Membrane Chemicals Market - Forecast(2023 - 2028)

Membrane Chemicals Market Overview

Membrane Chemicals Market size is expected to reach a value of US$2.3 billion by 2027, after growing at a CAGR of 6.3% during the forecast period from 2022-2027. Membrane chemicals are an effective reverse osmosis system that consists of antiscalants, cleaners & biocides, and pH adjusters. Membrane chemicals enhance the performance of the water treatment system while reducing energy and water costs. Thus, there is an increase in demand for membrane chemicals for water treatment in various types of end-users such as refineries food & beverages, pharmaceutical, and chemical industry. This is one of the major factors driving the membrane chemicals industry growth. Membrane chemicals are designed to optimize process performance, flux stability, and membrane life that are used to remove hard salts colloidal particles, bacteria, and microorganism impurities from water systems. Owing to these factors, the Membrane Chemicals Market is expected to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period.

COVID-19 impact

In the tragedy of COVID-19, most of the countries have gone under lockdown, due to which the projects and operations of various industries such as oil refineries and the food industry are disruptively stopped. Membrane chemicals are used to remove microorganisms from food, purification or concentration of water, fruit juice, vegetable juice, vinegar, soy, wine, and beer, purification of oil, discoloration of oil, and wastewater treatment. But during the COVID pandemic, the food and oil industry was closed which is reducing the demand for wastewater treatment systems, in turn, hampering the membrane chemicals industry growth. According to the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), the FMCG sector is declined by 19% from January to March 2020. Thus, the fruit and vegetable production plant will be expected to recover 25% production capacity by 2025. However, the global membrane chemicals demand was hugely affected in terms of consumption from production plants which is limiting the market growth.

Report Coverage

The report: “Membrane Chemicals Market – Forecast (2022-2027)”, by IndustryARC, covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments of the Membrane Chemicals Industry.

By Type: Biocides, Acid Membrane Cleaners, Alkaline Membrane Cleaners, and Others
By Function: Cleaners & Detergents, Scale Inhibitors, Anti-scalant & Antifoulants (Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Sulfate, Barium Sulfate, Calcium Fluoride, Iron, Silica, Other Organic Contaminants), Corrosion Inhibitors, De-chlorinators, Antioxidants, and Others
By End-Users: Waste Water Treatments, Food & Beverages (Brewery Industry, Sugar Industry, Fruit & Vegetables Juice Industry, Others), Pharmaceuticals, Refineries, Paper & Pulp, Chemical Industry, Power Industry, and Others

Key Takeaways

• The Asia Pacific held the largest share in the acid-proof lining market owing to the growing investment in various end-use industries such as oil & gas, food & beverages, chemical, and pharmaceutical sectors.
• According to the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), the oil and gas industry is expected to attract US$ 25 billion investments in exploration and production by 2022.
• Increasing adoption of membrane chemicals such as pH adjusters, antiscalants, biocides as they are widely used to remove impurities from water is estimated to boost the consumption of membrane chemicals.

Figure: Asia Pacific Membrane Chemicals Market, 2021-2027 (US$ Billion)

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Membrane Chemicals Market Analysis – By Type

Biocides held the largest share of more than 35% in the Membrane Chemicals Market in 2021. Biocides are non-oxidizing, non-ionic which is used to control biofouling in reverse osmosis system membranes. Biocides offer various properties such as being highly effective against bacteria, having high permeate quality and production, has effective at low concentrations, and is easy to apply. Biocides are used to control differential pressures in the reverse osmosis system, reduce cleaning frequency, downtime, and membrane life. In 2021, Lanxess acquired INTACE, a Paris-based biocide manufacturer, announced to manufacture a specialty fungicide for the packaging industry. Biocide will help to control biofouling in the membranes to an acceptable and cost-effective level compared to other associated costs such as cleaning program costs. Biocide is a chemical microorganism that is used to kill bacteria in the water system because of the rapid response. Thus, due to these factors, this type is widely used for the membrane chemicals system.

Membrane Chemicals Market Analysis – By Function

Anti-scalant & Antifoulants held the largest share of more than 40% in the Membrane Chemicals Market in 2021. Antiscalant is an additive for reverse osmosis system that is highly effective in preventing the membranes from scaling. Antiscalants function is designed to eliminate scale and reduce fouling in membranes systems and keeps fouling material in suspension. Antisealants & antifoulants include calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, barium sulfate, strontium sulfate, calcium fluoride, iron, colloidal material, silica, and other organic contaminants which helps to maintain cleaner membrane surfaces by dispersing particulate antifoulants. Antiscalant is injected into the water and creates a time delay between the bicarbonate and the calcium-magnesium. The delay allows the water to pass through the membrane system before any chemical reaction which helps to form scale. Thus, the scale does not form as the water is being purified by the reverse osmosis system. The antiscalants are suitable and effectively used in a range of feedwater sources, including wastewater. In June 2019, Iran projected their wastewater treatment plant at a cost of about US$7.2 million and the plant can treat 7,333 ccs of water per day. In January 2018, Microdyn – Nadir, the waste treatment firm announced the acquisitions of Oltremare which will expand its wide range of membrane filtration products, including reverse osmosis to provide its global customer base. Hence, due to such factors, the demand for antiscalant & antifoulants function is growing which is also growing the membrane chemicals industry growth.

