A review on sustainable sewage treatment technologies applicable to semi-arid regions

Abstract

Sustainability in the context of Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) is manifested when the principles of circular economy are prioritized, and the use of by-products takes center stage. From this perspective, a notable gap exists in the literature, as no bibliometric analysis has evaluated the sustainability of sewage treatment technologies in semi-arid climates. Addressing this, the current study aims to contextualize, map, and analyze the evolution and trends of sustainable WWTPs through bibliometric analyses, to assess the hypothesis of the existence of sustainable wastewater treatment plants and, in the affirmative, to evaluate which ones are best suited to the semi-arid climate. The research utilized documentary research data. To this end, the VosViewer software was employed to map information from titles and abstracts. Furthermore, the Bibliometrix software was used for bibliometric analyses. Additionally, a systematic analysis of selected articles was carried out to validate the results obtained in the integrative analysis. The integrative review revealed an evolution in scientific production related to the sustainability of WWTPs, with a significant increase in publications over time. As a result, it can be observed that sewage treatment technologies such as constructed wetlands, pond systems, sand filtration, and septic tanks were highlighted as more sustainable and applicable approaches in semi-arid regions compared to other sewage treatment technologies analyzed. Bibliometric analysis identified prominent authors, leading countries in scientific production, and key scientific journals in the field. The validation of results through systematic analyses reinforced the reliability and robustness of the information obtained in the study. As seen, this study contributes to a significant advancement in knowledge about sustainable sewage treatment in semi-arid regions, providing relevant insights for public and private stakeholders in making informed and sustainable decisions.