Electrochemical-based processes have shown great promise in removing organic pollutants such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) from wastewater due to their effectiveness in addressing environmental pollution. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of the most-cited articles in the field to systematically evaluate the progress and current state of electrochemical methods for NSAID removal from wastewater. Additionally, it highlights the potential of combining electrochemical techniques with other treatment methods to enhance the overall efficiency of NSAID removal. Research in this field has mainly focused on three technologies: electro-peroxone process (E-peroxone), electro-Fenton (EF), and electrochemical oxidation (EO). Early studies prioritized EO-based treatments, but interest has gradually shifted toward EF and E-peroxone. Future research is expected to focus on the development of cost-effective electrode materials, improving energy efficiency, and exploring hybrid systems for more effective treatment of wastewater contaminated with NSAIDs. An integrated bibliometric and systematic review framework presented in this study provides the first comprehensive assessment of electrochemical strategies for NSAIDs removal, highlighting the evolution of research focus and the potential of hybrid approaches.

Last decade, a growing emphasis on developing sustainable and environmentally friendly technologies for electro-oxidative wastewater treatment has catalyzed innovation and spurred research efforts worldwide. Researchers may explore the use of renewable energy sources to drive electrochemical processes, as well as the development of eco-friendly electrode materials for wastewater treatments. The integration of nanostructured anodes into the electrolytic system for wastewater treatment has led to significant advancements in the removal of pollutants via electro-oxidation. Despite the great number of research articles related to the development and use of nanostructured anodes for electro-oxidative wastewater treatment, to our knowledge, no bibliometric analysis has been published in this domain. Therefore, this work presents a bibliometric study of publications on the designated theme, retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database, which were published over the last decade. The visual and network analysis of co-authorship among authors, organizations, countries, co-citation of authors, citation of documents and sources, as well as the co-occurrence of author keywords was performed using two compatible pieces of scientometric software, namely VOSviewer (version 1.6.18) and CiteSpace (version 6.2.R4). From 2013 to 2023, there has been a gradual increase in the number of publications regarding the development and use of nanostructured anodes for electro-oxidative wastewater treatment. It suggests a steady advancement in this field. The People’s Republic of China emerges as the most productive country, and it is a leader in international collaborations. Also, the United States of America, South Korea, and European Union countries have significant impacts on the research in this domain. The development and application of nanostructured materials for urea electro-oxidation is a main and prospective research theme. This bibliometric analysis allowed for the visualization of the present landscape and upcoming trends in this research field, thereby facilitating future collaborative research endeavors and knowledge exchange.

Due to its widespread use, bisphenol A (BPA) is commonly found as a contaminant in wastewater, posing significant environmental and health risks. Conventional treatment methods often fail to completely remove it, necessitating the development of more effective technologies. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), particularly the Fenton reaction, have garnered considerable attention for the degradation of organic pollutants. The Fenton reagent uses hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and ferrous iron (Fe²⁺) to generate hydroxyl radicals (•OH), which are highly reactive and capable of breaking down BPA. This study investigates the effect of H₂O₂ concentration on the efficiency and kinetics of BPA degradation in sulfate-rich wastewater using the Fenton process. The results show that increasing H₂O₂ concentration enhances BPA degradation, with a pseudo-first-order kinetic model describing the process. These findings support the optimization of the Fenton process for the efficient removal of BPA from wastewater.

In recent years, the issue of emerging pollutants, particularly antibiotics, in aquatic ecosystems has garnered significant attention due to their potential environmental and public health impacts. To address this, we synthesized TiO2 modified with Cu at three different molar ratios (0.5%, 1%, and 2%) and applied these photocatalysts to degrade ciprofloxacin in an infusion solution. The photodegradation process was monitored over 240 minutes using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The results indicated that the degradation efficiency of all three photocatalysts was approximately 50%. However, determining the precise degradation efficiency solely through UV-Vis spectroscopy proved challenging. This is because some degradation by-products exhibited absorbance maxima similar to ciprofloxacin, leading to potential inaccuracies in measuring the true extent of degradation. Further analysis, such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or mass spectrometry, would be required to more accurately quantify the degradation products and assess the overall efficiency of the photodegradation process. This study highlights the complexity of using UV-Vis spectroscopy alone for analyzing antibiotic degradation in aquatic environments.

The management and treatment of pharmaceutical waste has recently attracted increasing attention from the scientific and professional community. Residues derived from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) represent carbon-rich precursors suitable for thermal conversion into carbon materials with adaptable structural properties. Moreover, these materials show potential as functional materials due to their high surface area, porosity, and surface functional groups, enabling applications in adsorption and catalysis. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of calcination temperature on morphological and compositional transformations of NSAID-derived materials. Samples were thermally treated at 400, 600, and 800 °C in air and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). SEM analysis revealed pronounced temperature-dependent structural evolution from compact carbonaceous morphology at 400 °C to heterogeneous microstructures containing elongated and needle-like domains at 800 °C. EDX analysis confirmed progressive elemental redistribution with increasing temperature, indicating gradual decomposition of the organic matrix and enrichment of inorganic phases. The obtained results provide insight into the thermal transformation mechanisms of pharmaceutical-derived materials and demonstrate their potential as precursors for functional carbon-based materials.

The rising concern over environmental pollution has catalyzed advances in wastewater treatment technologies, particularly advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). These processes are effective for degrading harmful organic pollutants such as bisphenol A (BPA) through electrochemical systems, leveraging the unique properties of nanostructured electrodes like SnO2-MWCNT@SS (tin dioxide-multiwall carbon nanotube at stainless steel substrate). However, the economic feasibility of producing such innovative materials is as crucial as their performance. This paper presents the cost analysis of producing SnO2-MWCNT@SS electrodes, evaluating its competitiveness against other commercial materials and the economic implications of transitioning to industrial-scale production.