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Global Research Progress and Trends on Critical Metals: A Bibliometric Analysis

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  • Alina Butu

    (Biotechnology Department, National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, 060031 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Steliana Rodino

    (Biotechnology Department, National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, 060031 Bucharest, Romania
    Institute of Research for Agricultural Economy and Rural Development, 011464 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Marian Butu

    (Biotechnology Department, National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, 060031 Bucharest, Romania)

Abstract

In the perspective of observing the latest worldwide and European strategies toward green transition and delivering a secured access to local resources, the objective of this study was to analyze the research progress on critical materials and, more specific, critical metals and review the future research hot-topics for critical metals. Consequently, a bibliometric analysis for the assessment of the current state of the art research, future trends as well as evolution through time of the critical metals research was performed in the present work. The study included four phases of work: (i) search string selection, (ii) data collection, (iii) data processing, and (iv) data interpretation. A total of 433 publications on critical metals were collected from Scopus database between 1977 and 2023, with an increasing yearly trend and a burst in 2013. The data retrieved showed a significant increase in publications related to the topic in the last 10 years. The results show that research interest is concentrated around six critical areas: (i) bioleaching as an important process of critical metal recovery, (ii) circular economy concepts and recovery of critical metals by urban mining from e-waste, (iii) resource recovery from waste landfills as urban mines, (iv) targeted studies on various critical elements (copper, zinc, gallium, silver, lithium), (v) rare elements as industry vitamins and, (vi) coal deposits and coal ashes as an alternative source of critical metals. This analysis could provide important guidance for further directions on the development of research for recovery of critical metals.

Suggested Citation

  • Alina Butu & Steliana Rodino & Marian Butu, 2023. "Global Research Progress and Trends on Critical Metals: A Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-18, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:6:p:4834-:d:1091756
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Melissa Jackson & Aleta Lederwasch & Damien Giurco, 2014. "Transitions in Theory and Practice: Managing Metals in the Circular Economy," Resources, MDPI, vol. 3(3), pages 1-28, July.
    2. Nees Jan Eck & Ludo Waltman, 2010. "Software survey: VOSviewer, a computer program for bibliometric mapping," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 84(2), pages 523-538, August.
    3. Nazifa Abd Ghani & Poh-Chuin Teo & Theresa C.F. Ho & Ling Suan Choo & Beni Widarman Yus Kelana & Sabrinah Adam & Mohd Khairuddin Ramliy, 2022. "Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research Trends on Higher Education Internationalization Using Scopus Database: Towards Sustainability of Higher Education Institutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-15, July.
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    1. Xochitl Virginia Bello-Yañez & María-Concepción Martínez-Rodríguez & Lorena Elizabeth Campos-Villegas & Ana Laura Cervantes-Nájera & Alejandro Padilla-Rivera, 2025. "Mapping Scientific and Topic Evolution Around Lithium-Based Clean Energy Technologies: A Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-16, January.

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