Mapping Scientific Progress in Struvite Technology Applications for Wastewater Treatment

ASM Sc. J., 21(1), 2026

Published on May 25, 2026

https://doi.org/10.32802/asmscj.2026.0337

Author: Abdulrahman Reda, Mohamad Darwish, Shaymaa Mustafa, Amani Utt, Azmi Aris, Anie Yulistyorini

Abstract

Struvite precipitation has attracted increasing attention as a promising approach for nutrient management in wastewater treatment. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric and thematic analysis of global research on struvite precipitation, aiming to elucidate its development trends, intellectual structure, and emerging directions. The article evaluates 1,717 studies on struvite technology as a nutrient recovery method, from 1999 to 2024 extracted from Scopus®, through a structured bibliometric analysis using the Biblioshiny tool. The results identify a major turning point around 2013, marking a shift from foundational laboratory-scale studies to rapid expansion characterised by increased research output, pilot-scale applications, and integration with advanced treatment technologies. China is found to be the top country in the number of citations and total publications, which hosted the first two leading institutions. Additionally, keyword analysis illustrates strong connections between “struvite” and terms like “phosphorus recovery” and “wastewater”, emphasising struvite precipitation as a still- promising method for recovering phosphorus from emerging P-rich wastewaters. Furthermore, two major research gaps are highlighted; the role of struvite technology in climate change remediation, as well as the economic feasibility of struvite fertiliser harvested from waste streams.

Keywords: bibliometric analysis, fertiliser, phosphate recovery, struvite, wastewater treatment