Transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) research: From the ocean to water treatment

Transparent Exopolymer Particles (TEP), closely related to the carbon cycle due to their high carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, have become a hot research topic. However, despite the growing interest in this field, there is a lack of comprehensive analysis providing a clear developmental background and quantitative research on the overall trends of TEP studies. To address the gap, this article utilizes VOSviewer and CiteSpace to conduct a bibliometric analysis of TEP research. The results show that the largest contribution of publications in this field is in the United States and it has become an increasingly interdisciplinary research topic. We identify that the current research focus of TEP is mainly on the application of membrane fouling, marine microbial and biogeochemical cycle. In addition, the research focus has shifted from the role of TEP in the marine carbon cycle to its influence on membrane fouling. This study systematically and comprehensively carries out quantitative visualization and analysis of TEP, providing a basis and reference for in-depth understanding of the current status of TEP research as well as grasping the development trend.