Microbial defluorination: a bibliometric analysis of an evolving field at the frontier of bioremediation

Abstract

Abstract Fluorinated compounds perform valued services to society while posing environmental and human health risks. The necessity to treat fluorinated compound pollution has spurred the growth of microbial defluorination science. To assess the progress of microbial defluorination science, we conducted a bibliometric analysis on research within this rapidly advancing field. By defining a refined search query which may be used in future bibliographic databases, we identified major publications, authors, institutions, countries, and journals contributing to microbial defluorination science. Our analyses document the scientific progression in the past three decades from fluorinated compound detection method development to detailed biotransformation pathway mapping and the identification of fluorinated compound biotransforming bacteria. We found that more recent publication keywords pertain to identifying and better understanding microbial communities capable of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance biotransformation. Older keywords pertain to establishing analytical chemistry methodologies for fluorinated compounds. We additionally identify differences in output between countries by publication numbers and type of fluorinated compound studied. Overall, this field is typified by a growing number of publications per year, and frequent collaboration between highly productive authors, institutions, and countries. By defining the current state of microbial defluorination science and identifying its relevance, we aim to hasten knowledge development on how fluorinated compounds may be treated by microbial methods.