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The frequent detection of persistent per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in organisms and environment coupled with surging evidence for potential detrimental impacts, have attracted widespread attention throughout the world. In order to reveal research hotspots and trends of technologies for PFAS removal, herein, we performed a data-driven analysis of 3975 papers and 436 patents from Web of Science Core Collection and Derwent Innovation Index databases up to 2023. The results showed that China and the USA led the way in the research of PFAS removal with outstanding contributions to publications. The progression generally transitioned from accidental discovery of decomposition, to experimentation with removal effects and mechanisms of existing methods, and finally to enhanced defluorination and mechanism-driven design approaches. The keywords co-occurrence network and technology classification together revealed the main knowledge framework, which was constructed and correlated through contaminants, substrates, materials, processes and properties. Moreover, adsorption was demonstrated to be the dominant removal process among the current studies. Subsequently, we concluded the principles, advances and drawbacks of enrichment and separation, biological methods, advanced oxidation and reduction processes. Further exploration indicated the hotspots such as alternatives and precursors for PFAS ("genx": 1.258, "f-53b": 0.337), degradable mineralization technologies ("photocatalytic degrad": 0.529, "hydrated electron": 0.374), environment-friendly remediation technologies ("phytoremedi": 0.939, "constructed wetland": 0.462) and combination with novel materials ("metal-organic framework": 1.115, "layered double hydroxid": 0.559) as well as computer science ("molecular dynamics simul": 0.559, "machine learn"). Furthermore, the future direction of technological innovation might lie in high-performance processes that minimize secondary pollution, the development of recyclable and renewable treatment agents, and collaborative control strategies for multiple pollutants. Overall, this study offers comprehensive and objective review for researchers and industry professionals in this field, enabling rapid access to knowledge guidance and insights into research frontiers. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfur-containing organic pollutants and their derivatives are ubiquitously present in aquatic ecosystems. Their elevated environmental risk profiles have increasingly brought them to the forefront of scholarly attention. In light of this, the present study offered a comprehensive review of the developmental trajectory, current status, and future prospects of sulfur-containing organic wastewater treatment, as deduced from bibliometric and patent analyses. Post-2005 witnessed a marked surge in research publications, with China and the US spearheading this academic thrust, boasting the highest publication counts. Furthermore, collaborations saw a significant tilt towards partnerships involving China, the US, and Germany with international counterparts. The most prevalent 100 keywords, discerned from publications, coalesced around four pivotal domains: pollutants, technological advancements, chemical constituents, and detection methodologies. An emergent trend identified an uptick in the frequencies of terms such as "Sulfur-Oxidizing-Bacteria" and "Electrochemical Oxidation". From the technology innovation perspective, China's patent submissions constituted approximately two-thirds of the global filings. Technologies anchored in Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) and biodegradation held prominence, while membrane separation techniques, high-efficacy and recyclable catalysts, and cost-efficient procedures for addressing sulfur-containing wastewater were spotlighted as promising avenues, as inferred from the patent-based knowledge gap analysis. [Display omitted] • Swift progression in studies on sulfur-based organic contaminants. • A critical assessment of 5079 articles and 5763 patents. • Knowledge cartography illuminated sulfuric organic wastewater treatments. • AOPs and biodegradation emerge as quintessential technologies. • Membrane separation and recyclable catalysts exhibit vast potentialities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]