Smart Control and Performance Optimization for Energy-Efficient Biological Wastewater Treatment

Biological wastewater treatment plants are among the most energy-intensive components of agro-industrial infrastructure. Controlling the concentration of activated sludge is critical for maintaining purification quality and reducing the energy consumption of pumping systems. Objective: This article presents a comprehensive bibliometric review of 714 studies on automatic control systems used in wastewater treatment, with a specific focus on intelligent optimization and energy efficiency. The review identifies key research trends, highly cited authors, and critical gaps in the current literature regarding the digitization of recirculation loops. This review provides a strategic framework for implementing "Smart Water Management" systems in agro-industrial enterprises and highlights future directions for developing hybrid, energy-saving intelligent control algorithms.