Membrane Chemicals Market Analysis – By End-Users

Wastewater treatment held the largest share of more than 30% in the Membrane Chemicals Market in the year 2021. Membranes are used to stop unwanted substances from passing through wastewater systems. Membrane chemicals are filtered salts, impurities, viruses, and other particles from water. A reverse osmosis system is used to remove trace phosphates, calcium, heavy metals, and other substances. Thus, the growing wastewater treatment industry is estimated to fuel the demand for membrane chemicals. In January 2019, Solenis company and BASF SE completed the merger of paper and water chemicals businesses. The combined company has provided cost-effective chemical solutions including municipal and industrial wastewater treatment solutions. In July 2019, Saskatchewan announced funding for a new mechanical wastewater treatment facility in the border city. This project help to expand the capacity of the wastewater system cost-effectively by integrating existing infrastructure. This project helps to save the west Neale Lake to meet current and future standards. Hence, the growing wastewater treatment sector is expected to propel the membrane chemicals industry growth.

Membrane Chemicals Market Analysis – By Geography

Asia Pacific region held the largest share of more than 45% in the Membrane Chemicals Market size in the year 2021, due to the increasing demand from various end-use industries such as food & beverages, and pharmaceutical end users in Asian countries such as India and China are estimated to grow the demand for membrane chemicals. Membrane chemicals have extensive application infiltration of wastewater management which is being adopted by food and beverages which in turn is raising the market growth. According to the China Food Industry (CFI) almost 15,00 tonnes of fresh food, 1.8 million bottles of disinfectant solution, and 3 million bottles of liquid soap were sold in 2020. Furthermore growing healthcare sector is creating an opportunity for the market size. According to the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), India’s domestic pharmaceutical market is estimated to reach US$ 65 billion by 2024 and ~US$ 120-130 billion by 2030. According to the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), the healthcare market is expected to increase by Rs. 8.6 trillion (US$ 133.44 billion) by 2022. Hence, all such factors are growing demand for membrane chemicals in the region.

Membrane Chemicals Market Drivers

Increasing Investment for Wastewater Treatment Plants

Membrane chemicals function such as pH adjusters, anti-foaming agents, coagulants and antiscalants, flocculants are used for wastewater treatment. Membranes are used in dairy processing waste treatment systems. Membranes are increasingly used for the production of drinking water from growing, surface, and seawater. Thus, increasing projected in wastewater treatment is estimated to grow the demand for membrane chemicals. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in the United States, there are approximately 151,000 public wastewater systems. Hence, efficient investment in wastewater infrastructure improves the environment and enhances the quality of life. According to the world bank, in 2020, the San Luis Potosi power plant in Mexico cut costs by 33% which leads to US$18 million in savings for the power utility over 6years with using wastewater services instead of groundwater services. According to the Environment Protection Agency of America, the Nation’s wastewater footprint includes over 800,000 miles of public sewers and 500,000 miles of private lateral sewers in the region. In 2019, the annual water infrastructure capital investment was US$ 81 billion. In 2020, Piscataway Bioenergy Project started with an investment of US$262 million in Maryland to turn sewage wastewater into renewable energy in the United States. This will further drive the membrane chemicals industry.

Increasing Adoption from the End-Use Industries

Membrane chemicals are used to release impurities from processing plants. Thus, the huge demand for desalination and wastewater management in various sectors such as the food sector is expected to augment the demand for membrane chemicals. According to the National Investment Promotion Facilitation Agency, in India, the food processing sector is forecast to reach US$ 535 billion by 2025-2026. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, China’s food processing industry’s revenue grew 6.3% to $1.47 trillion in 2017 compared to 2016. In 2019, Japan’s food processing industry manufactured US$219.7 billion of food and beverage products as compared to US$216.8 billion in 2018. According to Eurostat, in Europe, dairy products and soft drinks export 16,203 euros million (US$ 18.51 billion) and 5,650 euros million (US$ 6.45 billion) in 2020, an increase of 3% and 2%during 2019-2020, respectively. Hence, the globally increased demand from various end-users is estimated to boost the demand for membrane chemicals.

Membrane Chemicals Market Challenges

Wastewater Treatment Plants Poses Health Risks

Membrane chemicals that are mainly used in wastewater treatment plants are required by various end-users. But wastewater treatment plants are high exposure to methane and hydrogen sulfide gas which are hazardous for health. High exposure to methane reduces the amount of oxygen from the air and causes memory loss, nausea, vomiting, facial flushing, and headache. Hydrogen sulfide irritates the eyes, nose, throat and causes headache, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting due to high exposure. Hence, high exposure to those gases from treatment plants may create hurdles for the consumption of the membrane chemicals.

Membrane Chemicals Market Industry Landscape

Technology launches, acquisitions, and R&D activities are key strategies adopted by players in the Membrance Chemicals Market. Major players in the Membrane Chemicals Market are;

1. Veolia Water
2. Nalco Holding Company
3. Kemira Oyj, GE Power & Water
4. BWA Water Additives U.S., LLC
5. Genesys International Corporation Limited
6. H2O Innovation Inc.
7. Reverse Osmosis Chemicals International
8. King Lee Technologies
9. Lenntech BV.
10. GE Water & Process Technologies, and more.

Recent Developments

• In May 2021, SUEZ signed an agreement with Shaowu, Fujian Province, to acquire 51% equity in Shaowu Wujiatang Wastewater Treatment Company Limited. This agreement provides operational, management, and technological re-engineering of the wastewater treatment plant and provides high-quality industrial wastewater treatment services for Jintang Industrial Park. This will help to increase the demand for membrane chemicals.

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