2010 Membrane and Separation Technology Research Review

• Publication date: January 2011

The global market for barrier materials that impart controlled-release properties are valued at nearly $600 million in 2010. BCC projects this market will approach $1 billion by 2015, increasing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.5% for all products worldwide during the 2010 to 2015 forecast period. The global market for microfiltration membrane products used in liquid separations is estimated at $1.2 billion in 2010. It will ri...

The global market for barrier materials that impart controlled-release properties are valued at nearly $600 million in 2010. BCC projects this market will approach $1 billion by 2015, increasing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.5% for all products worldwide during the 2010 to 2015 forecast period.

The global market for microfiltration membrane products used in liquid separations is estimated at $1.2 billion in 2010. It will rise at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8% during the next 5 years to reach $1.8 billion in 2015, much more rapidly than predicted world GDP growth in most regions, but not as rapidly as the world market for other membrane types, such as reverse osmosis (RO). 

The combined U.S. market for membranes used in liquid and gas separating applications is estimated at approximately $1.7 billion in 2010, and is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9% during the 5-year forecast period from 2010 to 2015 to reach $2.3 billion. 

FOREWORD 

Membrane and separation technologies are as diverse as the myriad applications they are called upon to operate in: biotech separation and biomedical applications through to large-scale industrial applications in the water and wastewater processing, and the food and drink industries. Costs have continued to drop while advanced materials, particularly nanocomposite polymers, have continued to report for duty.

This is a behind the scenes technology that makes a very obvious difference to the quality of life, both generally speaking, and more specifically in fresh water constrained geographies.

This Membrane and separation technologies review provides a sampling of the type of quantitative market information, analysis and guidance that has been aiding business decision making since BCC was founded in 1971. It includes highlights of reports published in 2010 on the following membrane and separation markets:

Controlled-Release Technologies: Established and Emerging Markets  
The Global Market for Membrane Microfiltration 
Membrane Technology for Liquid And Gas Separations 
Ultrafiltration Membranes: Technologies and the U.S. Market 
Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination 

Global Water Distribution And Treatment Industry

Chapter- 1: INTRODUCTION

FOREWORD 1

Chapter-2: CONTROLLED-RELEASE TECHNOLOGIES: ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING MARKETS (MST027H)

INTRODUCTION 2
STUDY GOAL AND OBJECTIVES 2
REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY 3
INTENDED AUDIENCE 3
SCOPE OF REPORT 4
METHODOLOGY 5
INFORMATION SOURCES 6
ANALYST’S CREDENTIALS 6
RELATED BCC PUBLICATIONS 6
BCC ONLINE SERVICES 7
DISCLAIMER 7
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7
TABLE 1 GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST FOR CONTROLLED-RELEASE BARRIER MATERIALS BY ECONOMIC REGION, THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS) 8
FIGURE 1 GLOBAL MARKET FOR CONTROLLED-RELEASE BARRIER MATERIALS BY ECONOMIC REGION, 2008-2015 ($ MILLIONS) 9
OVERVIEW OF CONTROLLED-RELEASE TECHNOLOGIES 9
OVERVIEW OF CONTROLLED-… (CONTINUED) 10
ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING APPLICATIONS 11
TABLE 2 TYPICAL APPLICATIONS FOR ACTIVE AGENTS AND BARRIER MATERIALS IN AREAS OTHER THAN AGRICULTURE AND HEALTHCARE 12
TABLE 2 (CONTINUED) 13
ACTIVE AGENTS 13
Active Agents (Continued) 14
TABLE 3 COMMONLY USED ACTIVE AGENTS 15
TABLE 4 ACTIVE AGENTS SUITABLE FOR MICROENCAPSULATION 15
BARRIER MATERIALS 15
Barrier Materials (Continued) 16
Barrier Materials (Continued) 17
COATINGS 18
ENCAPSULATION 19
ENCAPSULATION (CONTINUED) 20
COATINGS AND ENCAPSULATION 21
THE GLOBAL MARKET FOR CONTROLLED-RELEASE TECHNOLOGY 22
THE GLOBAL MARKET FOR -…(CONTINUED) 23

