Macromolecular and Advanced Material Strategies for Per‐ and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Remediation: A Bibliometric Analysis (2015–2025)

ABSTRACT

Per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are some of the hardest pollutants to manage because they contain strong C─F bond structures, last long, and affect people and the environment. We need innovative, long‐lasting cleaning procedures because traditional ones don't work. A Scopus‐indexed bibliometric analysis of 2015–2025 PFAS remediation research is presented here. Co‐word analysis and bibliographic coupling reveal 145 principal works and 2566 keywords' conceptual framework, thematic groups, and technical routes. An integrated mechanism‐based study links material‐based adsorption systems and new hybridization degradation frameworks. This differs from past bibliometric research that examined publishing trends or single treatments. Fluorocarbon chemistry and how pollutants behave, controlled removal methods like adsorption, ion exchange, and membrane separation, mechanistic degradation pathways like advanced oxidation processes, electrochemical systems, plasma treatment, and photocatalytic mineralization, and adsorption dynamics across nanomaterials, biochar, zeolites, and hybrid composites were the main research areas. As single‐mode adsorption evolves into hybrid frameworks with oxidative, electrochemical, and catalytic processes, research advances. Scalability, regeneration efficiency, energy intensity, and co‐contaminant interference remain issues. However, short‐chain PFAS cleanup, machine learning‐assisted process optimization, and hybrid system field deployment show promise. This research integrates mechanistic insights with sustainability and governance concerns to provide a policy‐relevant PFAS remediation approach that scales from lab‐scale demonstrations to real‐world implementations. The findings support PFAS transformation and help develop feasible, cheap, and environmentally friendly treatment options.