Global Trends of Research on Red Mud Utilization as an Adsorbent: A Bibliometric Analysis

Red mud, a byproduct of alumina extraction, presents significant environmental and economic challenges due to its substantial global accumulation, projected to reach 3.4 - 4 billion tons by 2023. This study employs a bibliometric analysis to examine global trends in utilizing RM as an adsorbent for wastewater treatment. A total of 327 publications from the Scopus database (1977-2022) were analyzed using Scopus features and VOSviewer software to determine publication trends, leading contributors, and key research themes. Results reveal an increasing interest in RM utilization, reaching a peak in publication volume in 2021. Environmental Science emerged as the dominant research area (30%), followed by Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. China and India were recognized as leading contributors to this field. Four major research clusters emerged: composite materials, pollutant sources, pollutant types, and adsorbent performance, with a primary focus on dyes and heavy metals. This study highlights the significant potential of RM as a sustainable adsorbent for wastewater treatment. Key research directions identified include RM optimization, adsorbent regeneration, industrial implementation, and interdisciplinary collaborations.