A scientometric and systematic analysis in circular economy research focused on wastewater treatment from a sustainability perspective

The increasing scarcity of water and pollution in water bodies, stemming from urbanization and inefficient waste management, highlighted the urgent need for a sustainable approach in wastewater treatment (WWT). In this context, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), provide a global framework to address challenges such as access to clean water and sanitation, and responsible consumption practices. This study conducts a bibliometric and systematic literature analysis to examine the role of circular economy (CE) as a strategy to drive sustainability in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). A total of 281 scientific publications were analyzed from 2015 to September 2024, using the Scopus database and employing bibliometric tools to identify emerging trends, influential authors, and promising research areas. The results demonstrate an increase in publications since 2015, largely driven by global engagement with the SDGs. The implementation of CE in wastewater facilitates resources recovery of and pollution reduction, thereby contributing to compliance with the SDGs 6, 12 and 11. However, there are important gaps, such as the absence of a comprehensive approach that simultaneously considers the economic, social and environmental dimensions. It is recommended that future research extend the analysis to other databases, and delve deeper into the social benefits of CE. This study underscores the importance of CE as a pathway to improved sustainability in WWT, although significant barriers to its overall integration remain.