Membrane Filtration Market - By Type , By Module Design , By Material , By Application , By Geography - Opportunity Analysis & Industry Forecast, 2024-2030

Membrane Filtration Market Overview:

Membrane Filtration Market size is estimated to reach $3.0 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period 2024-2030. Membrane filtration process is a physical separation method characterized by the ability to separate molecules of different sizes. The growing need for wastewater treatment owing to water scarcity is a major factor driving the membrane filtration market. Additionally, the increasing focus on municipal water purification is also contributing to the increase in demand for membrane filtration. Furthermore, the growing dairy industry and the growing demand for supplements are also driving the growth of the membrane filtration market.

Two major trends in the membrane filtration market are the shift toward energy efficient membrane technologies and the rising use of ceramic membranes. Danfoss says that energy efficient membranes like reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) are changing the way industrial wastewater treatments, such as zero liquid discharge (ZLD) and minimum liquid discharge (MLD) are carried out. These technologies concentrate wastewater prior to treatment, reducing the need for energy intensive thermal evaporators and crystallizers and reducing capital and operating costs while minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, Scottish Water announced in November 2024 about its $1.02 billion USD framework for ceramic membrane projects. Due to their durability, thermal stability, and resistance to fouling, these membranes are favored for the market’s focus on sustainable and cost-effective water filtration solutions.

Market Snapshot: 

Membrane Filtration Market- Report Coverage:

The “Membrane Filtration Market Report - Forecast (2024-2030)” by IndustryARC, covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments in the Membrane Filtration Market.

COVID-19 / Ukraine Crisis - Impact Analysis:  

• Disruption of global supply chains, delay in manufacturing and high raw material cost impacted the membrane filtration market during the COVID 19 pandemic. Lockdowns and limited international trade mean delays in deploying water and wastewater treatment projects that are part of the efforts to slow market growth. However, water quality and public health also became more important and so did the more advanced filtration technologies in the healthcare, food and beverage and pharmaceutical industry. This drove up the demand for membrane filtration. 
• The Russia Ukraine war further complicated supply chain challenges in the membrane filtration market by disrupting raw material supplies and increasing energy costs. Volatility in production costs made membrane systems unaffordable. Economic sanctions and geopolitical instability also made investment projects in infrastructure negligible.

Key Takeaways:

• APAC Dominates the Market

APAC dominates the membrane filtration market primarily due to the need to purify water. Most sources of fresh water in the region are contaminates, although treated water is supplied by the government, the region still faces high number of water borne diseases. For instance, as per BMC Public Health, waterborne diseases affect nearly 37.7 million people in India annually. These illnesses also lead to significant impacts with diarrhoea alone claiming the lives of an estimated 1.5 million children each year and around 73 million working days being lost due to related health issues. Hence, the citizens are encouraged to employ filtration methods. Additionally, the water scarcity in the region necessitates the demand for wastewater purification which also drives the demand for membrane filtration. According to the United Nations World Water Development Report 2023, around 80% of people living under water stress live in Asia, particularly in northeast China, India and Pakistan. The global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to reach 1.7-2.4 billion people in 2050, with India projected to be the most severely affected.

• Reverse Osmosis is the Largest Segment

Reverse osmosis (RO) held the largest market share in the Membrane Filtration market because of its unparalleled capability to remove a broad range of contaminants such as dissolved salts, bacteria and viruses. According to Membracon, RO systems employ high pressure processes with semi permeable membranes to achieve up to 99.9% rejection of impurities, including multivalent ions and suspended solids. Not only is RO highly effective, but it is also environmentally friendly, as it uses no chemicals and requires low maintenance through self-cleaning self-contained units. In addition to this, it also plays an important part in recycling treated water from industrial wastewater and reusing it in process of product, which also applies to resource efficiency and sustainability. Desalination water purification and industrial applications are the widely adopted applications of RO systems. The high-quality water they produce and the flexibility across sectors make them the first choice. In August 2024, The NAQA'A Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant in the Emirate of Umm Al Qaiwain, UAE was officially inaugurated. This plant stands as one of the largest seawater desalination projects using SWRO technology in the world. 

• Cellulose Acetate is the Largest Segment

Affordability and excellent filtration properties of cellulose acetate membranes make them the largest share in the market. Recovery of these membranes is common in reverse osmosis and nanofiltration process and have proven their ability to separate contaminants. Furthermore, cellulose acetate filters are also preferred due to the increasing focus on sustainability, because they have a bio-based origin and are biodegradable. Cellulose acetate (CA) membrane filters are among the most efficient at minimizing protein binding, according to Sterlitech. Generally, these filters provide higher throughput when used with protein rich solutions than other membrane types. Particularly well suited for applications where maximum protein recovery is necessary, such as filtering protein and enzyme solutions, tissue culture media, serums and biological fluids. CA membranes, according to Sterlitech, are designed with a built in nonwoven polyester support layer, which provides dimensional stability, increased strength and resistance to curling. They are tear resistant and withstand steam sterilization at temperatures up to 135°C, and therefore are suitable for use under elevated temperatures. These hydrophilic membranes also wet easily in water and aqueous solutions, have good chemical resistance, and are compatible with low molecular weight alcohols. Because of the increasing emphasis on sustainability, cellulose acetate filters are popular due to their bio based origin and biodegradability.

• Growing Demand for Water Purification to Drive the Market

One of the most critical issues in the world in terms of environmental and public health is water purification, driving growth in the Membrane Filtration Market. Due to the expansion of the population, industries and multiple uses of water resources, one of the most important goals is to maintain and provide sufficient quantity of safe drinking water resources. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) estimate that 703 million people worldwide, nearly one in ten, are without access to clean water in their residence. And this emphasises the need for better sanitation and water systems. Moreover, three in ten schools worldwide don’t have basic water services, and therefore purifying and treating water to make it safe for drinking is also of utmost importance. Because drinking water sources are prone to contamination, appropriate treatment to remove the contaminants is required. Therefore, drinking water needs to be purified before consumption and the easiest method is membrane filtration. 

• Availability of Alternatives to Hamper the Market

Membrane filtration growth is limited by the availability of other technologies such as UV disinfection, chemical treatments, and advanced oxidation processes. Often, these alternatives are more cost effective as well as environmentally friendly, and cater to particular filtration requirements. Consider for example the UV disinfection, which is an efficacious way of killing microorganisms but without depriving the water of useful minerals, being thus a suitable method for selective water purification. As per Water Defence, other methods, such as activated carbon philtres, distillation and sediment philtres, have the added benefit of producing less wastewater and lower maintenance costs and can also remove specific contaminants such as fluoride, arsenic and large particles. These alternatives are versatile and user-friendly solutions that are appealing to cost conscious and eco aware consumers. These technologies will likely limit the adoption of membrane filtration systems, such as reverse osmosis, as demand for sustainable and tailored water purification increases, in segments where such alternatives are capable of meeting the need.

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Key Market Players: 

Product/Service launches, approvals, patents and events, acquisitions, partnerships, and collaborations are key strategies adopted by players in the Membrane Filtration Market. The top 10 companies in this industry are listed below:

1. Veolia Water Technologies 
2. DuPont
3. Toray Industries Inc.
4. Koch Separation Solutions
5. Asahi Kasei Corporation
6. LG Chem Ltd.
7. Tetra Laval Group
8. Grundfos Holding A/S
9. 3M Company
10. Metawater Co., Ltd.

Scope of the Report: 

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