Study on arsenic, selenium, and lead produced in coal combustion: bibliometric method

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Coal combustion releases trace element pollutants such as arsenic, selenium, and lead.
• Understanding research trends is crucial for developing effective mitigation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To bibliometrically analyze and characterize scientific literature on trace element pollutants from coal burning (2007-2020).
• To identify research hotspots and future development prospects in this field.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis of scientific publications from 2007 to 2020.
• Trend analysis of article publication volume and geographical distribution.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in publications was observed, with rapid growth until 2015.
• China dominates recent publications, accounting for nearly half of the total.
• Research predominantly focuses on energy and environmental protection fields, particularly the use of adsorbents for arsenic, selenium, and lead removal.

Conclusions:

• Adsorbent-based removal of arsenic, selenium, and lead is a key research area.
• Optimization of removal efficiency involves considering factors like temperature, catalysts, and material properties.
• Future prospects include photocatalysis, novel adsorbent material development, and exploring existing material properties under varied conditions.