Chapter-3: THE GLOBAL MARKET FOR MEMBRANE MICROFILTRATION (MST028D)

INTRODUCTION 24
STUDY GOAL AND OBJECTIVES 24
REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY 24
INTENDED AUDIENCE 24
SCOPE OF REPORT 25
METHODOLOGY 25
INFORMATION SOURCES 26
ANALYST CREDENTIALS 26
RELATED PUBLICATIONS 26
SUMMARY 26
SUMMARY (CONTINUED) 27
SUMMARY (CONTINUED) 28
SUMMARY (CONTINUED) 29
TABLE 5 VALUE OF THE GLOBAL MARKET FOR MF MEMBRANES, THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS) 29
FIGURE 2 VALUE OF THE GLOBAL MARKET FOR MF MEMBRANES, 1990–2015 ($ MILLIONS) 30
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MEMBRANE INDUSTRY 30
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MEMBRANE … (CONTINUED) 31
TABLE 6 A BRIEF HISTORY OF MEMBRANE DEVELOPMENT 32
MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY 32
MATERIALS 33
Cellulosics 33
Polypropylene 33
Polysulfones 34
Fluorinated Polymers 34
Polyamides 34
Ceramics 35
Stainless Steel 35
Selecting Materials for MF Membranes 35
MANUFACTURING METHODS 36
Phase Separation 36
Track Etching 36
Stretching 37
Sintering 37
STRUCTURE 37
MODULES 38
Configuration 38
Plate and Frame 38
Tubular 38
Spiral Wound 38
Hollow Fiber 39
Pleated Sheet 39
FOULING 39
PRICING 40
TABLE 7 MEMBRANE COST BY CONFIGURATION ($/M2) 40
FILTRATION MODES 40
Direct-Flow Filtration 40
Cross-flow Filtration 41
MF 41
APPLICATIONS 41
TABLE 8 APPLICATIONS FOR MF MEMBRANES 42
TABLE 9 GLOBAL MF MEMBRANE MARKET SHARE BY APPLICATION, 2010 (%) 43
FIGURE 3 GLOBAL MF MEMBRANE MARKET SHARE BY APPLICATION, 2010 (%) 43
TABLE 10 GLOBAL VALUE OF THE MF MARKET BY APPLICATION, THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS) 44
FIGURE 4 GLOBAL VALUE OF THE MARKET FOR MF MEMBRANES BY APPLICATION, 1990–2015 ($ MILLIONS) 44
MUNICIPAL DRINKING WATER 44
WATER AVAILABILITY AND USAGE IN THE U.S. 45
TABLE 11 WATER DISTRIBUTION IN THE U.S. BY SECTOR (BILLION GPD/%) 45
FIGURE 5 WATER DISTRIBUTION IN THE U.S. BY SECTOR (%) 45
WATER USE IN THE REST OF THE WORLD 46
TABLE 12 GLOBAL WATER DISTRIBUTION BY SECTOR (%) 46

Chapter-4: MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY FOR LIQUID AND GAS SEPARATIONS (MST041E)

