Targeted Bibliometric Analysis of CO2 Reduction in Concrete Using Dune Sand and Supplementary Cementitious Materials

Abstract

This study provides a systematic bibliometric analysis of research on concrete incorporating dune sand and supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), with a focus on the reduction of CO₂ emissions and sustainable construction. Data were retrieved from the Scopus database, covering publications from 2001 to 2025, resulting in a dataset of 28 records. The dataset was imported into Biblioshiny, the web interface of the R-based bibliometrix package, and analyzed using performance and knowledge structure metrics. The results suggest that while the field is still emerging, it has experienced steady growth over the last two decades, with an annual growth rate of 4.68% and a peak in publications in 2024. International collaboration is high (53.57%), highlighting the global interest in sustainable concrete research. Key journals, such as Construction and Building Materials, serve as primary outlets for dissemination, whereas authors and countries such as El-Hassan H, the United Arab Emirates, China, and Algeria demonstrate leading contributions. Thematic analysis identifies dominant topics including sustainability, CO₂ emission reduction, mechanical and durability properties of concrete, and the use of locally sourced materials like dune sand and SCMs. These findings have noteworthy implications for both research and industry. For academia, the analysis highlights influential authors, journals, and collaboration networks, guiding future research directions. For industry, the results provide evidence-based insights into the practical potential of dune sand and SCMs in sustainable concrete formulation, supporting low-carbon construction initiatives. Moreover, the emerging trends and highly cited recent studies indicate avenues for innovative research, includ- ing novel SCMs, durability assessment, and performance optimization under diverse environmental conditions.Overall, this study demonstrates the growing international focus on environmentally sustainable mate- rials in concrete, offering a structured overview of scientific production and guiding both researchers and practitioners toward effective strategies for CO₂-reducing concrete development.