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Plastic Waste Pyrolysis Research: A Comprehensive Bibliometric Analysis of Scientific Trends and Environmental Implications
Summary
This bibliometric analysis examined 2,019 articles on plastic waste pyrolysis published from 2000 to 2025, finding a rapid increase in research since 2017 driven by environmental awareness and new policies, with China, India, and the United States as top contributors. Main research areas covered catalytic and co-pyrolysis techniques, reactor design, product analysis, and environmental effects, with emerging trends in microwave-assisted pyrolysis, hydrogen production, and circular economy approaches, while efficiency improvements and environmental impact assessment remain key challenges.
Plastic waste pyrolysis is a promising method to manage plastic pollution by turning waste into useful fuels and chemicals. This study analyzes research on plastic waste pyrolysis from 2000 to 2025 using 2,019 articles from the Web of Science database. Using bibliometric tools, it examines trends in publications, key authors and institutions, popular journals, main research topics, and international cooperation. Findings show a rapid increase in research since 2017, driven by growing environmental awareness and new policies. The top contributing countries are China, India, the United States, and European countries such as Spain, Poland, and Italy. Leading institutions include Ghent University and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Main research areas cover catalytic and co-pyrolysis techniques, reactor design, product analysis, and environmental effects. New trends focus on microwave-assisted pyrolysis, hydrogen production, and circular economy approaches. Despite progress, challenges remain such as improving process efficiency, assessing environmental impacts, and addressing under-researched plastics. The study highlights the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of the field, combining engineering and environmental science. This overview helps researchers and decision-makers understand key topics and gaps. Continued research and cooperation are needed to develop effective, large-scale pyrolysis technologies that can help solve the global plastic waste problem and support sustainable resource use.