Global Trends in the Research and Development of Petrochemical Waste Gas from 1981 to 2022

Abstract

As a highly energy-intensive and carbon-emitting industry with significant emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the petroleum and chemical industry is a major contributor to global greenhouse effect and ozone layer destruction. Improper treatment of petrochemical waste gas (PWG) seriously harms human health and the natural environment. This study uses CiteSpace and VOSviewer to conduct a scientometric analysis of 1384 scholarly works on PWG and carbon sequestration published between 1981 and 2022, revealing the basic characteristics, knowledge base, research topic evolution, and research hotspots of the field. The results show: 1) In the early stages of the petrochemical industry, it was combustion flue gas, not process tail gas or plant leakage waste gas, that was given the top priority in PWG research. 2) Later, researchers studied the emission model of PWG (such as VOCs) and the treatment and recovery technology of PWG (condensation, pyrolysis, membrane separation, and adsorption methods). Pyrolysis is one of the main treatment methods for PWG at present, but insufficient combustion may lead to secondary pollution. 3) In recent years, research has centered on using new energy to replace fossil energy to reduce the PWG and carbon emissions of the petrochemical industry in the context of the Paris Agreement, and the number of publications related to this topic has increased rapidly. The results of our analysis can provide funding agencies and research groups with information to better understand the global trends and directions that have emerged in this field from 1981 to 2022 and serve as a reference for future research.