This study explores technological advances and prospects in phenol wastewater treatment through a detailed bibliometric survey. Using the Web of Science database, 79,104 articles from 2003 to 2023 were identified, refined to 1848 articles. The analysis highlights the dominance of journals in "Engineering" (32%), "Ecology of Environmental Sciences" (25%), and "Chemistry" (12%). Keyword analysis reveals five major clusters indicating research progress. Future research should prioritize wastewater treatment and feedstock diversification to address challenges such as production costs, stability, and durability. The study also examines the sources and impacts of phenol in wastewater, conventional treatment methods, and recent technological advances, including nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, ultrasound technology, activated carbon, supercritical water gasification, and ozonation. The environmental, regulatory, and financial aspects of these treatments are discussed, emphasizing the need for innovative and sustainable solutions.This study explores technological advances and prospects in phenol wastewater treatment through a detailed bibliometric survey. Using the Web of Science database, 79,104 articles from 2003 to 2023 were identified, refined to 1848 articles. The analysis highlights the dominance of journals in "Engineering" (32%), "Ecology of Environmental Sciences" (25%), and "Chemistry" (12%). Keyword analysis reveals five major clusters indicating research progress. Future research should prioritize wastewater treatment and feedstock diversification to address challenges such as production costs, stability, and durability. The study also examines the sources and impacts of phenol in wastewater, conventional treatment methods, and recent technological advances, including nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, ultrasound technology, activated carbon, supercritical water gasification, and ozonation. The environmental, regulatory, and financial aspects of these treatments are discussed, emphasizing the need for innovative and sustainable solutions.