich
2024). Optimization focuses on adjusting these variables to maximize in pollutants, requires specialized treatment to minimize environmental
pollutant removal and process efficiency. Artificial neural networks harm.
(ANNs) utilize complex data patterns to predict treatment effectiveness, In the second cluster, the focus is on enhancing IWW treatment
while kinetics studies the rates of chemical reactions involved in processes through various interconnected methodologies. RSM is a sta­
wastewater treatment (Al-Qodah et al., 2024; Baarimah et al., 2024; tistical technique utilized to optimize different parameters within
Alazaiza et al., 2022; Fard et al., 2023). When combined, these methods treatment systems. By analyzing experimental data, RSM helps identify
aid in the creation of more successful and efficient treatment plans. the most effective conditions for improving treatment performance.
Finally, the terms “cost analysis,” “circular economy,” “sustainabil­ Building on the insights gained from RSM, ANNs are employed to model
ity,” “resource recovery,” “life cycle assessment,” and “zero liquid complex relationships between variables. These computational models
discharge” encompass key concepts for evaluating and enhancing IWW can analyze large datasets, predict outcomes, and optimize treatment
treatment. Cost analysis identifies cost-effective solutions, while the conditions, thereby improving the overall efficiency of wastewater
circular economy promotes resource reuse and waste minimization. treatment methods. A critical component of these methodologies is the
Sustainability focuses on practices that meet current needs without microbial community, which comprises microorganisms such as
compromising future resources. Resource recovery extracts valuable microalgae and bacteria. These organisms play a vital role in degrading
materials from wastewater, and life cycle assessment evaluates the pollutants within effluent. Their interactions are particularly important
environmental impacts throughout the treatment process. Zero liquid in biological treatment processes, such as activated sludge systems,
discharge (ZLD) aims to eliminate wastewater discharge entirely, where they work together to effectively break down organic matter and
advocating for complete water reuse and a more sustainable approach to contaminants. Collectively, these elements–RSM, ANNs, and microbial

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M.Y.D. Alazaiza et al. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 17 (2025) 100567

Fig. 6. Author keyword co-occurrence grouping in a network visualization.

communities—create a robust framework for enhancing the sustain­ membrane surface, reducing its efficiency and lifespan. Addressing
ability and efficiency of IWW treatment, addressing both environmental fouling is crucial for maintaining optimal performance in dye removal
and operational challenges. processes. Together, these keywords illustrate the advancements and
The third cluster focuses on innovative techniques for treating textile challenges in employing membrane technologies for effective IWW
wastewater, which is often characterized by high levels of pollutants and treatment, particularly in the textile industry.
toxicity. EC is a process that utilizes electrical currents to destabilize and The fifth cluster highlights sustainable strategies for managing
remove suspended particles and contaminants from wastewater, offer­ textile effluent, focusing on both treatment and resource recovery.
ing a highly effective treatment option. The optimization of this process Ozonation is a powerful oxidation process used to degrade organic
is crucial to enhance its efficiency and reduce operational costs. In pollutants and dyes in wastewater, enhancing the overall treatment ef­
conjunction with EC, activated carbon can be employed to adsorb ficiency. Coupled with this, the Photo-Fenton process utilizes light to
remaining contaminants, further improving water quality. Coagulation activate Fenton’s reagent, generating hydroxyl radicals that effectively
is a fundamental method where chemicals are added to promote the break down complex contaminants. Conducting a cost analysis is
aggregation of particles, which can then be removed from the water. The essential for evaluating the economic feasibility of these advanced
Electro-Fenton method combines EC with Fenton’s reagent, utilizing treatment technologies, ensuring that the benefits outweigh the ex­
iron and hydrogen peroxide to generate hydroxyl radicals that effec­ penses. Additionally, life cycle assessment provides a comprehensive
tively degrade organic pollutants. The focus on biodegradability and evaluation of the environmental effects associated with the entire
toxicity is essential in wastewater treatment, as these factors determine method, from treatment to disposal. The concept of ZLD aims to elimi­
the safety and environmental impact of the treated effluent. Fenton’s nate wastewater discharge by recovering and reusing all water and re­
process, similar to Electro-Fenton, also employs the generation of hy­ sources, thus minimizing environmental impact. Together, these
droxyl radicals to enhance the degradation of recalcitrant compounds. keywords represent a holistic approach to textile effluent management,
Together, these keywords represent a comprehensive approach to emphasizing the importance of sustainability and resource efficiency in
improving the treatment of textile wastewater, addressing both effi­ IWW treatment.
ciency and environmental concerns. The sixth cluster focuses on advanced methods for treating industrial
The fourth cluster emphasizes the role of membrane methods in the effluent, emphasizing the importance of combining various treatment
treatment of IWW, particularly for dye removal. Ceramic membranes are technologies. Adsorption is a widely used method for eliminating pol­
increasingly used due to their durability and resistance to fouling, lutants from wastewater, where pollutants adhere to the surface of ad­
making them suitable for harsh wastewater conditions. Ultrafiltration sorbents, effectively reducing their concentration. Photocatalysis is
(UF), nanofiltration (NF), and microfiltration (MF) are key processes another innovative approach that utilizes light-activated catalysts to
that utilize membranes with varying pore sizes to separate contaminants degrade organic pollutants, offering a sustainable method for treating
from water. MF targets larger particles and suspended solids, while UF is effluents. This process can be particularly effective for breaking down
effective for smaller organic molecules and colloids. NF can remove even complex compounds that are resistant to conventional treatments. In the
smaller dissolved substances, including certain dyes and salts, providing context of effluent treatment, monitoring COD is crucial, as it indicates
a comprehensive approach to treating complex wastewater streams. A the amount of organic matter present and helps assess treatment effi­
significant challenge in using these membrane technologies is mem­ ciency. Additionally, anaerobic digestion is an effective biological
brane fouling, which occurs when contaminants accumulate on the treatment method that breaks down organic materials in the absence of

