Global Membrane Separation Technologies

5th Edition

This study covers the global market for membranes, which are permeable surfaces with pore sizes of less than 10 µm. Only the membrane elements themselves are included in the scope of this study; membrane filtration units and other related equipment are excluded. Conventional particle filtration (i.e., with pore sizes greater than 10 µm) is also excluded.

Markets include water treatment, wastewater treatment, food and beverage processing, pharmaceutical and medical, chemical processing, commercial and consumer water treatment, and electronics processing.

Products include microfiltration, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, and others such as nanofiltration, direct osmosis, dialysis, electrodialysis, and pervaporation.

Unless otherwise noted, demand is given in million dollars and is evaluated at the manufacturers’ level, which encompasses the sale of a membrane element from the manufacturer to distributors or end users. Additional markups, due to the inclusion of the membrane in a larger system or from related services, are excluded.

Historical data for 2008, 2013, and 2018 and forecasts for 2023 are provided for membrane demand by market and product for six global regions and 18 individual countries.

Definitions

Membrane

A permeable layer with pore sizes of 10 µm or less.

Microfiltration

Membrane filtration for particles between 0.1 and 10 µm.

Micrometer (µm)

10-6 (1/1,000,000) meter; also referred to as “micron”.

Nanofiltration

Membrane filtration for particles between 1 and 10 nm (1,000 to 10,000 µm).

Nanometer (nm)

10-9 (1/1,000,000,000) meter.

Ultrafiltration

Membrane filtration for particles between 0.01 and 0.1 µm.

Reverse Osmosis

Membrane filtration for particles smaller than 1 nm (1,000 µm).