Critical mapping of evolution of distillery spent-wash research from treatment to resource recovery

ABSTRACT Infographic showing distillery wastewater research shifting from pollution control (1955-2010) to resource recovery (2011-present). Distillery spent wash is high organic-content wastewater with critical ecological impacts and unexplored potential for its valorization. This review article reports scientometric analysis and global trends based on 1,004 research publications (1955–2024). The data were retrieved from Scopus database and analysed using two software tools. VOSviewer was used for high-resolution visualization of co-authorship and keyword co-occurrence networks. Bibliometrix (R-Tool: Biblioshiny) software has been used for thematic strategic-mapping and three-field plot analysis. The findings reveal sharp rise in research publication after 2010, due to global biofuel boom, mainly contributed by dominant sugar and ethanol producers, namely, Brazil, India, and United States. The clustering analysis performed using VOSviewer revealed the central theme of treatment and resource recovery is ‘Anaerobic Digestion’, and strategic thematic mapping using Callon's density and centrality analysis further categorizes it as an emerging-declining theme. The findings outline paradigm shift toward unexplored frontiers of microbial electrochemical technology, biochar-based recovery, and circular economy approaches. This revolutionary shift indicates transition from treatment-centric to valorization-centric approach. The findings of review offer significant inputs for researchers and policymakers to combine technological advancements with sustainable industrial biorefineries for circular-economy and UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 7: Affordable and Clean-Energy.