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M.Y.D. Alazaiza et al. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 17 (2025) 100567

oxygen, producing biogas that can be harnessed for energy. Together, comprehensive understanding of the ecological footprint associated
these keywords illustrate a multifaceted approach to industrial effluent with these methods.
treatment, integrating adsorption, photocatalysis, and anaerobic diges­ • Most of the technologies explored in the reviewed literature are at
tion to enhance pollutant removal and promote sustainability. the experimental or laboratory scale, with very limited real-world
The seventh cluster explores the interplay between kinetics and applications. Scaling these technologies up to an industrial level
AOPs in the treatment of IWW. IWW treatment often involves complex still faces many technical, financial, and logistical obstacles.
chemical reactions aimed at removing contaminants effectively. Un­
derstanding the kinetics of these reactions is essential for optimizing 4.2. Recommendations for future work
treatment conditions and improving efficiency. AOPs utilize powerful
oxidants to degrade organic pollutants that are typically resistant to To effectively address these challenges in IWW treatment and
conventional treatments. One such oxidant is persulfate, which, when advance the field, the following recommendations are proposed:
activated, generates sulfate radicals capable of breaking down a wide
range of pollutants. The oxidation reactions facilitated by AOPs are • Focus should be directed toward creating scalable, eco-friendly
crucial in achieving significant reductions in pollutant concentrations, technologies for IWW treatment. Emphasis on innovative methods
leading to cleaner effluents. Together, these keywords highlight the such as EC, adsorption, and activated carbon can enhance environ­
importance of studying reaction kinetics and employing AOPs to mental sustainability compared to traditional techniques. Research
enhance the effectiveness of IWW treatment. should aim to improve the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and scal­
Finally, the eighth cluster focuses on innovative approaches for ability of these technologies.
addressing the challenges of IWW treatment, particularly in the context • Investigating sustainable practices that not only treat wastewater but
of COD removal. COD is a critical parameter that indicates the level of also recover valuable resources, such as nutrients and energy, will be
organic pollutants present in wastewater, making its reduction essential crucial. Research could explore circular economy approaches that
for environmental compliance and sustainability. Microbial fuel cells view wastewater as a resource rather than a waste product.
(MFCs) represent a promising method for treating IWW while simulta­ • The exploration of novel materials, such as nanomaterials and bio-
neously generating electricity. In these systems, microorganisms break based adsorbents, can improve pollutant removal efficiency. Future
down organic matter, facilitating COD removal. As they metabolize the studies should assess their effectiveness and scalability in real-world
pollutants, they release electrons, which can be captured as electrical applications.
energy. By integrating MFCs into IWW treatment processes, facilities can • Continued exploration of emerging technologies, such as membrane
enhance COD removal efficiency while benefiting from renewable en­ bioreactors and electrochemical methods, can provide new avenues
ergy generation. This cluster highlights the potential of combining for enhancing IWW treatment processes.
biological treatment methods with energy recovery strategies to create • Investigating the implications of policies and regulations on the
more sustainable solutions for managing IWW. adoption of advanced treatment technologies can help in under­
The eight clusters collectively illustrate a comprehensive framework standing barriers and facilitators for implementation in various
for IWW treatment, integrating traditional and advanced methodolo­ industries.
gies. They emphasize the importance of effective pollutant removal • Integrating wastewater valorization into circular economy frame­
through biological, chemical, and physical processes, while also high­ works at national and global levels is crucial. Clear guidelines for the
lighting innovative techniques such as EC, AOPs, and membrane tech­ collection, processing, and redistribution of wastewater across
nologies. Additionally, the research underscores the significance of various industries should be established. Wastewater should be
optimizing treatment conditions using statistical and computational viewed not as a burden but as a valuable resource that can contribute
methods like RSM and ANNs. Sustainable strategies, including ozona­ to economic growth through the production of biofuels, bioplastics,
tion and Zero Liquid Discharge, further enhance resource recovery and animal feed, and other valuable products.
environmental compliance. By incorporating microbial fuel cells, these • Strengthening collaboration between academic institutions and in­
clusters showcase a multifaceted approach that combines pollutant dustry partners is vital for translating laboratory research into large-
degradation with renewable energy generation, ultimately promoting scale applications. Such partnerships can drive innovation, particu­
efficiency and sustainability in wastewater management. larly in refining treatment methodologies and enhancing the func­
tional properties of treated wastewater.
4. Challenges and recommendations for future works • Comprehensive public awareness campaigns should be implemented
to educate all stakeholders in the agricultural value chain—from
4.1. Challenges farmers to consumers—about the importance of wastewater valori­
zation. Training programs focused on sustainable practices, waste
The current study identified several limitations regarding the treat­ management, and the benefits of a circular economy should be
ment of IWW: developed to encourage active involvement in valorization
initiatives.
• The research relied exclusively on publications indexed in the Scopus
database. This focus may exclude relevant studies from other data­ By implementing these recommendations, the field of IWW treat­
bases or those published in non-English languages and regional ment can make significant strides toward more effective, sustainable,
journals. Consequently, the dataset might not accurately represent and economically viable solutions.
the global research landscape.
• The variety of methodologies used in different studies poses a sig­ 5. Conclusion
nificant challenges. This diversity prevents direct comparisons and
general conclusions about the effectiveness of various IWW treat­ A bibliometric analysis of IWW treatment research was carried out in
ment methods, complicating the identification of best practices for this study. After filtering, 1714 articles from the Scopus database were
IWW. subjected to bibliometric analysis using the VOSviewer software. Sig­
• While many studies highlight the effectiveness of IWW treatment nificant new developments in this area were made public. According to
methods, few provide a thorough assessment of their environmental the bibliometric study, more than 59.7 % of the research on IWW
impacts. Limited data on life cycle assessment (LCA) restrict a treatment has been published in the previous five years, with a peak of
244 articles in 2022. This indicates that the need to treat IWW is

