Advanced Oxidation Processes in Water Treatment: Mapping 15 Years of Scientific Progress and Collaboration

Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) are pivotal technologies for the effective degradation of a wide variety of organic and inorganic pollutants in water and wastewater treatment. This bibliometric analysis evaluates 481 publications from the Scopus database, covering the period from 2010 to November 2025, to explore research trends and developments in the field. The findings reveal a substantial increase in research output, with an average annual growth rate of 22.7%. China leads in publication count with 192 documents, followed closely by the United States with 64 publications, demonstrating their substantial contributions to AOP research. Prominent institutions include Tongji University and Università Degli Studi Di Salerno, emphasizing the global collaboration among 2335 authors from 158 institutions across 74 countries. Key themes emerging from the analysis include high oxidative efficiency of AOPs, their hybrid applications with biological and adsorption methods, and their adaptability in treating persistent pollutants and emerging contaminants. However, challenges such as high operational costs, hazardous byproduct formation, and reliance on specific water matrix conditions remain significant obstacles. Funding sources, notably the National Natural Science Foundation of China, play a crucial role, supporting numerous studies, while journals like “Water Research,” “Chemical Engineering Journal,” and “Science of the Total Environment” are identified as primary venues for disseminating impactful research. Overall, this study underscores the need for innovative strategies and interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance the efficacy and application of AOP technologies in addressing the growing challenges in water treatment and environmental sustainability.