INTRODUCTION 47
STUDY GOAL AND OBJECTIVES 47
REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY 47
INTENDED AUDIENCE 47
SCOPE OF REPORT 48
INFORMATION SOURCES 48
ANALYST CREDENTIALS 48
RELATED BCC PUBLICATIONS 48
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 49
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (CONTINUED) 50
TABLE 13 VALUE OF THE U.S. MARKET FOR MEMBRANE MODULES USED IN GAS AND LIQUID SEPARATIONS, THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS) 51
FIGURE 6 PROJECTED VALUE OF THE U.S. MARKET FOR MEMBRANE MODULES USED IN GAS AND LIQUID SEPARATIONS, 2002–2015 ($ MILLIONS) 51
HISTORY OF THE INDUSTRY 51
HISTORY OF THE INDUSTRY (CONTINUED) 52
TABLE 14 A BRIEF HISTORY OF MEMBRANE DEVELOPMENT 53
TABLE 14 (CONTINUED) 54
MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY 54
MEMBRANE MATERIALS 54
Cellulosics 54
Polycarbonates 55
Polysulfones 55
Fluorinated Polymers 55
Polyamides 56
Inorganics 56
Ceramic 57
Metal 57
Stainless Steel 57
Palladium 58
Carbon 58
Carbon Nanotubes 58
Zeolite and Other Novel Inorganic Membranes 58
Mixed Matrix Materials 59
MODULES 59
CONFIGURATION 59
Plate and Frame 59
Tubular Membranes 60
Spiral-wound Membranes 60
Hollow-fiber Membranes 60
MOLECULAR WEIGHT CUTOFF 61
FLUX 61
FOULING 61
METHODS OF FILTRATION 62
DIRECT-FLOW FILTRATION 62
CROSSFLOW FILTRATION 62
MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY TYPES 63
REVERSE OSMOSIS 63
Applications 63
TABLE 15 APPLICATIONS FOR REVERSE OSMOSIS MEMBRANES 64
Manufacturers 64
TABLE 16 MANUFACTURERS OF REVERSE OSMOSIS MEMBRANES 64
Trends and Technical Developments 65
Organic/Inorganic Nanocomposites 65
Carbon Nanotube Membranes 66
Boron Nitride Nanotube Membranes 67
Aquaporins 67
Oxidant-resistant Membranes 68
Chlorine-tolerant Materials 69
Forward Osmosis 69
Pressure-retarded Osmosis 70
Concentrate Management, Reuse, Mining 71
Beneficial Brine Reuse 71
Concentrate Minimization 71
Zero Liquid Discharge 72
Recovery, Resale of Salts in Desalination Brine 72
NANOFILTRATION 73
Applications 73
TABLE 17 APPLICATIONS FOR NANOFILTRATION MEMBRANES 74
Manufacturers 74
TABLE 18 MANUFACTURERS OF NANOFILTRATION MEMBRANES 75
Trends and Technical Developments 75
The Long Beach Method 75
ULTRAFILTRATION 76
Applications 76
TABLE 19 APPLICATIONS FOR ULTRAFILTRATION MEMBRANES 77
Manufacturers 77
TABLE 20 MANUFACTURERS OF ULTRAFILTRATION MEMBRANES 78
Trends and Technical Developments 78
Fouling Resistant Membranes for Oil Industry Wastewater Treatment 78
Reducing the Fat Content of Breaded Fried Foods 79
MICROFILTRATION 80
Applications 80
TABLE 21 APPLICATIONS FOR MICROFILTRATION MEMBRANES 81

Chapter-5: ULTRAFILTRATION MEMBRANES: TECHNOLOGIES AND THE U.S. MARKET (MST044C)

INTRODUCTION 82
STUDY GOAL AND OBJECTIVES 82
REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY 82
INTENDED AUDIENCE 82
SCOPE OF REPORT 83
METHODOLOGY 83
INFORMATION SOURCES 84
ANALYST CREDENTIALS 84
RELATED BCC PUBLICATIONS 84
SUMMARY 84
SUMMARY (CONTINUED) 85
TABLE 22 VALUE OF U.S. MARKET FOR UF MEMBRANES, THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS) 86
FIGURE 7 VALUE OF U.S. MARKET FOR UF MEMBRANES, 2000–2015 ($ MILLIONS) 86
MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY 87
ULTRAFILTRATION MEMBRANE SPECIFICATIONS 87
RETAINED FEEDSTREAM COMPONENTS 87
UF MEMBRANE MATERIALS, MANUFACTURING 88
COMPARISON OF MEMBRANE PROCESSES 88
TABLE 23 COMPARATIVE PARAMETERS OF MEMBRANE PROCESSES 89
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MEMBRANE INDUSTRY 89
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE … (CONTINUED) 90
TABLE 24 A HISTORY OF UF MEMBRANES 91
INDUSTRY STRUCTURE 91
STAYING COMPETITIVE 92
ACQUISITIONS 92
TABLE 25 MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS, 1995–2010 93
PRODUCT MIX 94
BARRIERS TO GROWTH 94
INDUSTRY PLAYERS 95
INDUSTRY PLAYERS (CONTINUED) 95
GEOGRAPHIC FACTORS 96
GROWTH THROUGH ACQUISITION 97
THE DIALYSIS INDUSTRY 98
MAJOR UF MEMBRANE MANUFACTURERS 99
TABLE 26 PRIMARY PLAYERS, ANNUAL REVENUES, AND ESTIMATED MARKET SHARE, 2010 ($ MILLIONS/%) 100
TABLE 26 (CONTINUED) 101
FIGURE 8 PRIMARY PLAYERS AND SHARE OF THE UF MARKET, 2010 (%) 102
DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS 102
UPSTREAM SUPPLIERS 102
MARKETING AND SALES 103
CUSTOMERS 103
Downstream Manufacturing Customers 103
Distributors or Partnership-Type Customers 104
Health Care Customers 104
Government Clients 104
PRICING 105
TABLE 27 MEMBRANE COST BY CONFIGURATION 105

