Treatment of Contaminated Water from the Oil Industry Using Electrocoagulation: A Bibliometric Analysis

Rodrigo Andre Norabuena Ramos 

This review article presents a bibliometric analysis aimed at examining recent advances in the treatment of contaminated water from the oil industry using electrocoagulation (EC), evaluating the operational parameters that influence removal efficiency. A bibliometric analysis and a systematic review were conducted on 80 experimental articles (2021–2026) retrieved from Scopus. VOSviewer (threshold of 4 occurrences) was used to identify thematic clusters, and inclusion criteria based on thematic affinity, technology evaluated, and experimental nature were applied. Four clusters were identified: electrocoagulation, coagulation, and turbidity (39 items); COD, current density, and energy consumption (21); electrodes, water treatment, and contaminants (21); and oily water, petroleum, and demulsification (7). Efficiencies range from 90–99% for oils, 82–99.6% for COD, 95–100% for TSS, and 96–99% for turbidity, with current densities of 1–30 mA/cm² and a pH of 6–9. EC is a versatile and sustainable technology for contaminated water from the oil industry, with efficiencies exceeding 90%. Parameter optimization and the integration of hybrid technologies improve efficiency and reduce energy costs. The main gaps are industrial-scale upscaling, electrode stability, and cost optimization.