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M.Y.D. Alazaiza et al. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 17 (2025) 100567

becoming more widely recognized. This trend highlights a strong Alazaiza, M.Y.D., Albahnasawi, A., Ali, G.A., Bashir, M.J., Nassani, D.E., Al Maskari, T.,
Abu Amr, S., Abujazar, M.S.S., 2022. Application of natural coagulants for
concern for treating IWW and underscores the research community’s
pharmaceutical removal from water and wastewater: a review. Water 14 (2), 140.
awareness of the rising levels of IWW resulting from urbanization and Alazaiza, M.Y., Albahnasawi, A., Eyvaz, M., Nassani, D.E., Amr, S.S.A., Abujazar, M.S.S.,
pollution. To overcome these obstacles, there is an evident need for the Al-Maskari, O., 2023. Electrochemical-based advanced oxidation for hospital
creation of novel treatment technologies. wastewater treatment. Desalin. Water Treat. 300, 44–56.
Alazaiza, M.Y., Alzghoul, T.M., Amr, S.A., Bangalore Ramu, M., Nassani, D.E., 2024.
The Journal of Water Process Engineering, Desalination and Water Bibliometric insights into car wash wastewater treatment research: trends and
Treatment, and Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering are the perspectives. In: Water, 16, p. 2034.
three highest ranked scholarly journals that address the treatment of Al-Qodah, Z., Al-Zghoul, T.M., Jamrah, A., 2024. The performance of pharmaceutical
wastewater treatment system of electrocoagulation assisted adsorption using
IWW, according to the results of the current study. The majority of perforated electrodes to reduce passivation. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 31 (13),
research is carried out in relatively common fields with concentrations 20434–20448.
in energy, chemistry, and chemical engineering (66.69 %, 22.29 %, and Al-Zghoul, T.M., Al-Qodah, Z., Al-Jamrah, A., 2023. Performance, modeling, and cost
analysis of chemical coagulation-assisted solar powered electrocoagulation
11.03 %, respectively). With contributions of 11.79 %, 10.44 %, and treatment system for pharmaceutical wastewater. In: Water, 15, p. 980.
3.4 %, respectively, India, China, and Iran made the biggest contribu­ Amdeha, E., 2023. Biochar-based nanocomposites for industrial wastewater treatment
tions to the field of IWW therapy. The University of Chinese Academy of via adsorption and photocatalytic degradation and the parameters affecting these
processes. Biomass Convers. Biorefin. 1–26.
Sciences made noteworthy contributions in this area with 7 publications Amr, S.S.A., Abujazar, M.S.S., Alazaiza, M.Y., Albahnasawi, A., Omer, F., 2024. Heavy
and 74 citations. Additionally, Tianjin University’s School of Environ­ metals removal from industrial wastewater using date seeds powder and aluminum
mental Science and Engineering has four publications and an astounding chloride-based hybrid natural/chemical coagulation. Desalin. Water Treat. 318,
100392.
273 citations, demonstrating the importance and impact of its research.
Amr, S.S.A., Abujazar, M.S.S., Karaağaç, S.U., Mahfud, R., Alazaiza, M.Y., Hamad, R.J.,
Co-occurrence and clustering were used to assess the author’s IWW 2023. Application of plant-based natural coagulant for sustainable treatment of steel
treatment terms. The most commonly used terms are “heavy metals,” and iron industrial wastewater, Karabuk, Turkey. Desalin. Water Treat. 287, 39–45.
“electrocoagulation,” “adsorption,” “treatment,” “wastewater,” “indus­ An, Y.C., Gao, X.X., Jiang, W.L., Han, J.L., Ye, Y., Chen, T.M., Ren, N.Q., Zhang, J.H.,
