|
Membrane separation is one of the most advanced separation processes; it is available for many applications ranging from the medical field to large-scale industrial uses. For example, hemodialysis membranes are used for artificial kidneys, and ion exchange membranes are used for pollution-free chlor-alkali processes that are replacing the mercury cell process. Most advanced integrated circuits are produced with ultrapure water, requiring reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration membrane separation. In Middle Eastern countries, desalination of seawater and brackish water supports everyday life and industry. Thus, separation membranes are becoming essential, and membrane separation technologies have been developed rather rapidly as a result.
Eight key membrane separation processes have been chosen for the primary focus of this report - microfiltration, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, gas separation, electrolysis, electrodialysis, pervaporation and dialysis.
Consumption of membrane modules in the United States, Western Europe and Japan totaled $2.5 billion in 1997.
Western Europe and Japan are the largest producers of artificial kidneys. The Republic of Korea and Taiwan are going to have substantial markets for this application. The United States is a major producer of microfiltration, reverse osmosis and gas separation membranes. The United States and Japan are major producers of electrolysis membranes for chlor-alkali production. Japan has a large market for ultrapure water for integrated circuits (using reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration and microfiltration membranes). The Republic of Korea and Taiwan will also have a large market for ultrapure water applications. The United States and Western Europe have major markets for food applications (for both microfiltration and ultrafiltration membranes).
Gas separation and pervaporation are emerging areas. The hemodialysis (artificial kidney) market is growing steadily in terms of numbers; however, prices continue to decline, and the market size in U.S. dollars will grow very slowly. As a whole, the total market will continue to grow at about 4-5% per year, depending on the region, except in the Republic of Korea and Taiwan, where the growth rate will be much higher.
The production of membrane separation systems is not intrinsically toxic or dangerous. In general, environmental regulation is expected to increase rather than decrease the markets for membrane separation technologies. For example, modifications to U.S. water and air quality rules have increased the number of contaminants that must be monitored at increasingly low levels of concentration. In addition, there are increased incentives to recycle more water in order to avoid discharging it. This has provided membrane system manufacturers with the opportunity to develop technologies and products targeted to this area.
Membrane separation technologies have become increasingly important tools in highly regulated areas such as the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and food and beverage industries, as well as in environmental waste monitoring and recycling. As a result, many products are subject to strict government and industry standard specifications.
The major Western European markets for synthetic membranes and modules are dialysis (which accounts for 44% of total 1997 consumption) and microfiltration (31%), followed by ultrafiltration (12%) and reverse osmosis (7%).
Environmental regulation will have a significant impact on the Western European separation membrane module market during 1997-2002. For example, if quality regulation of municipal potable water becomes stringent, the microfiltration and ultrafiltration module markets will grow to a great extent. If quality regulations on industrial wastewater become stringent, the ultrafiltration module market (and possibly the deionization membrane market) will grow to a great extent also.
Artificial kidney applications (including exports) have 47% of the total Japanese market.
|