Chapter-6: SEAWATER AND BRACKISH WATER DESALINATION (MST052B)

INTRODUCTION 106
STUDY GOAL AND OBJECTIVES 106
REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY 106
INTENDED AUDIENCE 106
SCOPE OF REPORT 107
INFORMATION SOURCES 107
ANALYST CREDENTIALS 107
RELATED BCC PUBLICATIONS 108
SUMMARY 108
SUMMARY (CONTINUED) 109
SUMMARY (CONTINUED) 110
TABLE 28 GLOBAL MARKET FOR SEAWATER AND BRACKISH WATER DESALINATION PLANTS, THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS) 111
FIGURE 9 GLOBAL MARKET FOR SEAWATER AND BRACKISH WATER DESALINATION PLANTS, 2000–2015 ($ MILLIONS) 111
TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW 111
WATER QUALITY 112
SAFE DRINKING WATER STANDARDS 112
WATER QUANTITY 113
WATER SALINITY 114
TABLE 29 WATER SALINITY AND SUITABILITY FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION (MG/L) 115
TABLE 30 SALT CONCENTRATIONS OF VARIOUS GLOBAL WATERS (PPM) 116
TABLE 31 WATER HARDNESS 116
SOURCE WATERS USED FOR DESALINATION 117
TABLE 32 TOTAL WORLD DESALINATION CAPACITY BY SOURCE WATER TYPE, 2010 (%) 117
FIGURE 10 TOTAL WORLD DESALINATION CAPACITY BY SOURCE WATER TYPE (%) 117
DESALTED WATER END USES 118
TABLE 33 GLOBAL DESALTED WATER END USES AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL CAPACITY (%) 118
FIGURE 11 GLOBAL DESALTED WATER END USES AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL CAPACITY (%) 118
DESALINATION TECHNOLOGIES 119
BRIEF HISTORY OF DESALINATION 119
Brief History of Desalination (Continued) 120
FIGURE 12 DESALINATION TECHNOLOGIES 120
MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGIES 120
THERMAL TECHNOLOGIES 121
COMPARISON OF THERMAL AND MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGIES 122
TABLE 34 COMPARISON OF PROCESS CHARACTERISTICS 122
COMPARATIVE COSTS OF DESALINATION TECHNOLOGIES 123
TABLE 35 GLOBAL COMPARATIVE COSTS OF THERMAL AND MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGIES ($/M3) 124
GLOBAL DESALINATION INSTALLATIONS 124
TABLE 36 GLOBAL INSTALLATIONS BY NUMBER OF PLANTS AND CAPACITY, 1945–2009 (M3/D) 125
FIGURE 13 GLOBAL INSTALLATIONS BY CAPACITY, 1945–2009 (M3) 125
TABLE 37 LARGEST DESALINATION PLANTS BY CAPACITY, COMMISSIONED OR CONTRACTED, JULY 2010 126
TABLE 38 GLOBAL MARKET SHARE BY TECHNOLOGY TYPE, 2010 (%) 127
FIGURE 14 GLOBAL MARKET SHARE BY TECHNOLOGY TYPE, 2010 (%) 127
MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGIES 128
REVERSE OSMOSIS 128
TABLE 39 MEMBRANE MANUFACTURERS AND PRODUCT TYPES 129
NANOFILTRATION 129
ELECTRODIALYSIS 130
COST OF TECHNOLOGIES 131
Capital Costs 131
TABLE 40 GLOBAL CAPITAL COSTS OF MEMBRANE DESALINATION BY TECHNOLOGY TYPE AND PLANT SIZE (AVG. $/GAL.) 131
Operating Costs 131
Operating Costs (Continued) 132
TABLE 41 COST ALLOCATION OF DESALINATING BRACKISH WATER WITH RO (%) 133