Liang, B., Li, Z.L., Wang, A.J., Ren, N.Q., 2023. A critical review on graphene oxide
trial wastewater,” “wastewater treatment,” and “response surface membrane for industrial wastewater treatment. Environ. Res. 223, 115409.
methodology.” The primary focus of this field’s research is adequately Ashrafi, O., Yerushalmi, L., Haghighat, F., 2015. Wastewater treatment in the pulp-and-
defined by the keywords that were selected. The most prevalent con­ paper industry: a review of treatment processes and the associated greenhouse gas
emission. J. Environ. Manag. 158, 146–157.
taminants found in IWW, such as dye, COD, and heavy metals, must be Ayangunna, R.R., Giwa, S.O., Giwa, A., 2016. Coagulation-flocculation treatment of
eliminated. Researchers are also concentrating on ways to remediate industrial wastewater using tamarind seed powder. Int. J. ChemTech Res. 9 (05),
certain kinds of IWW, such wastewater from tanneries and textiles. The 771–780.
Azari, A., Nabizadeh, R., Mahvi, A.H., Nasseri, S., 2023. Magnetic multi-walled carbon
most popular treatment techniques for IWW, according to bibliometric nanotubes-loaded alginate for treatment of industrial dye manufacturing effluent:
study, are ozonation, activated carbon, EC, adsorption, and ceramic adsorption modelling and process optimisation by central composite face-central
membranes. design. Int. J. Environ. Anal. Chem. 103 (7), 1509–1529.
Baarimah, A.O., Bazel, M.A., Alaloul, W.S., Alazaiza, M.Y.D., Al-Zghoul, T.M.,
Almuhaya, B., Khan, A., Mushtaha, A.W., 2024. Artificial intelligence in wastewater
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Case Stud. Chem. Environ. Eng. 100926.
Badawi, A.K., Abd Elkodous, M., Ali, G.A., 2021. Recent advances in dye and metal ion
Motasem Y.D. Alazaiza: Formal analysis, Conceptualization.
removal using efficient adsorbents and novel nano-based materials: an overview.
Tharaa M. Alzghoul: Writing – original draft. Madhusudhan Banga­ RSC Adv. 11 (58), 36528–36553.
lore Ramu: Writing – review & editing. Salem S. Abu Amr: Writing – Badawi, A.K., Salama, R.S., Mostafa, M.M.M., 2023. Natural-based coagulants/
review & editing, Validation. Mohammed F.M. Abushammala: flocculants as sustainable market-valued products for industrial wastewater
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Writing – review & editing. Dia Eddin Nassani: Writing – review & Bang, N.P., Ray, S., Kumar, S., 2023. Women in family business research–what we know
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Biberci, M.A., 2023. Bibliometric analysis of the use of biodiesel production from
essential oils as biofuels. Processes 11 (4), 974.
Declaration of competing interest Bilińska, L., Blus, K., Foszpańczyk, M., Gmurek, M., Ledakowicz, S., 2020. Catalytic
ozonation of textile wastewater as a polishing step after industrial scale
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial electrocoagulation. J. Environ. Manag. 265, 110502.
Cai, Q.Q., Wu, M.Y., Li, R., Deng, S.H., Lee, B.C.Y., Ong, S.L., Hu, J.Y., 2020. Potential of
interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence combined advanced oxidation–Biological process for cost-effective organic matters
the work reported in this paper. removal in reverse osmosis concentrate produced from industrial wastewater
reclamation: screening of AOP pre-treatment technologies. Chem. Eng. J. 389,
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Acknowledgment Chen, B., Yang, S., Cao, Q., Qian, Y., 2020. Life cycle economic assessment of coal
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