Abstract
Imbalance in Demand and Supply of Fresh Water Drives Membrane-based Desalination Markets
The pressing need for desalination of brackish and seawater sources and the recovery and reuse of wastewater have given membrane technologies a shot in the arm. Desalination and wastewater recovery have become major and expanding markets for membrane technologies mainly due to the limited availability of fresh water and the uneven distribution of freshwater sources. Such water-stressed conditions, the significant improvements made in membrane technology, and reduction in energy consumption by 20 to 30 percent over the last 10 years have gone a long way in promoting the use of membrane separation technologies. Research and development efforts have received a huge boost by the global requirement for water for irrigation and industrial use, and industries need to comply with regulations and directives regarding wastewater. Membrane bioreactor technology alleviates these end-user concerns to a large extent by recycling wastewater for local reuse applications.
This Technical Insights study provides an overview of the advances made in membrane separation. The study covers markets including water and wastewater treatment, medical and related applications, industrial processing, chemical and petrochemical applications, and energy and environmental applications. This research service enables companies to align their positioning strategies to benefit from these technologies.
An Aging Population Boosts Medical Markets for Hemodialysis and Oxygenation Membranes
Currently, there are nearly 1.3 million people worldwide suffering from chronic kidney failure and studies estimate that approximately 100 million hemodialysis treatments are administered every year. In fact, 90 percent of kidney failure cases worldwide depend on hemodialysis for treatment. Hemodialysis still works on the same concept of the hollow fiber dialyzers that were developed in the 1960s. However, there have been several new technologies that incorporate novel dialysis membranes such as polyethersulphone. Scientists are also working on innovative production processes for developing more effective pore sizes and enhancing the biocompatibility of membranes.
Membrane technologies are also finding many takers in the blood processing market. "Medical devices based on membrane technologies are continually being improved to meet the need to protect the blood supply from mad cow disease," says the analyst of this research service. Another medical application for membranes is in oxygenation for bypass surgery. According to the American Heart Association, there are 70 million persons in the United States with some type of cardiovascular disease. This market size is set to expand with the improvements made in oxygenation membranes for heart surgery and respiratory failure.
Global Goals of Clean Energy and Energy Security are Encouraging Research to Improve Fuel Cell Membranes
Development of advanced membrane separation technologies in the energy and environmental markets are gaining an impetus from the growing concerns over supply chain issues as well as political and security factors. These apprehensions stem from the substantial and continuous use of fossil fuels for transportation and as primary energy sources. Such indiscriminate use of fossil fuels causes considerable harm to the environment. To reverse this damage, scientists have been actively working on upgrading membranes for fuel cells, which are expected to compete with petroleum-based energy sources -- particularly in the transportation markets.
These enhanced membranes will not only improve hydrogen production for use as a fuel in vehicles, but will also sequester carbon dioxide to reduce the greenhouse effect and global warming due to burning of fossil fuels. "Global warming issues have spawned directives to reduce emissions and membrane technologies are playing an important role in meeting the goals," notes the analyst. "Research in membranes for the energy and environmental markets is particularly intense for fuel cell membranes, hydrogen separation, and carbon dioxide recovery from fossil fuel applications."
Table of Contents
- 1. Executive Summary
- 1. Scope and Methodology
- 2. Key Findings
- 1. Noteworthy Emerging Technologies
- 2. Noteworthy Applications
- 3. Assessment of Competing Technologies
- 2. Technology and Applications Viewpoint
- 1. Technology and Applications Analysis
- 1. Technology Primer
- 2. Applications Analysis and Trends
- 2. Analysis and Ranking of Application Segments
- 1. Water and Wastewater Applications Impact Analysis
- 2. Medical and Related Applications Impact Analysis
- 3. Industrial Processing Applications Impact Analysis
- 4. Chemicals and Petrochemicals Applications Impact Analysis
- 5. Energy and Environmental Applications Impact Analysis
