Bibliometric Analysis of Constructed Wetlands with Ornamental Flowering Plants: The Importance of Green Technology

Abstract

The use of constructed wetlands (CWs) for wastewater treatment has earned high interest around the world. However, innovations to improve its removal efficiency and adoption have been suggested in the last decades. For instance, the use of ornamental flowering plants (OFP), which make wetland treatment systems more aesthetic and is an option for the production of commercial flowers while the water is cleansed. The objectives of this study were to identify through a bibliometric analysis (2000–2022) the main OFP that have been used in CWs and their functionality as phytoremediators (removal effects), as well as the authors, collaborations, main investigations, and the countries where such investigations have been carried out. To this respect, 10,254 studies on CWs were identified. The United States and China were the leading countries in the use of this eco-technology. Subsequently, regarding the use of OFP, the analysis revealed 92 studies on this matter in which Mexico has three researchers who lead the use of OFP in CWs (almost 40% of publications of CWs with OFP), where the main species studied include Canna hybrids, Zantedeschia aethiopica, Strelitzia reginae, Iris species, Spathiphyllum sp., and Anturium sp. These species may remove between 30–90% of pollutants of organic compounds, 30–70% of heavy metals and drugs, and about 99.9% of pathogens. Thus, this study may help researchers to identify OFP for new CWs design, and to know new future research directionsand collaboration approaches in this area using multipurpose alternatives like those of CWs with OFP. More research can still be carried out on the use of CWs with OFP in temperate climates, as well as evaluating the influence of different substrates and water flow on the growth of these plants.