Bibliometric analysis of studies on remediation of heavy metals contaminated soils based on web of science

【Objective】In order to get a deep understanding of progress, highlights and trend of the researches on technologies for remediation of heavy metals contaminated soils in the world, a study was carried out on bibliometric analysis of the researches in these aspects.【Method】In this study, based on the Web of Science^TM core collection database bibliometric analysis was performed of the articles, published during the period of 2000-2016, on remediation of heavy metals contaminated soils from the aspects of countries or regions listed as TOP10 in volume of publications of related topics, high-yield authors, source journals, important research institutions and research direction or hot spots, etc. using the analysis tools self-provided by the Web of Science （abbreviated as WOS）, HistCite citation analysis software, VOSviewer software and Origin 9.1 software. The HistCite citation analysis software is a literature citation analysis tool, capable of quickly mapping out development of a research area through data analysis and enabling you to find important literature and academic bull; the VOSviewer software, a software tool for constructing and visualizing bibliometric networks and the Origin 9.1 software, one of the professional cartographic software and data analysis software and a brainchild of the OriginLab Company.【Result】 Results show that in this research field, China ranks first in volume of publications, but quite low in frequency of citation per paper; the USA and China are homes to most of the high-yield authors, among whom the top three authors are Dr. Ma L Q in the USA, Dr. Vangronsveld J in Belgium and Dr. Zhou, Q X in China; and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Zhejiang University and the University of Florida are the top 3 of the most important contribution institutions; the Environmental Science & Technology, the Journal of Hazardous Materials, the Chemosphere and Environmental Pollution, etc. are the most important publishers of the papers in ths field; technologies of phytoremediation, bioremediation and Stabilization/Immobilization are the hotspots in the researches; soil heavy metal pollutants, such as cadmium （Cd）, lead （Pb）, copper （Cu）, zinc （Zn） and arsenic （As）, etc. are the main objects of the researches; and environmental science, ecology, engineering science, agricultural science, water resourcescience, etc.are the major relevant disciplines of science involved.【Conclusion】This study will help beginners in this field to understand directions, trend and hotspots of the researches in this field of remediation of heavy metals contaminated soils.