Mapping Global Research on Oil Palm Leaves (2008–2025): A Scientometric Analysis of Trends, Themes, and Collaboration

Abstract

Palm oil leaves represent a substantial yet underutilized biomass resource within the palm oil industry, particularly in major producing countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia. Despite growing global interest in sustainable biomass valorization, no comprehensive scientometric review has previously examined the development, structure, and research trajectories of studies focusing on palm oil leaves. This study aims to map global research trends from 2008 to 2025 and to evaluate the thematic evolution, geographic distribution, and collaborative patterns within this emerging field. Using a systematic search strategy in the Scopus database and employing Bibliometrix and VOSviewer for scientometric analysis, the study identifies publication growth, citation structures, institutional contributions, and keyword networks across 88 selected documents. Results demonstrate a significant increase in research output, particularly after 2014, indicating expanding scholarly attention to palm oil leaf utilization. Malaysia dominates publication activity and citation impact, supported by strong university-based research infrastructures, while Pakistan, Indonesia, and New Zealand show growing participation. Thematic analyses reveal concentrated research clusters in chemical characterization, bioactive compound discovery, detection technologies, and preliminary applications in pharmaceuticals and biomaterials. Collaboration patterns indicate increasing international engagement, reflecting shared scientific interests in sustainable bioresource development. Overall, the findings highlight the considerable scientific and industrial potential of palm oil leaves, reinforcing their relevance to circular economy strategies and green innovation. This study provides the first integrated scientometric mapping of the field, offering essential insights for guiding future research, strengthening cross-country collaboration, and advancing high-value applications of palm oil leaf biomass.