Research Hotspots and Trends in Sludge Drying Based on CiteSpace Analysis

Reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions during the sludge drying process is crucial for wastewater treatment plants to achieve improved quality, efficiency, and carbon reduction operations. It is also one of the important indicators for assessing the advancement of sludge drying systems. This study uses 671 papers published in the Web of Science database from 2014 to 2024 as the data source, with the goal of achieving low-carbon sludge drying. By utilizing CiteSpace software for visual analysis, we analyze the research hotspots and future trends for achieving low-carbon sludge drying from two perspectives: adjusting the energy supply structure to increase the proportion of renewable energy, and optimizing the drying process to improve energy utilization efficiency. The aim is to clarify the connotation of technological innovation in sludge drying in China.