- 3. Stakeholder Assessment and Analysis; Regulatory Issues
- 1. Stakeholder Assessment and Analysis
- 2. Regulatory; Environmental; and Political Factors
- 4. Influential Market Factors
- 1. M&S Analysis
- 2. Industry Trends
- 3. Technology Adoption Factor Analysis
- 1. Analysis of Technology Restraints
- 1. Regulatory Hurdles and Standards Assessments
- 2. Technology or Product Development Restraints
- 3. Competing Technologies
- 2. Analysis of Technology Drivers
- 1. Technology Features and Benefits
- 2. Adoption Drivers for Membrane Separation Technologies
- 4. Innovative Developments in Water and Wastewater Applications
- 1. Assessment of Innovations in North America
- 1. RO Recovery Process Developed for Ammonium Nitrate Condensates
- 2. Drinkable Water Anywhere from Any Water Source
- 3. Flux Decline During Nanofiltration Investigated at Rensselaer
- 4. US Bureau of Reclamation Supports Oregon Studies on Membrane Fouling
- 5. The Advantages of Ceramic Membrane Bioreactors (MBRs)
- 6. Experts Provide Solutions to Solve Membrane Fouling Problems
- 2. Assessment of Innovations in the Rest of the World
- 1. Novel Hybrid Ozonation/Biofiltration Process for Drinking Water--Norway
- 2. Cost-Effective Membrane Toxic Waste Stream Processing--UK
- 5. Innovative Developments in Medical and Related Applications
- 1. Assessment of Innovations in North America
- 1. Novel Method for Forming Dense Membrane Hollow Fibers: Blood-Gas Exchange Applications
- 2. Proprietary Membrane-Based Filter Protects the Blood Supply from vCJD Prions
- 3. Self-Screener Anemia Test Device Based on Microporous Membrane
- 4. Membrane Developments Are Meeting Needs of Bio and Medical Markets
- 2. Assessment of Innovations in the Rest of the World
- 1. European Group Shares Findings on Dialysis Treatment Studies--Germany
- 2. Breathing Easier with NovaLung ILA--Germany
- 6. Innovative Developments in Industrial Processing Applications
- 1. Assessment of Innovations in North America
- 1. Silicon Carbide Membranes Show Promise for High-Temperature Reactive Applications
- 2. FAA Tests Membrane-Based On-Board Inert Gas Generator System (OBIGGS)
- 3. Membrane Contactors Useful for De-Bubbling Inkjet Inks
- 2. Assessment of Innovations in the Rest of the World
- 1. Dutch Pervaporation Process Provides High Quality Flavors--Netherlands
- 2. Membrane Processing Increases Profitability for Food; Beverage and Pharmaceutical Applications--Sweden
- 3. Novel Membrane Technology for Ingredient Delivery--Germany
- 7. Innovative Developments in Chemicals and Petrochemicals Applications
- 1. Assessment of Innovations in North America
- 1. S-Brane Pervaporation: a Cost-Effective Process to Produce Low Sulfur Gasoline
- 2. Hydrophobic Zeolite Pervaporation Membranes for High Flux and Selectivity
- 3. Advances in Membrane Technologies Address Issues in Petrochemical Industries
- 2. Assessment of Innovations in the Rest of the World
- 1. Green Chemical Recovery Technology Developed--UK
- 2. Pervaporation Membrane Process Separates Benzene from Aliphatics--Germany
- 3. Akzo Nobel Producing Chlorine Using PEM Fuel Cell Technology--Netherlands
- 8. Innovative Developments in Energy and Environmental Applications
- 1. Assessment of Innovations in North America
- 1. Characterizing Membranes for Automotive Fuel Cells
- 2. Novel Membrane Material Enhances Fuel Cell Performance
- 3. CO2-Selective Membranes for Hydrogen Purification
- 4. Ultrathin SOFC Membranes May Enhance Performance
- 2. Assessment of Innovations in the Rest of the World
- 1. Unique Membrane Reformer Provides Hydrogen for Commercial Fuel Cell Power Generator--Japan
- 2. Membrane Reactor Development Funded by Global Climate and Energy Project--Netherlands
- 9. Analysis of Funding Sources and Innovation Assessment
- 1. Venture Capital and Public Sector Funding Analysis
- 1. Venture Capital Analysis
- 2. Public Sector Funding Analysis
- 2. Company Funding and Innovation Assessment
- 1. Company Funding
- 2. Innovation Assessment
- 10. Patents; Database of Key Industry Participants; References; and Glossary
- 1. Patents
- 2. Database of Key Industrial Participants; References; and Glossary
- 1. Database of Key Industrial Participants
- 2. References and Resources
- 3. Glossary
- 11. Frost & Sullivan 2005 Science and Technology Awards
- 1. Technology Innovation
- 1. Award Description
- 2. Award Recipient
- 2. Excellence in Technology
- 1. Award Description
- 2. Award Recipient
- 3. Technology Leadership
- 1. Award Description
- 2. Award Recipient
- 12. Critical Reference Tables
- 1. Decision Support Database
- 1. Expenditure for Water/Wastewater Management (1999-2006)
- 2. Printing and Writing Paper Production (1999-2006)
- 3. Percentage of Urban Population with Access to Sanitation (1999-2006)
- 4. Freshwater Resources--Per Capita (1999-2006)
- 5. Percentage of Total Population with Access to Safewater (1999-2006)
