Hollow Fiber Ceramic Membrane Market

Hollow Fiber Ceramic Membrane Market: Snapshot

Hollow fiber ceramic membranes (HFCMs) are made of pure ceramic materials and do not contain any organic additives/binders. These membranes have the potential to address tough separation and filtration challenges in various industries such as water, chemical, oil, food, beverage, and gas. Hollow fiber membranes have larger pore sizes, which can be utilized for treating the comparatively less polluted wastewater of municipal establishments. Higher flux handling capacity and lower costs make hollow fiber membrane the most preferred membrane for municipal wastewater treatment. The global hollow fiber ceramic membrane market is expected to expand at a significant rate, driven by increase in demand from the pharmaceuticals, water & wastewater treatment, and chemical processing industries. The hollow fiber ceramic membrane market was valued at about US$ 99 Mn in 2016 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 11% during the forecast period.      

Factors such as increased utilization of hollow fiber membranes by municipalities and declining membrane cost and installation expenses is likely to augment the market in the near future. Water requirements of municipal corporations exceed their current supply in most areas with high demand for potable water. HFCMs are attractive alternatives when smaller spaces are available and the need for high quality treated water fit for reuse is high. Demand for high quality treated water from municipalities is rising at a steady pace owing to the increase in population. Major players in the market such as GE and Beijing Origin have started establishing large-scale Membrane Bioreactor System (MBR) facilities to meet the rise in demand from municipal water departments. However, hollow fiber ceramic membranes are prone to fouling. Fouling is generally described as any kind of obstruction, occlusion, or blocking of the membrane pores. This usually happens due to accumulation of solid effluent particles on the membrane surface, ultimately resulting in loss of permeability. This is likely to hamper the hollow fiber ceramic membranes market during the forecast period.

The water & wastewater processing segment of the hollow fiber ceramic membranes market has expanded significantly during the past decade. It plays a major role in the economic growth of developing countries and is driven by rise in demand for smart infrastructure and increased infrastructure expenditure. Furthermore, rise in industrialization and increased utilization of several technologies by municipalities worldwide are expected to propel the industrial waste water treatment segment significantly over the forecast period. There has been a significant rise in water treatments in recent years, leading to the development of modern technology. For instance, polymeric and ceramic membranes clearly form two separate kinds of modern nanofiltration/reverse osmosis membranes, each with their peculiarity and possibilities. The aqueous applications momentarily still heavily dominating the NF/RO market, the introduction of new solvent resistant NF membranes reveals many new opportunities in industrial chemical processes.

The hollow fiber ceramic membranes market in Asia Pacific has shown promise in the past. The market in the region is anticipated to be fuelled during the forecast period owing to increased awareness of membrane systems, rise in scarcity of freshwater, and increasing regulatory interventions in countries such as China, South Korea, and Japan. Furthermore, higher wastewater treatment standards and reclamation requirements are expected to drive the hollow fiber ceramic membrane market in Europe during the forecast period.

In terms of application, the hollow fiber ceramic membrane market can be divided into ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and microfiltration. The microfiltration segment held close to 40% market share in 2016. Ultrafiltration membranes and microfiltration membranes are primarily made from alumina, titanium oxide, and zirconium oxide. These materials can withstand high temperatures and harsh chemical environments, making membranes made from the materials ideal for use in the dairy, food, pharmaceutical, biological, paint, paper, and water industries.

The demand for hollow fiber ceramic membranes is largely driven by the water & wastewater processing segment. Rise in demand from the industrial sector, plummeting prices of HFCM systems, and rise in scarcity of fresh water are expected to bolster overall market expansion in the coming years. Moreover, impending government and environmental regulations regarding reuse and recycling of waste water are likely to keep the market prospects upbeat.

In terms of region, Asia Pacific accounted for significant demand for hollow fiber ceramic membrane in 2016. The market in the region constituted over one third of market share in the same year. This is attributable to the flourishing water & waste water treatment sector, favorable government policies for auto manufacturers, and the shifting of production facilities by major players from developed economies to emerging countries due to the low labor and operating costs. The hollow fiber ceramic membrane market in Europe is likely to contract marginally during the forecast period. This is because the European economy is in the recovery phase and Europe is a mature region of the market. The market in North America is expected to expand moderately during the forecast period. Significant demand for hollow fiber ceramic membranes for water treatment in the U.S. and development of the industrial and commercial segment are expected to drive the hollow fiber ceramic membranes market in North America in the near future.

Key players operating in the hollow fiber ceramic membrane market include Media and Process Technology Inc., Atech Innovations GmbH, CoorsTek, Inc., MICRODYN-NADIR GmbH, Nanostone Water, Inc., Koch Membrane Systems, Inc., TAMI Industries., Qua Water Technologies Private Limited, Ceraflo Pte Limited, and i2M LLC.