FIGURE 15 COST ALLOCATION OF DESALINATING BACKISH WATER WITH RO (%) 133
TABLE 42 COST ALLOCATION OF DESALINATING SEAWATER WITH RO (%) 134
FIGURE 16 COST ALLOCATION OF DESALINATING SEAWATER WITH RO (%) 134
Cost Trends 134
TABLE 43 GLOBAL COST TRENDS FOR MEMBRANE DESALINATION, INCLUDING DEBT SERVICE AND OPERATING EXPENSES, 1980–2010 ($/1,000 GALS) 135
FIGURE 17 GLOBAL COST TRENDS FOR MEMBRANE DESALINATION, INCLUDING DEBT SERVICE AND OPERATING EXPENSES, 1980–2010 ($/1,000 GALS) 135
TABLE 44 SEAWATER ELEMENT COST, 1978–2005 ($/1,000 GALS) 136
FIGURE 18 SEAWATER ELEMENT COST, 1978–2005 ($/1,000 GALS) 136
TABLE 45 GLOBAL SEAWATER DESALINATION COST REDUCTIONS 137
FIGURE 19 GLOBAL SEAWATER DESALINATION COST REDUCTIONS ($/1,000 GALS. (3.8 M3)) 137
MARKET SHARE 138
TABLE 46 GLOBAL MEMBRANE MANUFACTURER MARKET SHARES, 2009 (%) 138
FIGURE 20 GLOBAL MEMBRANE MANUFACTURER MARKET SHARES, 2010 (%) 139
MARKET VALUE BY MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY TYPE 139
TABLE 47 GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST BY MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY TYPE, THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS) 140
FIGURE 21 GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST BY MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY TYPE, 2000–2015 ($ MILLIONS) 141
THERMAL TECHNOLOGIES 141
MULTISTAGE FLASH DISTILLATION 142
Cost 142
TABLE 48 COST ALLOCATION OF DESALINATED WATER PRODUCTION WITH MSF (%) 143
FIGURE 22 COST ALLOCATION OF DESALINATED WATER PRODUCTION WITH MSF (%) 143
TABLE 49 GLOBAL MSF DESALINATION COST TRENDS, 1955–2010 ($/GAL) 144
FIGURE 23 GLOBAL MSF DESALINATION COST TRENDS, 1955–2010 ($/GAL) 144
MULTI-EFFECT DISTILLATION 144
Multi-effect Distillation (Continued) 145
Cost 146
TABLE 50 COST ALLOCATION OF DESALINATED WATER PRODUCTION WITH MED (%) 146
FIGURE 24 COST ALLOCATION OF DESALINATED WATER PRODUCTION WITH MED (%) 146
VAPOR COMPRESSION 147
MARKET VALUE BY THERMAL TECHNOLOGY TYPE 147
MARKET VALUE BY THERMAL … (CONTINUED) 148
TABLE 51 GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST BY THERMAL TECHNOLOGY TYPE, THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS) 149
FIGURE 25 GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST BY THERMAL TECHNOLOGY TYPE, 2000–2015 ($ MILLIONS) 149
OTHER TECHNOLOGIES 150
CRYSTALLIZATION 150
Freezing 150
Gas Hydrate Processes 151
Membrane Distillation 151
Memstill 152
SOLAR HUMIDIFICATION 153
FLOW-THROUGH CAPACITOR 154
ION EXCHANGE 154
MARKET VALUE OF OTHER TECHNOLOGIES 155
TABLE 52 GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST FOR OTHER TECHNOLOGIES, THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS) 155
FIGURE 26 GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST FOR OTHER TECHNOLOGIES, 2000–2015 ($ MILLIONS) 156