A bibliometric analysis of research on manganese sand (1993–2024): Insights from the web of science core collection

Manganese sand is a cost-effective and efficient material widely used in water treatment. This work presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research trends on manganese sand from 1993 to 2024, based on data from the Web of Science Core Collection. It includes visual analyses of keywords, countries, authors, journals, and research directions. Since 2010, research on manganese sand has grown significantly, establishing it as a key focus in environmental science and engineering. Initially applied in traditional areas such as iron and manganese removal, drinking water purification, and groundwater treatment, manganese sand has recently been employed in more diverse applications. These include advanced oxidation technologies, wastewater treatment catalysts, adsorbents, and energy-related uses. High-impact journals such as Water Research, Journal of Water Process Engineering, and Desalination have played pivotal roles in publishing manganese sand research. Other journals like Chemical Engineering Journal, Advanced Materials, Separation and Purification Technology, and Fuel have also highlighted its expanding applications. The integration of manganese sand into interdisciplinary fields, such as advanced oxidation technologies and catalyst development, represents an emerging area of growth. Future research should continue to explore its potential in environmental science, catalysis, and engineering to address global challenges. • This work presents the first systematic bibliometric analysis of manganese sand research from 1993 to 2024. • It expounds the diversified utilization of manganese sand. • This work fills the gap in the bibliometric analysis of manganese sand.