Insight into the interaction between microplastics and extracellular polymeric substances based on a bibliometric and visualized analysis

Microplastics (MPs) and their interaction with extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) have emerged as critical topics in environmental research due to their implications for pollution dynamics and ecosystem health. This study conducted a comprehensive bibliometric and visualized analysis of 410 publications (2015–2024) from the Web of Science database using CiteSpace and VOSviewer to map research trends, hotspots, and knowledge gaps. The results revealed a three-phase evolution: initial incubation (2015–2018, < 50 annual publications), exponential growth (2019–2023), and maturation (2024, 115 publications), driven by rising concerns over MPs’ environmental fate. Environmental Sciences Ecology dominated research categories (74.39% of publications), with Science of the Total Environment and Journal of Hazardous Materials leading in output and citations. Geographically, China dominated in publication volume (244 papers) and total citations (9,024), though USA exhibited higher citation impact per paper (50.46). Institutionally, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Tongji University led in productivity, while interdisciplinary collaboration enhanced citation efficiency, as seen in Tongji University’s 77.81 average citations. Keyword analysis highlighted core themes: MPs-EPS interfacial behaviors (e.g., adsorption, aggregation) and their roles in wastewater treatment systems (e.g., activated sludge, removal). Recent advancements (2023–2024) emphasized nanoplastics’ physicochemical interactions and biological responses (e.g., antioxidative stress). Despite progress, gaps persist in microbial-focused journals and regions disproportionately affected by plastic pollution. This study underscored the need for global collaboration, mechanistic research, and engineering applications to bridge fundamental insights with practical remediation strategies.